THE HOLY BIBLE, Hoehn Version, copyright 2011, all rights reserved. Editor's Note: Thank God for Christian mothers. My mother took us children to church, and I became a born-again Christian by age four. You get born-again when you hear or read the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ (see John chapt. 3), and say yes to God in answer to his free offer of salvation through Jesus (Rev. 3:20), (Romans 10:9,10.). I grew up with the King James Version of the Bible. But since my youth, I've felt there was a need for a translation of the Bible in plain American English. Some translations have come along, but there still seemed to be a lot of room for improvement. There are warnings in the book of Revelation about not adding to nor taking away from the Bible. One could send himself to hell by violating that. My intention has been to do neither, but to simply present the Bible in plain American English. I hope that English speaking people in other nations will find it useful, too. God is not against translating the Bible into other languages, he's for it. That's what I've prayerfully tried to do, while neither adding to, nor taking away from it. May God bless you as you read His Book, the Holy Bible. Frederick E. Hoehn The Audio Book, "The New Testament, Hoehn Version," is available at Audiobooks.com THE OLD TESTAMENT ___Genesis chapter 1 1 In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved on the face of the waters. 3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good, and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 And God called the light Day, and he called the darkness Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. 6 And God said, "Let there be a firmament in the middle of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters." 7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters that were under the firmament from the waters that were above the firmament, and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. 9 And God said, "Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear," and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land earth, and he called the gathering together of the waters seas, and God saw that it was good. 11 And God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the plant yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth," and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, and plant yielding seed after its kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after its kind, and God saw that it was good. 13 And the evening and the morning were the third day. 14 And God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night, and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years, 15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light on the earth," and it was so. 16 And God made two great lights, the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night, he made the stars also. 17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light on the earth, 18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness, and God saw that it was good. 19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. 20 And God said, "Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that has life, and birds that will fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven." 21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moves, which the waters produced abundantly after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind, and God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply in the earth." 23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. 24 And God said, "Let the earth bring forth the living creature after its kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after its kind," and it was so. 25 And God made the beast of the earth after its kind, and cattle after their kind, and everything that creeps on the earth after its kind, and God saw that it was good. 26 And God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27 So God created man in his own image, he created him in the image of God, he created male and female. 28 And God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." 29 And God said, "See, I've given you every plant bearing seed, that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed, to you it shall be for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I've given every green plant for food," and it was so. 31 And God saw everything that he had made, and see, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. ___Genesis chapter 2 1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God ended his work that he had made, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and called it holy, because in it he had rested from all his work that God created and made. 4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, 5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every plant of the field before it grew, for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. 6 But a mist went up from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. 7 And the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. 8 And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and he put the man whom he had formed there. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food, the tree of life also in the middle of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it was divided, and became four heads. 11 The name of the first is Pison, that's the one that surrounds the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold, 12 And the gold of that land is good, there's bdellium and the onyx stone. 13 And the name of the second river is Gihon, it's the one that surrounds the whole land of Ethiopia. 14 And the name of the third river is Hiddekel, it's the one that goes toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates. 15 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, "Of every tree of the garden you can freely eat, 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it, for in the day that you eat of it you'll surely die." 18 And the Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone, I'll make him a helper appropriate for him." 19 And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them, and whatever Adam called every living creature, that was the name of it. 20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper appropriate for him. 21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept, and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead of it, 22 And the rib, that the Lord God had taken from man, he made into a woman, and brought her to the man. 23 And 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." 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall stick with his wife, and they'll be one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. ___Genesis chapter 3 1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field that the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, "Yes, has God said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" 2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We can eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden, 3 But of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, God said, You shall not eat of it, nor shall you touch it, or you'll die." 4 And the serpent said to the woman, "You won't surely die, 5 For God knows that on the day you eat of it, then your eyes will be opened, and you'll be like gods, knowing good and evil." 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make her wise, she took some of its fruit, and ate, and gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 And the Lord God called to Adam, and said to him, "Where are you?" 10 And he said, "I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself." 11 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree that I commanded you not to eat of?" 12 And the man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate." 13 And the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this that you've done?" And the woman said, "The serpent seduced me, and I ate." 14 And the Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you've done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field, you'll go on your belly, and you'll eat dust all the days of your life, 15 And I will put friction between you and the woman, and between your descendants and her descendants, your head will be bruised, and you'll bruise their heel." 16 To the woman he said, "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception, in sorrow you'll give birth to children, and your desire shall be to your husband, and he'll rule over you." 17 And to Adam he said, "Because you've listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree about which I commanded you, You shall not eat of it, cursed is the ground for your sake, in sorrow you'll eat of it all the days of your life, 18 It shall produce for you thorns also and thistles, and you'll eat the plants of the field, 19 In the sweat of your face you'll eat bread, until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken, for you are dust, and to dust you'll return." 20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of everyone living. 21 For Adam also and for his wife the Lord God made coats of skins, and clothed them. 22 And the Lord God said, "See, the man has become like one of us, to know good and evil, and now, so that he won't put out his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever," 23 Therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he'd been taken. 24 So he drove out the man, and he placed angels at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword that turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. ___Genesis chapter 4 1 And Adam had sex with his wife, Eve, and she conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, "I've gotten a man from the Lord." 2 And she again bore his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in process of time, Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat of it. And the Lord had respect to Abel and to his offering, 5 But to Cain and to his offering he didn't have respect. And Cain was very angry, and his facial expression fell. 6 And the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your facial expression fallen? 7 If you do well, won't you be accepted? And if you don't do well, sin lies at the door. And his desire shall be to you, and you'll rule over him." 8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother, and when they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and killed him. 9 And the Lord said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" And he said, "I don't know, am I my brother's keeper?" 10 And he said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood shouts to me from the ground. 11 And now you are cursed from the earth, that has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand, 12 From now on, when you till the ground, it won't yield to you its strength, you'll be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth." 13 And Cain said to the Lord, "My punishment is more than I can cope with. 14 See, you've driven me out this day from the face of the earth, and from your face I'll be hidden, and I'll be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth, and everyone that finds me shall kill me." 15 And the Lord said to him, "Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the Lord set a mark on Cain, so that no one finding him would kill him. 16 And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and lived in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. 17 And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived, and bore Enoch, and he built a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. 18 And to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad begat Mehujael, and Mehujael begat Methusael, and Methusael begat Lamech. 19 And Lamech took to himself two wives, the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20 And Adah bore Jabal, he was the father of those who live in tents, and of such as have cattle. 21 And his brother's name was Jubal, he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. 22 And Zillah also bore Tubalcain, an instructor of every craftsman in brass and iron, and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah. 23 And Lamech said to his wives, Adah and Zillah, "Hear my voice, you wives of Lamech, listen to my speech, for I've killed a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. 24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold." 25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son, and called his name Seth, "For God," said she, "has appointed me another child instead of Abel, whom Cain killed." 26 And to Seth there was also born a son, and he called his name Enos, then men began to call on the name of the Lord. ___Genesis chapter 5 1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God, 2 He created male and female, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. 3 And Adam lived one hundred thirty years, and fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and called him Seth, 4 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years, and he begot sons and daughters, 5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred thirty years, and he died. 6 And Seth lived one hundred five years, and fathered Enos, 7 And Seth lived after he begot Enos eight hundred seven years, and begot sons and daughters, 8 And all the days of Seth were nine hundred twelve years, and he died. 9 And Enos lived ninety years, and fathered Cainan, 10 And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred fifteen years, and begot sons and daughters, 11 And all the days of Enos were nine hundred five years, and he died. 12 And Cainan lived seventy years, and fathered Mahalaleel, 13 And Cainan lived after he begot Mahalaleel eight hundred forty years, and begot sons and daughters, 14 And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred ten years, and he died. 15 And Mahalaleel lived sixty five years, and fathered Jared, 16 And Mahalaleel lived after he begot Jared eight hundred thirty years, and begot sons and daughters, 17 And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety five years, and he died. 18 And Jared lived one hundred sixty two years, and he fathered Enoch, 19 And Jared lived after he begot Enoch eight hundred years, and begot sons and daughters, 20 And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty two years, and he died. 21 And Enoch lived sixty five years, and begat Methuselah, 22 And Enoch walked with God after he begot Methuselah three hundred years, and begot sons and daughters, 23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty five years, 24 And Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. 25 And Methuselah lived one hundred eighty seven years, and fathered Lamech, 26 And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty two years, and begot sons and daughters, 27 And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty nine years, and he died. 28 And Lamech lived one hundred eighty two years, and fathered a son, 29 And he called him Noah, saying, "This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground that the Lord has cursed." 30 And Lamech lived after he begot Noah five hundred ninety five years, and begot sons and daughters, 31 And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy seven years, and he died. 32 And Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth. ___Genesis chapter 6 1 And when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 The sons of God saw that the daughters of men were attractive, and they took them wives of all that they chose. 3 And the Lord said, "My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh, yet his days shall be one hundred twenty years." 4 There were giants in the earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them, the same became mighty men that were of old, men of renown. 5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the Lord said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man, and animals, and the creeping thing, and the birds of the air, for I regret that I've made them." 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. 9 These are the generations of Noah, Noah was a just man and perfect in his sex life, and Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah fathered three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God looked at the earth, and see, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted his way on the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before me, for the earth is filled with violence through them, and see, I will destroy them with the earth. 14 Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood, you shall make rooms in the ark, and shall pitch it inside and outside with pitch. 15 And these are the dimensions that you'll make for the ark, The length of the ark shall be four hundred fifty feet, the width of it seventy five feet, and the height of it forty five feet. 16 You shall make a window in the ark, and in eighteen inches you'll finish the top, and the door of the ark you'll set in the side of it, with lower, second, and third stories you shall make it. 17 And see, I, even I, do bring a flood of water on the earth, to destroy all flesh, in which is the breath of life, from under heaven, and everything that is in the earth shall die. 18 But with you I'll establish my covenant, and you'll come into the ark, you, and your sons, and your wife, and your sons' wives with you. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you, they shall be male and female. 20 Of birds after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind, two of every sort shall come to you, to keep them alive. 21 And take to yourself of all food that is eaten, and you shall gather it to yourself, and it shall be for food for you, and for them. 22 And Noah did that, according to all that God commanded him, that's what he did. ___Genesis chapter 7 1 And the Lord said to Noah, "You come, and all your family into the ark, for I've seen you as righteous before me in this generation. 2 Of every clean animal you shall take to yourself by sevens, the male and his female, and of animals that aren't clean by two, the male and his female. 3 Of birds of the air also by sevens, the male and the female, to keep seed alive on the face of all the earth. 4 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living substance that I've made I'll destroy from off the face of the earth. 5 And Noah did according to all that the Lord commanded him. 6 And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was on the earth. 7 And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. 8 Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of birds, and of everything that creeps on the earth, 9 Two and two went in to Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah. 10 And after seven days, the waters of the flood were on the earth. 11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. 12 And the rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights. 13 On the same day Noah entered, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark, 14 They, and every beast after its kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every kind. 15 And they went in to Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, in which is the breath of life. 16 And those who went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him, and the Lord shut him in. 17 And the flood was on the earth forty days, and the waters increased, and lifted up the ark, and it was lifted up above the earth. 18 And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly on the earth, and the ark went on the surface of the waters. 19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. 20 Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail, and the mountains were covered. 21 And all flesh died that moved on the earth, both of birds, and of cattle, and of animals, and of every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man, 22 All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was on the dry land, died. 23 And every living substance was destroyed that was on the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the birds of the heaven, and they were destroyed from the earth, and only Noah remained alive, and those who were with him in the ark. 24 And the waters prevailed on the earth one hundred fifty days. ___Genesis chapter 8 1 And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that were with him in the ark, and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters diminished, 2 The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained, 3 And the waters returned from off the earth continually, and after the end of one hundred fifty days the waters were much decreased. 4 And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat. 5 And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month, in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen. 6 And at the end of forty days, Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made, 7 And he sent out a raven, that went out back and forth, until the waters were dried up from off the earth. 8 Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground, 9 But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned to him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth, then he put out his hand, and took her, and pulled her to him into the ark. 10 And he stayed yet seven more days, and again he sent out the dove out of the ark, 11 And the dove came in to him in the evening, and see, in her mouth was an olive leaf plucked off, so Noah knew that the waters were gone from off the earth. 12 And he stayed yet seven more days, and sent out the dove, which didn't return again to him anymore. 13 And in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth, and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and see, the face of the ground was dry. 14 And in the second month, on the twenty seventh day of the month, the earth was dried. 15 And God spoke to Noah, saying, 16 "Go out of the ark, you, and your wife, and your sons, and your sons' wives with you. 17 Take out with you every living thing that is with you, of all flesh, both of birds, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, so that they'll breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply on the earth." 18 And Noah went out, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, 19 Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, and whatever creeps on the earth, after their kinds, went out of the ark. 20 And Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean beast, and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And the Lord smelled a sweet odor, and the Lord said in his heart, "I won't again curse the ground anymore for man's sake, for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth, nor will I again strike any more every living thing, as I have done. 22 While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not stop." ___Genesis chapter 9 1 And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. 2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, and on every bird of the air, on all that moves on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea, into your hand they're delivered. 3 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you, like the green plant, I've given you all things. 4 But flesh with the life of it, which is the blood of it, you shall not eat. 5 And surely your blood of your lives I'll require, at the hand of every animal I'll require it, and at the hand of man, at the hand of every man's brother I'll require the life of man. 6 Whoever sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God he made man. 7 And you, be fruitful, and multiply, bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply in it." 8 And God spoke to Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, 9 "And I, see, I establish my covenant with you, and with your descendants after you, 10 And with every living creature that is with you, of the birds, of the cattle, and of every animal of the earth with you, from all that go out of the ark, to every animal of the earth. 11 And I will establish my covenant with you, and all flesh won't anymore be cut off by the waters of a flood, and there won't anymore be a flood to destroy the earth." 12 And God said, "This is the token of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 14 And when I bring a cloud over the earth, the bow shall be seen in the cloud, 15 And I will remember my covenant, that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 And the bow shall be in the cloud, and I will look at it, so that I'll remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." 17 And God said to Noah, "This is the token of the covenant, that I've established between me and all flesh that is on the earth." 18 And the sons of Noah, that went out of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, and Ham is the father of Canaan. 19 These are the three sons of Noah, and the whole earth was overspread from them. 20 And Noah began to be a vinedresser, and he planted a vineyard, 21 And he drank some of the wine, and got drunk, and he was uncovered inside his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. 23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father, and their faces were backward, and they didn't see their father's nakedness. 24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done to him. 25 And he said, "Cursed is Canaan, a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers." 26 And he said, "Blessed be the Lord God of Shem, and Canaan shall be his servant. 27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall live in the tents of Shem, and Canaan shall be his servant." 28 And Noah lived after the flood three hundred fifty years. 29 And all the days of Noah were nine hundred fifty years, and he died. ___Genesis chapter 10 1 Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and sons were born to them after the flood. 2 The sons of Japheth, Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. 3 And the sons of Gomer, Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah. 4 And the sons of Javan, Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. 5 The islands of the Gentiles were divided in their lands by these, everyone according to his language, after their families, in their nations. 6 And the sons of Ham, Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan. 7 And the sons of Cush, Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha, and the sons of Raamah, Sheba, and Dedan. 8 And Cush begat Nimrod, he began to be a mighty one in the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord, that's why it's said, "Even like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord." 10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 Asshur went out from that land and built Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah, 12 And Resen between Nineveh and Calah, that's a large city. 13 And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim, 14 And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (out of whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim. 15 And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth, 16 And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite, 17 And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite, 18 And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite, and afterward the families of the Canaanites were spread around. 19 And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as you come to Gerar, to Gaza, as you go to Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even to Lasha. 20 These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their languages, in their countries, and in their nations. 21 To Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, to him were children born. 22 The children of Shem, Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram. 23 And the children of Aram, Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash. 24 And Arphaxad fathered Salah, and Salah fathered Eber. 25 And two sons were born to Eber, the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided, and his brother's name was Joktan. 26 And Joktan fathered Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah, 27 And Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah, 28 And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba, 29 And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab, all these were the sons of Joktan. 30 And their dwelling was from Mesha, as you go to Sephar, a mountain of the East. 31 These are the sons of Shem, according to their families, after their languages, in their lands, after their nations. 32 These are the families of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, in their nations, and by these the nations were divided in the earth after the flood. ___Genesis chapter 11 1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2 And as they journeyed from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they lived there. 3 And they said to each other, "Come on, let's make brick, and burn them thoroughly." And they had brick for stone, and they had slime for mortar. 4 And they said, "Come on, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top will reach to heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, so we won't be scattered around on the face of the whole earth." 5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, that the children of men built. 6 And the Lord said, "See, it's one people, and they all have one language, and this they begin to do, and now nothing will be restrained from them, that they have imagined to do. 7 Come on, let us go down, and there confuse their language, so they won't understand each other’s speech." 8 So the Lord scattered them around from there on the face of all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That's why it's called Babel, because the Lord confounded the language of all the earth there, and from there the Lord scattered them around on the face of all the earth. 10 These are the generations of Shem, Shem was a hundred years old, and fathered Arphaxad two years after the flood, 11 And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. 12 And Arphaxad lived thirty five years, and fathered Salah, 13 And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred three years, and begat sons and daughters. 14 And Salah lived thirty years, and fathered Eber, 15 And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred three years, and begat sons and daughters. 16 And Eber lived thirty four years, and fathered Peleg, 17 And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred thirty years, and begat sons and daughters. 18 And Peleg lived thirty years, and fathered Reu, 19 And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred nine years, and begat sons and daughters. 20 And Reu lived thirty two years, and fathered Serug, 21 And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred seven years, and begat sons and daughters. 22 And Serug lived thirty years, and fathered Nahor, 23 And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. 24 And Nahor lived twenty nine years, and fathered Terah, 25 And Nahor lived after he begat Terah one hundred nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters. 26 And Terah lived seventy years, and fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran. 27 Now these are the generations of Terah, Terah fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran, and Haran fathered Lot. 28 And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. 29 And Abram and Nahor took wives, the name of Abram's wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah. 30 But Sarai was barren, she had no child. 31 And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife, and they went out with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan, and they came to Haran, and lived there. 32 And the days of Terah were two hundred five years, and Terah died in Haran. ___Genesis chapter 12 1 Now the Lord had said to Abram, "Get out of your country, and from your relatives, and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you, 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, and you'll be a blessing. 3 And I will bless those who bless you, and curse him that curses you, and in you shall all families of the earth be blessed. 4 So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him, and Abram was seventy five years old when he went out of Haran. 5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gotten, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran, and they went out to go into the land of Canaan, and into the land of Canaan they went. 6 And Abram passed through the land to the place of Sichem, to the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land. 7 And the Lord appeared to Abram, and said, "I'll give this land to your descendants," and he built an altar to the Lord there, who appeared to him. 8 And he moved from there to a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east, and he built an altar there to the Lord, and called on the name of the Lord. 9 And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south. 10 And there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down into Egypt to live there temporarily, for the famine was grievous in the land. 11 And when he was close to entering Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, "See, I know that you are a beautiful woman, 12 Therefore when the Egyptians see you, they'll say, This is his wife, and they'll kill me, but they'll let you live. 13 Please say you're my sister, so that it will be well with me for your sake, and my soul shall live because of you." 14 And when Abram had come into Egypt, the Egyptians saw the woman that she was beautiful. 15 The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and brought her before Pharaoh, and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. 16 And he treated Abram well for her sake, and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels. 17 And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife. 18 And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, "What have you done to me? Why didn't you tell me she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, She is my sister? I might have taken her as my wife, now therefore here's your wife, take her, and go your way." 20 And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him, and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had. ___Genesis chapter 13 1 And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. 2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he went on his journeys from the south to Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai, 4 To the place of the altar that he had made there at the first, and Abram called on the name of the Lord there. 5 And Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. 6 And the land was not able to bear them, so that they could live together, for their substance was great, so that they couldn't live together. 7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle, and the Canaanites and the Perizzites lived then in the land. 8 And Abram said to Lot, "Let there be no strife, please, between me and you, and between my herdmen and your herdmen, for we are brothers. 9 Isn't the whole land before you? Separate yourself, please, from me, if you take the left hand, then I'll go to the right, or if you go to the right hand, then I'll go to the left." 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east, and they separated themselves from each other. 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. 13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord very much. 14 And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "Lift up now your eyes, and look from the place where you are northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward, 15 For all the land that you see, I'll give it to you, and to your descendants forever. 16 And I will make your seed like the dust of the earth, so that if a man can count the dust of the earth, then shall your seed also be numbered. 17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the width of it, for I will give it to you." 18 Then Abram moved his tent, and came and lived in the plain of Mamre, that is in Hebron, and built an altar to the Lord there. ___Genesis chapter 14 1 And in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations, 2 These made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar. 3 All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea. 4 They served Chedorlaomer twelve years, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 And in the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer came, and the kings that were with him, and struck the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim, 6 And the Horites in their Mount Seir, to Elparan, which is by the wilderness. 7 And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and struck all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that lived in Hazezontamar. 8 And the king of Sodom went out, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar,) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim, 9 With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar, four kings with five. 10 And the vale of Siddim was full of slime pits, and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there, and those who remained fled to the mountain. 11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their food, and went their way. 12 And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who lived in Sodom, and his goods, and departed. 13 And someone that had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, for he lived in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner, and these were allies with Abram. 14 And when Abram heard that his brother had been taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred eighteen of them, and pursued them to Dan. 15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and struck them, and pursued them to Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. 17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale. 18 And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine, and he was the priest of the most high God. 19 And he blessed him, and said, "Blessed be Abram by the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth, 20 And blessed be the most high God, who has given your enemies into your hand." And he gave him tithes of all. 21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the persons, and take the goods to yourself." 22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have lifted up my hand to the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, 23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelace, and that I will not take anything that is yours, so that you won't say, I've made Abram rich, 24 Except for that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre, let them take their portion." ___Genesis chapter 15 1 After these things, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Don't be afraid, Abram, I am your shield, and your very great reward." 2 And Abram said, "Lord God, what will you give me, since I'm childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?" 3 And Abram said, "See, to me you've given no child, and see, someone born in my house is my heir." 4 And the word of the Lord came to him, saying, "This won't be your heir, but he that shall come out of your own body shall be your heir." 5 And he brought him outside, and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars, if you're able," and he said to him, "So shall your seed be." 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him for righteousness. 7 And he said to him, "I am the Lord that brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to inherit it." 8 And he said, "Lord God, how will I know that I'll inherit it?" 9 And he said to him, "Take me a heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon." 10 And he took all these, and divided them in the middle, and laid each piece one against another, but the birds he didn't divide. 11 And when the birds came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. 12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram, and see, a horror of great darkness fell on him. 13 And he said to Abram, "Know of a surety that your descendants shall be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them, and they shall afflict them four hundred years, 14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, I will judge, and afterward they'll come out with great substance. 15 And you'll go to your ancestors in peace, you'll be buried at a good old age. 16 But in the fourth generation they'll come here again, for the sin of the Amorites is not yet full." 17 And when the sun went down, and it was dark, there was a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. 18 On the same day, the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I've given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, 19 The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, 20 And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, 21 And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites." ___Genesis chapter 16 1 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, bore him no children, and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said to Abram, "See, the Lord has restrained me from bearing, Please go in to my maid, perhaps I can obtain children by her." And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 And Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar, her Egyptian maid, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. 4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived, and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. 5 And Sarai said to Abram, "My wrong be on you, I have given my maid into your bosom, and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes, the Lord judge between me and you." 6 But Abram said to Sarai, "Your maid is in your hand, do with her as it pleases you." And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face. 7 And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain on the way to Shur. 8 And he said, "Hagar, Sarai's maid, where did you come from? And where will you go?" And she said, "I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai." 9 And the angel of the Lord said to her, "Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands." 10 And the angel of the Lord said to her, "I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be numbered for multitude." 11 And the angel of the Lord said to her, "See, you're with child, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Ishmael, because the Lord has heard your affliction. 12 And he will be a wild man, his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand will be against him, and he'll live in the presence of all his brothers." 13 And she called the name of the Lord that spoke to her, "You, God, see me," for she said, "Have I also here looked after him that sees me?" 14 So the well was called Beerlahairoi, see, it is between Kadesh and Bered. 15 And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called his son's name, that Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 And Abram was eighty six years old, when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram. ___Genesis chapter 17 1 And when Abram was ninety nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, "I am the Almighty God, walk before me, and be perfect. 2 And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you very much." 3 And Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, and said, 4 "As for me, see, my covenant is with you, and you'll be a father of many nations. 5 Nor shall your name anymore be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I've made you a father of many nations. 6 And I will make you very fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come out of you. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your children after you in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you, and to your children after you. 8 And I will give to you, and to your descendants after you, the land in which you're a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God." 9 And God said to Abraham, "You shall keep my covenant therefore, you, and your descendants after you in their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you, and your descendants after you, every male child among you shall be circumcised. 11 And you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be a token of the covenant between me and you. 12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money from any stranger, that is not of your descendants. 13 He that is born in your house, and he that is bought with your money, must be circumcised, and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 And the uncircumcised male child whose flesh of his foreskin hasn't been circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people, he has broken my covenant." 15 And God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name shall be Sarah. 16 And I will bless her, and give you a son also from her, yes, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations, kings of people shall be of her." 17 Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, "Shall a child be born to him that is a hundred years old? And shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?" 18 And Abraham said to God, "O that Ishmael might live before you!" 19 And God said, "Sarah your wife shall bear you a son indeed, and you'll call his name Isaac, and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. 20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you, see, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He'll father twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But I'll establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year." 22 And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham. 23 And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin on the same day, as God had said to him. 24 And Abraham was ninety nine years old, when he got circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 Abraham was circumcised and Ishmael his son on the same day. 27 And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money from the stranger, were circumcised with him. ___Genesis chapter 18 1 And the Lord appeared to him in the plains of Mamre, and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day, 2 And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and see, three men stood by him, and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, 3 And said, "My Lord, if I have now found favor in your sight, please don't go away from your servant, 4 Let a little water, please, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort you your hearts, after that you'll go, because that's why you've come to your servant." And they said, "Do what you've said." 6 And Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes on the hearth." 7 And Abraham ran to the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it to a young man, and he hurried to prepare it. 8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf that he'd prepared, and set it before them, and he stood by them under the tree, and they ate. 9 And they said to him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" And he said, "See, in the tent." 10 And he said, "I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and see, Sarah your wife shall have a son." And Sarah heard it in the tent door, that was behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age, and Sarah had stopped having menstrual periods. 12 Therefore Sarah laughed inside herself, saying, "After I've grown shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?" 13 And the Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, who am old? 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son." 15 Then Sarah denied, saying, "I didn't laugh," bcause she was afraid. And he said, "No, you laughed." 16 And the men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. 17 And the Lord said, "Shall I hide from Abraham the thing that I'll do, 18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do what's right, so the Lord will bring on Abraham that which he has spoken about him." 20 And the Lord said, "Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous, 21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done entirely according to the cry of it, that has come to me, and if not, I will know." 22 And the men turned their faces from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before the Lord. 23 And Abraham drew near, and said, "Will you also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 24 Possibly there are fifty righteous in the city, will you also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are there? 25 That be far from you to do like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, and that the righteous should be like the wicked, that be far from you, Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" 26 And the Lord said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous in the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes." 27 And Abraham answered and said, "See now, I've taken on me to speak to the Lord, who am but dust and ashes, 28 Possibly there shall lack five of the fifty righteous, will you destroy all the city for lack of five?" And he said, "If I find forty five there, I will not destroy it." 29 And he spoke to him yet again, and said, "Possibly there shall be forty found there." And he said, "I will not do it for forty's sake." 30 And he said to him, "Oh let the Lord not be angry, and I will speak, Possibly there shall thirty be found there." And he said, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there." 31 And he said, "See now, I have taken on me to speak to the Lord, Possibly there shall be twenty found there." And he said, "I will not destroy it for twenty's sake." 32 And he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once, possibly ten shall be found there." And he said, "I will not destroy it for ten's sake." 33 And the Lord went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place. ___Genesis chapter 19 1 And two angels went to Sodom at evening, and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom, and seeing them, Lot rose up to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground, 2 And he said, "See now, my lords, turn in, please, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and you shall rise up early, and go on your ways." And they said, "No, we'll stay in the street all night." 3 And he greatly urged them, and they turned in to him, and entered into his house, and he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. 4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, 5 And they called to Lot, and said to him, "Where are the men that came into your house tonight? Bring them out to us, so we can know them." 6 And Lot went out of the door to them, and shut the door after him, 7 And said, "Please, brothers, don't do so wickedly. 8 See now, I have two daughters that are virgins, please let me bring them out to you, and do to them as seems good in your eyes, but to these men do nothing, for that's why they've come under the shadow of my roof." 9 And they said, "Stand back." And they said again, "This one fellow came in to visit for a while, and now he wants to be a judge, now we'll deal worse with you, than with them." And they pressed severely against the man, Lot, and nearly broke the door. 10 But the men put out their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut the door. 11 And they struck the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves to find the door. 12 And the men said to Lot, "Do you have any here besides? Son in law, and your sons, and your daughters, and whatever you have in the city, bring them out of this place, 13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them has grown great before the face of the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it." 14 And Lot went out, and spoke to his sons in law, who married his daughters, and said, "Up, get out of this place, for the Lord will destroy this city." But he seemed like someone kidding around to his sons in law. 15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hurried Lot, saying, "Get up, take your wife, and your two daughters, that are here, so you won't be consumed in the sin of the city." 16 And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, and on the hand of his wife, and on the hand of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out, and set him outside the city. 17 And when they had brought them out, he said, "Escape for your life, don't look behind you, and don't stay in all the plain, escape to the mountain, so that you won't be consumed. 18 And Lot said to them, "Oh, not so, my Lord, 19 See now, your servant has found grace in your sight, and you've magnified your mercy, that you've shown me in saving my life, and I can't escape to the mountain, or some evil might happen to me, and I die, 20 See now, this city is near to flee to, and it's a little one, Oh, let me escape to it, (isn't it a little one?) and my soul shall live." 21 And he said to him, "See, I have accepted you concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for which you've spoken. 22 Hurry up, escape to it, for I can't do anything until you get there." Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. 23 The sun had risen on the earth when Lot entered Zoar. 24 Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and on Gomorrah from the Lord out of heaven, 25 And he destroyed those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew on the ground. 26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. 27 And Abraham got up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord, 28 And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and saw, and see, the smoke of the country went up like the smoke of a furnace. 29 And when God destroyed the cities of the plain, God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the middle of the destruction, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot lived. 30 And Lot went up out of Zoar, and lived in the mountain, and his two daughters with him, for he was afraid to live in Zoar, and he lived in a cave, he and his two daughters. 31 And the firstborn said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in to us after the manner of all the earth, 32 Come, let's make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, so we can preserve seed of our father." 33 And they made their father drink wine that night, and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father, and he didn't notice when she lay down, nor when she got up. 34 And on the next day, the firstborn said to the younger, "See, I lay last night with my father, let us make him drink wine tonight also, and you go in, and lie with him, so we can preserve seed of our father." 35 And they made their father drink wine that night also, and the younger got up, and lay with him, and he didn't notice when she lay down, nor when she got up. 36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot pregnant by their father. 37 And the firstborn bore a son, and called his name Moab, the same is the father of the Moabites to this day. 38 And the younger, she also bore a son, and called his name Benammi, the same is the father of the children of Ammon to this day. ___Genesis chapter 20 1 And Abraham journeyed from there toward the south country, and lived between Kadesh and Shur, and stayed for awhile in Gerar. 2 And Abraham said about Sarah his wife, "She is my sister," and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, "See, you are but a dead man, for the woman that you've taken, for she is a man's wife." 4 But Abimelech had not come near her, and he said, "Lord, will you kill also a righteous nation? 5 Didn't he say to me, She is my sister? And she, even she herself said, he is my brother. In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this." 6 And God said to him in a dream, "Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart, for I also withheld you from sinning against me, therefore I didn't allow you to touch her. 7 Now therefore restore to the man his wife, for he is a prophet, and he'll pray for you, and you'll live, and if you don't restore her, know that you'll surely die, you, and all that are yours." 8 Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears, and the men were very afraid. 9 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 on my kingdom a great sin? You've done deeds to me that ought not to be done." 10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, "What did you see, that caused you to do this thing?" 11 And Abraham said, "Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place, and they'll kill me for my wife's sake. 12 And yet indeed she is my sister, she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. 13 And when God caused me to wander from my father's house, I said to her, this is your kindness that you'll show me, everywhere we go, say about me, he's my brother." 14 And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and men servants, and women servants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored to him Sarah his wife. 15 And Abimelech said, "See, my land is before you, live where it pleases you." 16 And to Sarah he said, "See, I've given your brother a thousand pieces of silver, see, he is to you a covering of the eyes, to all that are with you, and with all others, thus she was reproved." 17 So Abraham prayed to God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants, and they bore children. 18 For the Lord had tightly closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham's wife. ___Genesis chapter 21 1 And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had spoken. 2 For Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time about which God had spoken to him. 3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac. 4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 And Abraham was a hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 And Sarah said, "God has made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me." 7 And she said, "Who would have said to Abraham, that Sarah would have given children suck? For I have born him a son in his old age." 8 And the child grew, and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. 9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, that she had born to Abraham, mocking. 10 So she said to Abraham, "Throw out this bondwoman and her son, for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son Isaac." 11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son. 12 And God said to Abraham, "Let it not be grievous in your sight because of the lad, and because of your bondwoman, in all that Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice, for in Isaac shall your descendants be called. 13 And also of the son of the bondwoman I will make a nation, because he is your descendant. 14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away, and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. 15 And the water was spent in the bottle, and she put the child under one of the shrubs. 16 And she went, and sat down opposite him a good way off, like a bowshot, for she said, "Let me not see the death of the child." And she sat opposite him, and lifted up her voice, and cried. 17 And God heard the voice of the lad, and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, "What ails you, Hagar? Don't be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. 18 Get up, lift up the lad, and hold him in you hand, for I will make him a great nation." 19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water, and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad a drink. 20 And God was with the lad, and he grew, and lived in the wilderness, and became an archer. 21 And he lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt. 22 And at that time, Abimelech and Phichol, the General of his army, spoke to Abraham, and said, "God is with you in all that you do, 23 Now therefore swear to me here by God that you won't deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son, but according to the kindness that I've done to you, you shall do to me, and to the land in which you've been staying." 24 And Abraham said, "I will swear." 25 And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away. 26 And Abimelech said, "I don't know who did this, nor did you tell me, nor did I hear about it until today." 27 And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them to Abimelech, and both of them made a covenant. 28 And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. 29 And Abimelech said to Abraham, "What do these seven ewe lambs mean that you've set by themselves?" 30 And he said, "These seven ewe lambs you'll take from my hand, so they'll be a witness for me, that I've dug this well." 31 So he called that place Beersheba, because both of them swore there. 32 Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba, then Abimelech got up, and Phichol the General of his army, and they returned into the land of the Philistines. 33 And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God. 34 And Abraham lived in the Philistines' land many days. ___Genesis chapter 22 1 And after these things, God tempted Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham," and he said, "See, I'm here." 2 And he said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and get into the land of Moriah, and offer him there for a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I'll tell you about." 3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and split the wood for the burnt offering, and got up, and went to the place about which God had told him. 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place far off. 5 And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the ass, and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and return to you." 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and they went both together. 7 And Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, "My father," and he said, "Here I am, my son." And he said, "See the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" 8 And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering," so they went both together. 9 And they came to the place that God had told him about, and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and tied Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar on the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched out his hand, and took the knife to kill his son. 11 And the angel of the Lord called to him out of heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham," and he said, "Here I am." 12 And he said, "Don't lay your hand on the lad, and don't do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you haven't withheld your son, your only son from me." 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and saw behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns, and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh, as it is said until this day, In the mountain of the Lord it shall be seen. 15 And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven the second time, 16 And said, "By myself I've sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 That in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants like the stars of the heaven, and like the sand that is on the sea shore, and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies, 18 And in your descendants shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice." 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba, and Abraham lived at Beersheba. 20 And after these things, Abraham was told, "Behold, Milcah, she has also born children to your brother Nahor, 21 Huz his firstborn, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram, 22 And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel. 23 And Bethuel begat Rebekah, these eight did Milcah bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother. 24 And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bore also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah." ___Genesis chapter 23 1 And Sarah was one hundred twenty seven years old, these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 And Sarah died in Kirjatharba, which is Hebron in the land of Canaan, and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. 3 And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, 4 "I am a stranger and a visitor with you, give me a possession of a burying place with you, so I can bury my dead out of my sight." 5 And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, 6 "Hear us, my lord, you are a mighty prince among us, in the choice of our tombs bury your dead, none of us shall withhold from you his tomb, so you can bury your dead." 7 And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, to the children of Heth. 8 And he communed with them, saying, "If it is your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and speak for me to Ephron the son of Zohar, 9 To give me the cave of Machpelah, that he has, that is in the end of his field, for as much money as it is worth he shall give it to me for a possession of a burying place among you. 10 And Ephron lived among the children of Heth, and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying, 11 "No, my lord, hear me, I give you the field and the cave that is in it, I give it to you, in the presence of the sons of my people I give it to you, bury your dead." 12 And Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land. 13 And he spoke to Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, and said, "But if you'll give it, please listen to me, I'll give you money for the field, take it from me, and I'll bury my dead there." 14 And Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, 15 "My lord, listen to me, the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is that between me and you? Bury therefore your dead." 16 And Abraham listened to Ephron, and Abraham weighed the silver for Ephron, that he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant. 17 And the field of Ephron, that was in Machpelah, that was before Mamre, the field, and the cave that was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders there, were made sure 18 To Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city. 19 And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre, the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan. 20 And the field, and the cave that is in it, were made sure to Abraham for a possession of a burying place by the sons of Heth. ___Genesis chapter 24 1 And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age, and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. 2 And Abraham said to his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, "Please put your hand under my thigh, 3 And I'll make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that you won't take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live, 4 But you'll go to my country, and to my kin, and take a wife for my son Isaac." 5 And the servant said to him, "Perhaps the woman won't be willing to follow me to this land, should I then take your son back to the land you came from?" 6 And Abraham said to him, "Beware that you don't take my son there again. 7 The Lord God of heaven, who took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kin, and who spoke to me, and that swore to me, saying, to your seed I'll give this land, he shall send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. 8 And if the woman isn't willing to follow you, then you'll be excused from this oath, only don't take my son there again." 9 And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning that matter. 10 And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed, for all the goods of his master were in his hand, and he got up, and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. 11 And he made his camels to kneel down outside the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, at the time that women go out to draw water. 12 And he said, "O Lord God of my master Abraham, please send me good speed this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 See, I stand here by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water, 14 And let it be, that the young woman to whom I shall say, Please let down your pitcher so I can drink, and she'll say, Drink, and I'll give your camels water also, let her be the one that you've appointed for your servant Isaac, and thereby I'll know that you've shown kindness to my master." 15 And before he had done speaking, see, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher on her shoulder. 16 And the young woman was beautiful to look at, a virgin, no man had known her, and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up. 17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, "Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher." 18 And she said, "Drink, my lord," and she hurried, and let down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him drink. 19 And when she had done giving him drink, she said, "I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking." 20 And she hurried, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. 21 And the man wondering at her held his peace, to know whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not. 22 And as the camels had finished drinking, the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold, 23 And said, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father's house for us to lodge in?" 24 And she said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, that she bore to Nahor." 25 She said also to him, "We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in." 26 And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord. 27 And he said, "Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hasn't left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth, I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master's brothers." 28 And the young woman ran, and told those of her mother's house these things. 29 And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban, and Laban ran out to the man, to the well. 30 And when he saw the earring and bracelets on his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, "This is what the man said to me, he came to the man, and, see, he stood by the camels at the well." 31 And he said, "Come in, you blessed of the Lord, why do you stand outside? For I've prepared the house, and room for the camels." 32 And the man came into the house, and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him. 33 And food was set before him to eat, but he said, "I won't eat, until I have told my errand." And he said, "Tell us." 34 And he said, "I am Abraham's servant. 35 And the Lord has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great, and he has given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses. 36 And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old, and to him he has given all that he has. 37 And my master made me swear, saying, You shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live, 38 But you shall go to my father's house, and to my kin, and take a wife for my son." 39 And I said to my master, "Perhaps the woman won't follow me." 40 And he said to me, "The Lord, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and prosper your way, and you shall take a wife for my son of my kin, and of my father's house, 41 Then you'll be excused from this oath, when you come to my kin, if they won't give you one, you'll be excused from my oath. 42 And I came this day to the well, and said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, if now you do prosper my way that I go, 43 See, I stand by the well of water, and when the virgin comes out to draw water, and I say to her, Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink, 44 And she says to me, Drink yourself, and I will also draw for your camels, let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master's son. 45 And before I had done speaking in my heart, see, Rebekah came out with her pitcher on her shoulder, and she went down to the well, and drew water, and I said to her, Let me drink, please. 46 And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give your camels drink also, so I drank, and she made the camels drink also. 47 And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter are you? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him, and I put the earring on her ear, and the bracelets on her hands. 48 And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the Lord, and blessed the Lord God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter to his son. 49 And now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me, and if not, tell me, so I can turn to the right hand, or to the left." 50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered, "The thing proceeds from the Lord, we can't speak to you bad or good. 51 See, Rebekah is before you, take her, and go, and let her be your master's son's wife, as the Lord has spoken." 52 And when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth. 53 And the servant brought out jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah, he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things. 54 And they ate and drank, he and the men that were with him, and waited all night, and they rose up in the morning, and he said, "Send me away to my master." 55 And her brother and her mother said, "Let the young woman remain with us a few days, at least ten, after that she'll go." 56 And he said to them, "Don't hinder me, seeing the Lord has prospered my way, send me away so I can go to my master." 57 And they said, "We will call the young woman, and ask her." 58 And they called Rebekah, and said to her, "Are you willing to go with this man?" And she said, "I will go." 59 And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said to her, "You are our sister, be the mother of thousands of millions, and let your descendants possess the gate of those who hate them." 61 And Rebekah got up, and her young women, and they rode on the camels, and followed the man, and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. 62 And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi, for he lived in the south country. 63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at evening, and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and the camels were coming. 64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she got off the camel. 65 For she had said to the servant, "What man is this that walks in the field to meet us?" And the servant had said, "It is my master, so she took a veil, and covered herself." 66 And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. 67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her, and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. ___Genesis chapter 25 1 Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. 2 And she bore him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim. 4 And the sons of Midian, Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. 5 And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac. 6 But to the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, to the east country. 7 And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, one hundred seventy five years. 8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years, and was gathered to his people. 9 And his sons, Isaac and Ishmael, buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, that is before Mamre, 10 The field that Abraham bought from the sons of Heth, Abraham was buried there, and Sarah his wife. 11 And after the death of Abraham, God blessed his son Isaac, and Isaac lived by the well Lahairoi. 12 Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bore to Abraham, 13 And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations, the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth, and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, 14 And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa, 15 Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah, 16 These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles, twelve princes according to their nations. 17 And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, one hundred thirty seven years, and he gave up the ghost and died, and was gathered to his people. 18 And they lived from Havilah to Shur, that is before Egypt, as you go toward Assyria, and he died in the presence of all his brothers. 19 And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son, Abraham fathered Isaac, 20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. 21 And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren, and the Lord was entreated by him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 And the children struggled together inside her, and she said, "If it be so, why am I this way?" And she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two kinds of people shall be separated from your belly, and the one people shall be stronger than the other people, and the elder shall serve the younger. 24 And when her days to receive deliverance were fulfilled, see, there were twins in her womb. 25 And the first came out red all over like a hairy garment, and they called his name Esau. 26 And after that, his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau's heel, and his name was called Jacob, and Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. 27 And the boys grew, and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field, and Jacob was a plain man, living in tents. 28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he ate of his venison, but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 And Jacob made pottage, and Esau came from the field, and he was faint, 30 And Esau said to Jacob, "Feed me, please, with that same red pottage, for I am faint," that's why he was called Edom. 31 And Jacob said, "Sell me this day your birthright." 32 And Esau said, "See, I am at the point to die, and what profit shall this birthright do to me?" 33 And Jacob said, "Swear to me this day," and he swore to him, and he sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils, and he ate and drank, and rose up, and went his way, thus Esau despised his birthright. ___Genesis chapter 26 1 And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines to Gerar. 2 And the Lord appeared to him, and said, "Don't go down into Egypt, live in the land that I shall tell you about, 3 Live for a while in this land, and I will be with you, and will bless you, for to you, and to your descendants, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath that I swore to Abraham your father, 4 And I will make your descendants to multiply like the stars of heaven, and will give to your descendants all these countries, and in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, 5 Because Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." 6 And Isaac lived in Gerar, 7 And the men of the place asked him about his wife, and he said, "She is my sister," for he was afraid to say, "She is my wife," or, he said, "The men of the place might kill me for Rebekah," because she was beautiful to look at. 8 And when he had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out of a window, and saw, and Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife. 9 And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, "See, she is surely your wife, and why did you say She is my sister?" And Isaac said to him, "Because I said, So I won't die for her." 10 And Abimelech said, What is this you've done to us? One of the people might lightly have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us. 11 And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, "He that touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death." 12 Then Isaac planted in that land, and received in the same year a hundredfold, and the Lord blessed him. 13 And the man became great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great, 14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants, and the Philistines envied him. 15 For all the wells that his father's servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with dirt. 16 And Abimelech said to Isaac, "Go from us, for you are much mightier than we are." 17 And Isaac departed from there, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and lived there. 18 And Isaac dug again the wells of water, that they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham, and he called their names the same as his father had named them. 19 And Isaac's servants dug in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. 20 And the herdmen of Gerar strove with Isaac's herdmen, saying, "The water is ours," and he called the name of the well Esek, because they strove with him. 21 And they dug another well, and strove for that also, and he called the name of it Sitnah. 22 And he moved from there, and dug another well, and they didn't strive for that, and he called the name of it Rehoboth, and he said, "For now the Lord has made room for us, and we'll be fruitful in the land." 23 And he went up from there to Beersheba. 24 And the Lord appeared to him the same night, and said, "I am the God of Abraham your father, don't be afraid, for I am with you, and will bless you, and multiply your descendants for my servant Abraham's sake." 25 And he built an altar there, and called on the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there, and there Isaac's servants dug a well. 26 Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol, the General of his army. 27 And Isaac said to them, "Why do you come to me, since you hate me, and have sent me away from you?" 28 And they said, "We saw certainly that the Lord was with you, and we said, Let there now be an oath between us, between us and you, and let us make a covenant with you, 29 That you'll do us no hurt, as we have not touched you, and as we have done to you nothing but good, and have sent you away in peace, you are now the blessed of the Lord." 30 And he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. 31 And they got up in the morning, and swore to each other, and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace. 32 And Isaac's servants came, and told him concerning the well that they had dug, and said to him, "We've found water." 33 And he called it Shebah, therefore the name of the city is Beersheba until this day. 34 And Esau was forty years old when he took as wife Judith, the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath, the daughter of Elon the Hittite, 35 Which were a grief of mind to Isaac and to Rebekah. ___Genesis chapter 27 1 And when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he couldn't see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said to him, "My son," and he said to him, "See, I am here." 2 And he said, "See now, I am old, I don't know the day of my death, 3 Now therefore please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison, 4 And make me savory meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, so I can eat, so my soul can bless you before I die." 5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. 6 And Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, "See, I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, 7 Bring me venison, and make me savory meat, so I can eat, and bless you before the Lord before my death. 8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to what I command you. 9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from there two good kids of the goats, and I will make them savory meat for your father, such as he loves, 10 And you'll bring it to your father, so he can eat, and bless you before his death." 11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, "See, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man, 12 My father perhaps will feel me, and I'll seem to him to be a deceiver, and I'll bring a curse on me, and not a blessing." 13 And his mother said to him, "On me be your curse, my son, only obey my voice, and go fetch them for me." 14 And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother, and his mother made savory meat, such as his father loved. 15 And Rebekah took good clothes of her eldest son Esau, that were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son, 16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats on his hands, and on the smooth of his neck, 17 And she gave the savory meat and the bread, that she'd prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. 18 And he came to his father, and said, "My father," and he said, "Here am I, who are you, my son?" 19 And Jacob said to his father, "I am Esau your firstborn, I've done as you told me, please get up, sit and eat of my venison, so your soul will bless me." 20 And Isaac said to his son, "How is it that you've found it so quickly, my son?" And he said, "Because the Lord your God brought it to me." 21 And Isaac said to Jacob, "Please come near, so I can feel you, my son, whether you are my very son Esau or not." 22 And Jacob went near to Isaac his father, and he felt him, and said, "The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau." 23 And he didn't discern him, because his hands were hairy, like his brother Esau's hands, so he blessed him. 24 And he said, "Are you my very son Esau?" And he said, I am. 25 And he said, "Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, so my soul can bless you." And he brought it near to him, and he ate, and he brought him wine, and he drank. 26 And his father Isaac said to him, "Come near now, and kiss me, my son." 27 And he came near, and kissed him, and he smelled the smell of his clothes, and blessed him, and said, "See, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed, 28 Therefore God give you of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine, 29 Let people serve you, and nations bow down to you, be lord over your brothers, and let your mother's sons bow down to you, cursed is everyone that curses you, and blessed be he that blesses you." 30 And as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob had yet barely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31 And he also had made savory meat, and brought it to his father, and said to his father, "Let my father get up, and eat of his son's venison, so your soul can bless me." 32 And Isaac his father said to him, "Who are you?" And he said, "I am your son, your firstborn, Esau." 33 And Isaac trembled very much, and said, "Who? Where is he that has taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before you came, and have blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed." 34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and very bitter cry, and said to his father, "Bless me, even me also, O my father." 35 And he said, "Your brother came with subtlety, and has taken away your blessing." 36 And he said, "Is not he rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times, he took away my birthright, and see, now he has taken away my blessing." And he said, "Haven't you reserved a blessing for me?" 37 And Isaac answered and said to Esau, "See, I've made him your lord, and all his brothers I've given to him for servants, and with corn and wine I've sustained him, and what shall I do now to you, my son?" 38 And Esau said to his father, "Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me also, O my father." And Esau lifted up his voice, and cried. 39 And Isaac his father answered and said to him, "See, your dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above, 40 And by your sword you'll live, and shall serve your brother, and it shall be when you shall have the dominion, that you'll break his yoke off your neck." 41 And 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 at hand, then I'll kill my brother Jacob." 42 And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah, and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said to him, "See, your brother Esau, concerning you, comforts himself, purposing to kill you. 43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice, and get up, flee to Laban my brother to Haran, 44 And stay with him a few days, until your brother's fury turns away, 45 Until your brother's anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you've done to him, then I will send, and fetch you from there, why should I be deprived of you both in one day?" 46 And Rebekah said to Isaac, "I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth, if Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these that are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?" ___Genesis chapter 28 1 And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said to him, "You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. 2 Get up, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel your mother's father, and take a wife from there of the daughters of Laban your mother's brother. 3 And God Almighty bless you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, so that you'll become a multitude of people, 4 And give you the blessing of Abraham, to you, and to your descendants with you, so that you'll inherit the land in which you're a stranger, that God gave to Abraham." 5 And Isaac sent away Jacob, and he went to Padanaram to Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother. 6 When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he gave him instructions, saying, "You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan," 7 And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and went to Padanaram, 8 And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan didn't please Isaac his father, 9 Then Esau went to Ishmael, and added to the wives that he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife. 10 And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. 11 And he stopped at a certain place, and stayed there all night, because the sun had set, and he took a stone from there, and placed it for his pillows, and laid down there to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and see a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven, and the angels of God were going up and down on it. 13 And see, the Lord stood above it, and said, "I am the Lord God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac, the land on which you're lying, I'll give it to you, and to your descendants, 14 And your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth, and you'll spread out to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south, and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 And see, I'm with you, and will keep you in all places where you go, and will bring you again into this land, for I won't leave you, until I've done what I've told you about." 16 And Jacob awoke from his sleep, and he said, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I didn't know it." 17 And he was afraid, and said, "How dreadful this place is! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." 18 And Jacob got up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil on the top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. 20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and will keep me in the way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and clothes to wear, 21 So that I come again to my father's house in peace, then shall the Lord be my God, 22 And this stone, that I've set for a pillar, shall be God's house, and of all that you give me I will surely give a tenth to you." ___Genesis chapter 29 1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. 2 And he looked, and see, a well in the field, and see, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it, for out of that well they watered the flocks, and a large stone was on the well's mouth. 3 And all the flocks were gathered there, and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone back on the well's mouth in its place. 4 And Jacob said to them, "My brothers, where are you from?" And they said, "We're from Haran." 5 And he said to them, "Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?" And they said, "We know him." 6 And he said to them, "Is he well?" And they said, "He is well, and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep." 7 And he said, "See, it is yet high day, and it's not time for the cattle to be gathered together, water the sheep, and go and feed them." 8 And they said, "We can't, until all the flocks are gathered together, and 'til they roll the stone from the well's mouth, then we water the sheep." 9 And while he yet talked with them, "Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she kept them." 10 And when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. 11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and cried. 12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son, and she ran and told her father. 13 When Laban heard the news of Jacob his sister's son, he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things. 14 And Laban said to him, "Surely you are my bone and my flesh." And he stayed with him the space of a month. 15 And Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?" 16 And Laban had two daughters, the name of the older one was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah was tender eyed, but Rachel was beautiful and well favored. 18 And Jacob loved Rachel, and said, "I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter." 19 And Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you, than for me to give her to another man, stay with me." 20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her. 21 And Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, so I can go in to her." 22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23 And in the evening, he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him, and he went in to her. 24 And Laban gave to his daughter Leah, Zilpah his maid for a handmaid. 25 And in the morning, see, it was Leah, and he said to Laban, "What is this that you've done to me? Didn't I serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?" 26 And Laban said, "It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Fulfill her week, and we will give you this also for the service that you'll serve with me yet seven other years." 28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week, and he gave him Rachel his daughter as wife also. 29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. 30 And he went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. 31 And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32 And Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, "Surely the Lord has looked at my affliction, now therefore my husband will love me." 33 And she conceived again, and bore a son, and said, "Because the Lord has heard that I was hated, he has therefore given me this son also," and she called his name Simeon. 34 And she conceived again, and bore a son, and said, "Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have born him three sons," therefore his name was called Levi. 35 And she conceived again, and bore a son, and she said, "Now I'll praise the Lord," therefore she called his name Judah, and stopped bearing. ___Genesis chapter 30 1 And when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said to Jacob, "Give me children, or else I die." 2 And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, "Am I in God's place, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?" 3 And she said, "Here's my maid Bilhah, go in to her, and she shall bear on my knees, so I can also have children by her." 4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid as wife, and Jacob went in to her. 5 And Bilhah conceived, and bore Jacob a son. 6 And Rachel said, "God has judged me, and has also heard my voice," and has given me a son, therefore she called his name Dan. 7 And Bilhah, Rachel's maid, conceived again, and bore Jacob a second son. 8 And Rachel said, "With great wrestlings, I've wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed," and she called his name Naphtali. 9 When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her to Jacob as wife. 10 And Zilpah, Leah's maid, bore Jacob a son. 11 And Leah said, "A troop is coming," and she called his name Gad. 12 And Zilpah, Leah's maid, bore Jacob a second son. 13 And Leah said, "I am happy, for the daughters will call me blessed," and she called his name Asher. 14 And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found 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." 15 And she said to her, "Is it a small matter that you've taken my husband? And do you want to take my son's mandrakes, too?" And Rachel said, "Therefore he shall lie with you to night for your son's mandrakes." 16 And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, "You must come in to me, for surely I have hired you with my son's mandrakes." And he lay with her that night. 17 And God listened to Leah, and she conceived, and bore Jacob the fifth son. 18 And Leah said, "God has given me my wages, because I've given my maid to my husband," and she called his name Issachar. 19 And Leah conceived again, and bore Jacob the sixth son. 20 And Leah said, "God has given me a good dowry, now my husband will live with me, because I have born him six sons," and she called his name Zebulun. 21 And afterwards she bore a daughter, and called her name Dinah. 22 And God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her, and opened her womb. 23 And she conceived, and bore a son, and said, "God has taken away my reproach," 24 And she called his name Joseph, and said, "The Lord shall add to me another son." 25 And when Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, "Send me away, so I can go to my own place, and to my country. 26 Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served you, and let me go, for you know my service that I've done for you." 27 And Laban said to him, "Please, if I have found favor in your eyes, stay, for I have learned by experience that the Lord has blessed me for your sake." 28 And he said, "Appoint me your wages, and I will give it." 29 And he said to him, "You know how I have served you, and how your cattle were with me. 30 For it was little that you had before I came, and it has now increased to a multitude, and the Lord has blessed you since my coming, and now how shall I provide for my own house also?" 31 And he said, "What shall I give you?" And Jacob said, "Don't give me anything, if you'll do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep your flock, 32 I will go through all your flock today, removing from there all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats, and of such shall be my hire. 33 So shall my righteousness answer for me in the future, when it shall come for my hire before your face, each one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me." 34 And Laban said, "O.K., we'll do that." 35 And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and each one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons. 36 And he set three days' journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks. 37 And Jacob took rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chestnut tree, and made white streaks in them, and made the white appear that was in the rods. 38 And he set the rods that he had made before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, so they would conceive when they came to drink. 39 And the flocks conceived before the rods, and produced cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted. 40 And Jacob separated the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban, and he put his own flocks by themselves, and didn't put them with Laban's cattle. 41 And whenever the stronger cattle conceived, Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, so they would conceive among the rods. 42 But when the cattle were feeble, he didn't put them in, so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's. 43 And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses. ___Genesis chapter 31 1 And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, "Jacob has taken away all that was our father's, and of what was our father's he has gotten all this glory." 2 And Jacob saw the face of Laban, and see, it was not toward him as before. 3 And the Lord said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your fathers, and to your kin, and I will be with you." 4 And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field to his flock, 5 And said to them, "I see your father's face, that it is not toward me like before, but the God of my father has been with me. 6 And you know that with all my power I've served your father. 7 And your father has deceived me, and changed my wages ten times, but God didn't allow him to hurt me. 8 If he said, The speckled shall be your wages, then all the cattle bore speckled, and if he said, The ringstraked shall be your wages, then all the cattle bore ringstraked. 9 Thus God has taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me. 10 And at the time that the cattle conceived, I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream, and see, the rams that jumped up on the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled. 11 And the angel of God spoke to me in a dream, saying, Jacob, And I said, I am here. 12 And he said, Lift up your eyes now, and see, all the rams that jump up on the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled, for I have seen all that Laban has done to you. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar, and where you vowed a vow to me, now get up, get out of this land, and return to the land of your kin." 14 And Rachel and Leah answered him, "Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house? 15 Aren't we counted strangers by him? For he has sold us, and has also quite devoured our money. 16 For all the riches that God has taken from our father, that is ours, and our children's, now then, do whatever God has said to you." 17 Then Jacob got up, and set his sons and his wives on camels, 18 And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods that he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, that he had gotten in Padanaram, to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan. 19 And Laban went to shear his sheep, and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's. 20 And Jacob sneaked away unaware to Laban the Syrian, in that he didn't tell him that he was going. 21 So he fled with all that he had, and he got up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward Mount Gilead. 22 And someone told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled. 23 And he took his brothers with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey, and they overtook him in Mount Gilead. 24 And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, "Make sure you don't speak to Jacob either good or bad." 25 Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountain, and Laban with his brothers pitched in Mount Gilead. 26 And Laban said to Jacob, "What have you done, that you've stolen away unaware to me, and carried away my daughters, like captives taken by the sword? 27 Why did you flee away secretly, and steal away from me, and didn't tell me, so I could send you away with laughter, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp? 28 And haven't allowed me to kiss my sons and my daughters? You've now done foolishly in so doing. 29 It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, Make sure you don't speak to Jacob either good or bad. 30 And now, though you want to be gone, because you severely long for your father's house, yet why have you stolen my gods?" 31 And Jacob answered and said to Laban, "Because I was afraid, for I said, Perhaps you would take your daughters from me by force. 32 With whomever you find your gods, let him not live, before our brothers discern what is yours with me, and take it. For Jacob didn't know that Rachel had stolen them. 33 And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maidservants' tents, but he didn't find them. Then he went out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent. 34 Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat on them. And Laban searched all the tent, but didn't find them. 35 And she said to her father, "Let it not displease my lord that I can't rise up before you, for the custom of women is on me." And he searched, but didn't find the images. 36 And Jacob was angry, and spoke sharply to Laban, and Jacob said to Laban, "What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you've so hotly pursued after me? 37 Now that you've searched all my stuff, what have you found of all your household stuff? Set it here before my brothers and your brothers, so they can judge between us both. 38 These twenty years I've been with you, your ewes and your she goats haven't cast their young, and the rams of your flock I haven't eaten. 39 That which was torn by beasts I didn't bring to you, I bore the loss of it, you required it from my hand, whether stolen in the daytime, or stolen at night. 40 Thus I was, in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night, and my sleep departed from my eyes. 41 Thus I have been twenty years in your house, I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your cattle, and you've changed my wages ten times. 42 Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely you would have now sent me away empty. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and reprimanded you last night." 43 And Laban answered and said to Jacob, "These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that you see is mine, and what can I do this day to these my daughters, or to their children which they have given birth to? 44 Now therefore come, let's make a covenant, me and you, and let it be for a witness between me and you." 45 And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar. 46 And Jacob said to his brothers, "Gather stones," and they took stones, and made a heap, and they ate there on the heap. 47 And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. 48 And Laban said, "This heap is a witness between me and you this day." Therefore the name of it was called Galeed, 49 And Mizpah, for he said, "The Lord watch between me and you, when we are absent from each other. 50 If you afflict my daughters, or if you take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us, see, God is witness between me and you." 51 And Laban said to Jacob, "Look at this heap, and look at this pillar, that I have piled up between me and you, 52 This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and that you shall not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, for harm. 53 The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us." And Jacob swore by the fear of his father Isaac. 54 Then Jacob offered sacrifice on the mountain, and called his brothers to eat bread, and they ate bread, and stayed all night in the mountain. 55 And early in the morning Laban got up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them, and Laban departed, and returned to his place. ___Genesis chapter 32 1 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, "This is God's host," and he called the name of that place Mahanaim. 3 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother to the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4 And he commanded them, saying, "Here's what to say to my lord Esau, your servant Jacob says, I've been staying with Laban until now, 5 And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and women servants, and I have sent to tell my lord, so that I'll find grace in your sight." 6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, "We came to your brother Esau, and also he's coming to meet you, and four hundred men with him." 7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed, and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands, 8 And said, "If Esau comes to the one company, and strikes it, then the other company that is left shall escape." 9 And 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 kin, and I will deal well with you, 10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, that you've shown to your servant, for with my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I've become two bands. 11 Deliver me, please, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, so he won't come and strike me, and the mother with the children. 12 And you said, I will surely do you good, and make your seed like the sand of the sea, that can't be numbered for multitude." 13 And he lodged there that same night, and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother, 14 Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams, 15 Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals. 16 And he delivered them into the hands of his servants, every drove by themselves, and said to his servants, "Pass over before me, and put a space between drove and drove." 17 And he commanded the one in front, saying, "When Esau my brother meets you, and asks you, Whose are you? And where are you going? And whose are these before you?" 18 Then you shall say, "They are your servant Jacob's, it is a present sent to my lord Esau, and see, he is behind us, also." 19 And like that he commanded the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, "Here's what to say to Esau, when you find him. 20 And say also, See, your servant Jacob is behind us." For he said, "I will pacify him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face, perhaps he will accept it from me." 21 So the present went over before him, and he lodged that night with the group. 22 And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two women servants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. 23 And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had. 24 And Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when he saw that he didn't prevail against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." And he said, "I won't let you go, unless you bless me." 27 And he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." 28 And he said, "Your name shall no more be called Jacob, but Israel, for like a prince you have power with God and with men, and have prevailed." 29 And Jacob asked him, and said, "Please tell me your name." And he said, "Why do you ask for my name?" And he blessed him there. 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. 31 And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he walked with difficulty with his thigh. 32 Therefore the children of Israel don't eat of the sinew that shrank, which is on the hollow of the thigh, to this day, because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank. ___Genesis chapter 33 1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and see, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children to Leah, and to Rachel, and to the two handmaids. 2 And he put the handmaids and their children in front, and Leah and her children afterward, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear. 3 And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. 4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him, and they cried. 5 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children, and said, "Who are those with you?" And he said, "The children that God has graciously given your servant." 6 Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves. 7 And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves, and afterward Joseph came near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves. 8 And he said, "What did you mean by all this drove that I met?" And he said, "These are to find grace in the sight of my lord." 9 And Esau said, "I have enough, my brother, keep what you have for yourself." 10 And Jacob said, "No, please, if I have now found grace in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, for therefore I have seen your face, as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me. 11 Please take my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough." And he urged him, and he took it. 12 And he said, "Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before you." 13 And he said to him, "My lord knows that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me, and if men overdrive them one day, all the flock will die. 14 Let my lord, please, pass over before his servant, and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that go before me and the children are able to endure, until I come to my lord to Seir." 15 And Esau said, "Let me now leave with you some of the folk that are with me." And he said, "No need for that. Let me find grace in the sight of my lord." 16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built a house, and made booths for his cattle, therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. 18 And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram, and pitched his tent before the city. 19 And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, from the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for a hundred pieces of money. 20 And he erected an altar there, and called it Elelohe-Israel. ___Genesis chapter 34 1 And Dinah, the daughter of Leah, that she bore to Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. 2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her. 3 And his soul stuck with Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the young woman, and spoke kindly to the young woman. 4 And Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, "Get me this young woman as wife." 5 And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter, now his sons were with his cattle in the field, and Jacob said nothing until they had come. 6 And Hamor, the father of Shechem, went out to Jacob to commune with him. 7 And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it, and the men were grieved, and they were very angry, because he had made foolishness in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter, which thing ought not to be done. 8 And Hamor communed with them, saying, "The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter, please give her to him as wife. 9 And make marriages with us, and give your daughters to us, and take our daughters to you. 10 And you'll live with us, and the land shall be before you, live and trade in it, and get yourselves possessions in it." 11 And Shechem said to her father and to her brothers, "Let me find grace in your eyes, and what you shall say to me I will give. 12 Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as you shall say to me, but give me the young woman as wife." 13 And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister, 14 And they said to them, "We can't do this thing, to give our sister to someone uncircumcised, for that would be a reproach to us, 15 But in this will we consent to you, If you will be as we are, that every male of you gets circumcised, 16 Then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will live with you, and we will become one people. 17 But if you will not listen to us, to get circumcised, then we'll take our daughter, and we'll be gone." 18 And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem, Hamor's son. 19 And the young man didn't defer to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter, and he was more honorable than all the house of his father. 20 And Hamor and Shechem his son came to the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying, 21 These men are peaceable with us, therefore let them live in the land, and trade in it, for the land, see, it is large enough for them, let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters. 22 Only in this will the men consent to us to live with us, to be one people, if every male among us gets circumcised, like they are circumcised. 23 Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours? Only let us consent to them, and they will live with us. 24 And to Hamor and to Shechem his son, all that went out of the gate of his city listened, and every male got circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city. 25 And on the third day, when they were sore, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took each man his sword, and came on the city boldly, and killed all the males. 26 And they killer Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went out. 27 The sons of Jacob came on those that were killed, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister. 28 They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and what was in the city, and what was in the field, 29 And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and they took their wives captive, and spoiled all that was in the house. 30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites, and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and kill me, and I shall be destroyed, I and my house." 31 And they said, "Should he deal with our sister as with a prostitute?" ___Genesis chapter 35 1 And God said to Jacob, "Get up, go up to Bethel, and live there, and make an altar to God there, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother." 2 Then Jacob said to his household, and to all that were with him, "Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments, 3 And let us get up, and go to Bethel, and I will make an altar to God there, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me on the way that I went." 4 And they gave Jacob all the strange gods that were in their hand, and all their earrings that were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the oak that was by Shechem. 5 And they journeyed, and the terror of God was on the cities that were around them, and they didn't pursue after the sons of Jacob. 6 So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him. 7 And he built an altar there, and called the place Elbethel, because God appeared to him there, when he fled from the face of his brother. 8 But Deborah, Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak, and the name of it was called Allonbachuth. 9 And God appeared to Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him. 10 And God said to him, "Your name is Jacob, your name shall not anymore be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name, and he called his name Israel." 11 And God said to him, "I am God Almighty, be fruitful and multiply, a nation and a company of nations shall be of you, and kings shall come out of your loins, 12 And the land that I gave Abraham and Isaac, I'll give it to you, and to your descendants after you I will give the land." 13 And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him. 14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, a pillar of stone, and he poured a drink offering on it, and he poured oil on it. 15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Bethel. 16 And they journeyed from Bethel, and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath, and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labor. 17 And when she was in hard labor, the midwife said to her, "Don't be afraid, you'll have this son also." 18 And as her soul was in departing, (for she died), she called his name Benoni, but his father called him Benjamin. 19 And Rachel died, and was buried on the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. 20 And Jacob set a pillar on her grave, that is the pillar of Rachel's grave to this day. 21 And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar. 22 And when Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine, and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve, 23 The sons of Leah, Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun, 24 The sons of Rachel, Joseph, and Benjamin, 25 And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid, Dan, and Naphtali, 26 And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, Gad, and Asher, these are the sons of Jacob, that were born to him in Padanaram. 27 And Jacob came to Isaac his father to Mamre, to the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac were visitors. 28 And the days of Isaac were one hundred eighty years. 29 And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered to his people, being old and full of days, and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him. ___Genesis chapter 36 1 Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom. 2 Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan, Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite, 3 And Bashemath Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebajoth. 4 And Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, and Bashemath bore Reuel, 5 And Aholibamah bore Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah, these are the sons of Esau that were born to him in the land of Canaan. 6 And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, that he had gotten in the land of Canaan, and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob. 7 For their riches were too much for them to live together, and the land in which they were strangers couldn't support them because of their cattle. 8 Thus Esau lived in Mount Seir, Esau is Edom. 9 And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in Mount Seir, 10 These are the names of Esau's sons, Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Bashemath the wife of Esau. 11 And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz. 12 And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz, Esau's son, and she bore Amalek to Eliphaz, these were the sons of Adah, Esau's wife. 13 And these are the sons of Reuel, Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah, these were the sons of Bashemath, Esau's wife. 14 And these were the sons of Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, Esau's wife, and she bore Jeush to Esau, and Jaalam, and Korah. 15 These were dukes of the sons of Esau, the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn son of Esau, duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz, 16 Duke Korah, duke Gatam, and duke Amalek, these are the dukes that came from Eliphaz in the land of Edom, these were the sons of Adah. 17 And these are the sons of Reuel, Esau's son, duke Nahath, duke Zerah, duke Shammah, duke Mizzah, these are the dukes that came from Reuel in the land of Edom, these are the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife. 18 And these are the sons of Aholibamah, Esau's wife, duke Jeush, duke Jaalam, duke Korah, these were the dukes that came of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau's wife. 19 These are the sons of Esau, who is Edom, and these are their dukes. 20 These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who inhabited the land, Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, 21 And Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan, these are the dukes of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom. 22 And the children of Lotan were Hori and Hemam, and Lotan's sister was Timna. 23 And the children of Shobal were these, Alvan, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. 24 And these are the children of Zibeon, both Ajah, and Anah, this was that Anah that found the mules in the wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father. 25 And the children of Anah were these: Dishon, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah. 26 And these are the children of Dishon, Hemdan, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran. 27 The children of Ezer are these, Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Akan. 28 The children of Dishan are these, Uz, and Aran. 29 These are the dukes that came of the Horites, duke Lotan, duke Shobal, duke Zibeon, duke Anah, 30 Duke Dishon, duke Ezer, duke Dishan, these are the dukes that came from Hori, among their dukes in the land of Seir. 31 And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the children of Israel. 32 And Bela, the son of Beor, reigned in Edom, and the name of his city was Dinhabah. 33 And Bela died, and Jobab, the son of Zerah of Bozrah, reigned instead of him. 34 And Jobab died, and Husham of the land of Temani reigned instead of him. 35 And Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned instead of him, and the name of his city was Avith. 36 And Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned instead of him. 37 And Samlah died, and Saul of Rehoboth, by the river, reigned instead of him. 38 And Saul died, and Baalhanan the son of Achbor reigned instead of him. 39 And Baalhanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned instead of him, and the name of his city was Pau, and his wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab. 40 And these are the names of the dukes that came from Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names, duke Timnah, duke Alvah, duke Jetheth, 41 Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon, 42 Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar, 43 Duke Magdiel, duke Iram, these are the dukes of Edom, according to their dwelling places in the land of their possession, he is Esau the father of the Edomites. ___Genesis chapter 37 1 And Jacob lived in the land in which his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. 2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers, and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives, and Joseph brought their evil report to his father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age, and he made him a coat of many colors. 4 And when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and couldn't speak peaceably to him. 5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him yet more. 6 And he said to them, "Please listen to this dream that I've dreamed, 7 For see, we were binding sheaves in the field, and see, my sheaf got up, and also stood upright, and see, your sheaves stood around, and bowed to my sheaf." 8 And his brothers said to him, "Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?" And they hated him yet more for his dreams, and for his words. 9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brothers, and said, See, I have dreamed another dream, and see, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars bowed to me. 10 And he told it to his father, and to his brothers, and his father rebuked him, and said to him, "What is this dream that you've dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow down ourselves to you to the earth?" 11 And his brothers envied him, but his father observed the saying. 12 And his brothers went to feed their father's flock in Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph, "Don't your brothers feed the flock in Shechem? Come, and I will send you to them." And he said to him, "Here I am." 14 And he said to him, "Go, please, and see whether it is well with your brothers, and well with the flocks, and bring me word again." So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. 15 And a certain man found him, and see, he was wandering in the field, and the man asked him, "What are you looking for?" 16 And he said, "I'm looking for my brothers, tell me, please, where they feed their flocks." 17 And the man said, "They've gone from here, for I heard them say, Let's go to Dothan." And Joseph went after his brothers, and found them in Dothan. 18 And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near, they conspired against him to kill him. 19 And they said to each other, "See, this dreamer is coming. 20 Come now therefore, and let us kill him, and throw him into some pit, and we'll say, Some evil beast has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams." 21 And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands, and said, "Let's not kill him." 22 And Reuben said to them, "Shed no blood, but throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand on him," so he could rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again. 23 And when Joseph had come to his brothers, they stripped Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colors that was on him, 24 And they took him, and threw him into a pit, and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. 25 And they sat down to eat bread, and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and see, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. 26 And Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is it if we kill our brother, and conceal his blood? 27 Come, and let's sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let our hand not be on him, for he is our brother and our flesh." And his brothers were content. 28 Then Midianite merchantmen passed by, and they lifted Joseph up out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver, and they brought Joseph into Egypt. 29 And Reuben returned to the pit, and see, Joseph was not in the pit, and he tore his clothes. 30 And he returned to his brothers, and said, "The child is not, and I, where shall I go?" 31 And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood, 32 And they sent the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father, and said, "This have we found, know now whether it's your son's coat or not." 33 And he knew it, and said, "It is my son's coat, an evil beast has devoured him, Joseph is no doubt torn in pieces." 34 And Jacob tore his clothes, and dressed in sackcloth, and mourned for his son many days. 35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted, and he said, "For I will go down into the grave to my son mourning." Thus his father cried for him. 36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard. ___Genesis chapter 38 1 And at that time, Judah went down from his brothers, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah, and he took her, and went in to her. 3 And she conceived, and bore a son, and he named him Er. 4 And she conceived again, and bore a son, and she named him Onan. 5 And she conceived yet again, and bore a son, and named him Shelah, and he was at Chezib, when she bore him. 6 And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar. 7 And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord killed him. 8 And Judah said to Onan, "Go in to your brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to your brother." 9 And Onan knew that the seed wouldn't be his, and when he went in to his brother's wife, he spilled it on the ground, so that he wouldn't give seed to his brother. 10 And the thing that he did displeased the Lord, so he killed him also. 11 Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter in law, "Remain a widow in your father's house, until Shelah my son is grown," for he said, "So that he won't perhaps die also, like his brothers did." And Tamar went and lived in her father's house. 12 And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died, and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheep shearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13 And it was told to Tamar, saying, "See your father in law goes up to Timnath to shear his sheep." 14 And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered herself with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath, for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she had not been given to him as wife. 15 When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a prostitute, because she had covered her face. 16 And he turned to her by the way, and said, "Come on, please, let me come in to you, (for he didn't know that she was his daughter in law.) And she said, What will you give me, so you can come in to me?" 17 And he said, "I will send you a kid from the flock." And she said, "Will you give me a deposit, 'til you send it?" 18 And he said, "What deposit shall I give you?" And she said, "Your signet, and your bracelets, and your staff that is in your hand." And he gave it to her, and came in to her, and she conceived by him. 19 And she arose, and went away, and laid her vail off, and put on the garments of her widowhood. 20 And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his deposit from the woman's hand, but he didn't find her. 21 Then he asked the men of that place, saying, "Where is the prostitute, that was openly by the way side?" And they said, "There was no prostitute in this place." 22 And he returned to Judah, and said, "I can't find her, and also the men of the place said, that there was no prostitute in this place." 23 And Judah said, "Let her receive it, so we won't be ashamed, see, I sent this kid, and you haven't found her." 24 And about three months afterward, it was told Judah, saying, "Tamar your daughter in law has played the harlot, and also, see, she is with child by whoredom." And Judah said, "Bring her out, and let her be burnt." 25 When she was brought out, she sent to her father in law, saying, "By the man, whose these are, I am with child," and she said, "Discern, please, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff." 26 And Judah acknowledged them, and said, "She has been more righteous than I, because I didn't give her to Shelah my son." And he knew her again no more. 27 And in the time of her travail, see, twins were in her womb. 28 And when she travailed, the one put out his hand, and the midwife took and bound on his hand a red thread, saying, "This one came out first." 29 And as he pulled back his hand, see, his brother came out, and she said, "How have you broken out? This breach is on you," therefore he was named Pharez. 30 And afterward his brother came out, that had the red thread on his hand, and he was named Zarah. ___Genesis chapter 39 1 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the hands of the Ishmeelites, who had brought him down there. 2 And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man, and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. 4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him, and he made him overseer over his house, and he put into his hand all that he had. 5 And from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake, and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house, and in the field. 6 And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand, and he didn't know anything he had, except the bread that he ate. And Joseph was an attractive person, and well favored. 7 And after these things, his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me." 8 But he refused, and said to his master's wife, "See, my master doesn't know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand, 9 There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife, how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" 10 And as she spake to Joseph day by day, he didn't listen to her, to lie by her, or to be with her. 11 And about this time, Joseph went into the house to do his business, and there were none of the men of the house there inside. 12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me," and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got out. 13 And when she saw that he'd left his garment in her hand, and had fled, 14 She called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, "See, he has brought in a Hebrew to us to mock us, he came in to me to lie with me, and I shouted with a loud voice, 15 And when he heard me lift up my voice and shout, he left his garment with me, and fled, and got out." 16 And she laid his garment by her, until his lord came home. 17 And she spoke to him according to these words, saying, "The Hebrew servant, that you brought to us, came in to me to mock me, 18 And as I lifted up my voice and shouted, he left his garment with me, and fled out." 19 And when his master heard the words of his wife, that she spoke to him, saying, "This is what your servant did to me, his anger was kindled." 20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound, and he was there in the prison. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison, and whatever they did there, he was the doer of it. 23 The keeper of the prison looked not to anything that was under his hand, because the Lord was with him, and whatever he did, the Lord made it to prosper. ___Genesis chapter 40 1 And after these things, the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was angry against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. 3 And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was imprisoned. 4 And the captain of the guard put them in Joseph's care, and he served them, and they continued a while in ward. 5 And they dreamed a dream, both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, that were bound in the prison. 6 And Joseph came to them in the morning, and looked at them, and see, they were sad. 7 And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's house, "Why do you look so sad today?" 8 And they said to him, "We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it." And Joseph said to them, "Don't interpretations belong to God? Please tell me the dreams." 9 And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, "In my dream, see, a vine was before me, 10 And in the vine were three branches, and it was as though it budded, and its blossoms shot out. And the clusters of it produced ripe grapes, 11 And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand." 12 And Joseph said to him, "This is the interpretation of it, The three branches are three days, 13 Yet within three days, Pharaoh shall lift up your head, and restore you to your place, and you'll deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, as before when you were his butler. 14 But think on me when it shall be well with you, and show kindness to me, please, and tell Pharaoh about me, and bring me out of this house, 15 For indeed I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and here also I've done nothing deserving imprisonment." 16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, "I also was in my dream, and see, I had three white baskets on my head, 17 And in the top basket there were all kinds of bakery products for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head." 18 And Joseph answered, "This is the interpretation ot it, The three baskets are three days, 19 Yet within three days Pharaoh shall lift up your head from you, and shall hang you on a tree, and the birds shall eat your flesh from you." 20 And the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, he made a feast to all his servants, and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. 21 And he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand, 22 But he hung the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet the chief butler didn't remember Joseph, but forgot him. ___Genesis chapter 41 1 And at the end of two full years, Pharaoh dreamed, and see, he stood by the river. 2 And see, seven well favored and fat fleshed kine came out of the river, and they fed in a meadow. 3 And see, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favored and lean fleshed, and stood by the other kine on the bank of the river. 4 And the ill favored and lean fleshed kine ate up the seven well favored and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. 5 And he slept and dreamed the second time, and see, seven ears of corn came up on one stalk, rank and good. 6 And see, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprang up after them. 7 And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and see, it was a dream. 8 And in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men of it, and Pharaoh told them his dream, but there was no one that could interpret them to Pharaoh. 9 Then the chief butler spoke to Pharaoh, saying, "I do remember my faults this day, 10 Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in jail in the captain of the guard's house, both me and the chief baker, 11 And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he, we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream. 12 And a young man was was with us there, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard, and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams, to each man according to his dream he interpreted. 13 And as he interpreted to us, so it was, me he restored to my office, and him he hung." 14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him in a hurry out of the dungeon, and he shaved himself, and changed his clothes, and came to Pharaoh. 15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have dreamed a dream, and there is no one that can interpret it, and I have heard about you, that you can understand a dream to interpret it." 16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, "It is not in me, God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace." 17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "In my dream, see, I stood on the bank of the river, 18 And see, seven kine came out of the river, fat fleshed and well favored, and they fed in a meadow, 19 And see, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favored and lean fleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness, 20 And the lean and the ill favored kine ate up the first seven fat kine, 21 And when they had eaten them up, it couldn't be known that they had eaten them, but they were still ill favored, as at the beginning. So I awoke. 22 And I saw in my dream, and see, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good, 23 And see, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprang up after them, 24 And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears, and I told this to the magicians, but there was no one that could explain it to me." 25 And Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dream of Pharaoh is one, God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good kine are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years, the dream is one. 27 And the seven thin and ill favored kine that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine. 28 This is the thing that I've spoken to Pharaoh, What God is about to do he has shown to Pharaoh. 29 See, seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt will come, 30 And seven years of famine shall arise after them, and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt, and the famine shall consume the land, 31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land because of the famine following, for it shall be very bad. 32 And because the dream was given to Pharaoh twice, it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly make it happen. 33 Now therefore let Pharaoh seek out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up one fifth of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. 35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and store up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. 36 And that food shall be for store to the land for the seven years of famine, that shall be in the land of Egypt, so the land is not destroyed by the famine." 37 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a man as this is, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?" 39 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has shown you all this, there is no one so discreet and wise as you are, 40 You shall be over my house, and according to your word shall all my people be ruled, only in the throne will I be greater than you." 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt." 42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it on Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain around his neck, 43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot that he had, and they shouted before him, "Bow the knee, and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt." 44 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without you shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt." 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah, and he gave him as wife Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah, priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. 46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. 47 And in the seven plenteous years the earth produced by handfuls. 48 And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, that were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities, the food of the field, that was around every city, he laid up in the cities. 49 And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he stopped counting, for it was without number. 50 And to Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, that Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah, priest of On, bore to him. 51 And Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, "For God," he said, "has made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house." 52 And he named the second Ephraim, "For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction." 53 And the seven years of plenteousness in the land of Egypt ended. 54 And the seven years of drought began to come, according as Joseph had said, and the drought was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 And when all the land of Egypt were hungry, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread, and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph, do what he tells you." 56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth, And Joseph opened all the store houses, and sold to the Egyptians, and the famine became severe in the land of Egypt. 57 And all countries came to Egypt to Joseph to buy corn, because the famine was so severe in all lands. ___Genesis chapter 42 1 Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, "Why do you look at each other?" 2 And he said, "See, I've heard there is corn in Egypt, get down there, and buy for us from there, so we can live, and not die." 3 And Joseph's ten brothers went down to buy corn in Egypt. 4 But Jacob didn't sent Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with his brothers, for he said, So that no mischief will happen to him. 5 And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan. 6 And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land, and Joseph's brothers came, and bowed themselves down before him with their faces to the earth. 7 And Joseph saw his brothers, and he knew them, but made himself strange to them, and spoke roughly to them, and he said to them, "Where do you come from?" And they said, "From the land of Canaan to buy food." 8 And Joseph knew his brothers, but they didn't know not him. 9 And Joseph remembered the dreams that he'd dreamed about them, and said to them, "You are spies, you've come to see the nakedness of the land." 10 And they said to him, "No, my lord, your servants have come to buy food. 11 We are all one man's sons, we are honest men, your servants are not spies." 12 And he said to them, "No, you've come to see the nakedness of the land." 13 And they said, "Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan, and see, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not." 14 And Joseph said to them, "That is what I said to you, you are spies, 15 Here's how you'll be tested, By the life of Pharaoh you won't go from here, unless your youngest brother comes here. 16 Send one of you, and let him bring your brother, and you'll be kept in prison, so your words can be proven, whether there is any truth in you, or else by the life of Pharaoh surely you're spies." 17 And he put them all together into jail three days. 18 And Joseph said to them the third day, "This do, and live, for I fear God, 19 If you're honest men, let one of your brothers be bound in the house of your prison, go, carry corn for the famine of your houses, 20 But bring your youngest brother to me, so shall your words be verified, and you won't die." And they did so. 21 And they said to each other, "We are truly guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he asked us, and we would not listen, that's why this distress has come on us." 22 And Reuben answered them, saying, "Didn't I tell you, Don't sin against the child, and you wouldn't listen? Therefore, see, his blood is required." 23 And they didn't know that Joseph understood them, for he spoke to them by an interpreter. 24 And he turned himself around from them, and cried, and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took Simeon from them, and bound him before their eyes. 25 Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the trip, and thus he did to them. 26 And they loaded the corn on their donkeys, and departed from there. 27 And as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey food in the inn, he saw his money, for see, it was in his sack's mouth. 28 And he said to his brothers, "My money is restored, and see, it is in my sack, and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying to each other, "What is this that God has done to us?" 29 And they came to Jacob, their father, to the land of Canaan, and told him all that happened to them, and said, 30 "The man, who is the lord of the land, spoke roughly to us, and thought we were there to spy on that nation. 31 And we said to him, We are honest men, we are not spies, 32 We are twelve brothers, sons of our father, one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan. 33 And the man, the lord of the country, said to us, Here's how I'll know that you are honest men, leave one of your brothers here with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and be gone, 34 And bring your youngest brother to me, then I'll know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men, then I'll give you back your brother, and you'll traffic in the land." 35 And as they emptied their sacks, see, every man's bundle of money was in his sack, and when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid. 36 And Jacob their father said to them, "You've bereaved me of my children, Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and you want to take Benjamin away, all these things are against me." 37 And Reuben said to his father, "Kill my two sons, if I don't bring him to you, deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him back you." 38 And he said, "My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is left alone, if mischief happens to him on the way that you go, then you'll bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave." ___Genesis chapter 43 1 And the famine was severe in the land. 2 And when they had eaten up the corn that they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them, "Go again, buy us a little food." 3 And Judah spoke to him, saying, "The man did solemnly protest to us, saying, You won't see my face, unless your brother is with you. 4 If you'll send our brother with us, we'll go down and buy you food, 5 But if you won't send him, we won't go down, for the man said to us, you won't see my face, unless your brother is with you." 6 And Israel said, "Why did you deal so badly with me, as to tell the man whether you had another brother?" 7 And they said, "The man asked us directly about our condition, and about our kin, saying, Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother? And so we told him, could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?" 8 And Judah said to Israel his father, "Send the lad with me, and we'll get up and go, so we can live, and not die, both we, and you, and also our little ones. 9 I will be surety for him, from my hand you'll require him, if I don't bring him back to you, and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever, 10 For if we hadn't waited, by now we'd have returned the second time." 11 And their father Israel said to them, If it must be so now, do this, take some of the best fruits in the land in your containers, and carry down to the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds, 12 And take double money in your hand, and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand, perhaps it was an oversight, 13 Take also your brother, and get up, go again to the man, 14 And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, so that he'll send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I'm bereaved of my children, I'm bereaved." 15 And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin, and got up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph. 16 And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, "Bring these men home, and kill some meat, and make ready, for these men shall eat with me at noon." 17 And the man did as Joseph said, and the man brought the men into Joseph's house. 18 And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house, and they said, "We're being brought in because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time, so he can seek occasion against us, and fall on us, and take us for bondmen, and our donkeys. 19 And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house, 20 And said, "O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food, 21 And when we came to the hotel, we opened our sacks, and see, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight, and we've brought it back in our hand. 22 And we've brought other money brought down in our hands to buy food, we can't tell who put our money in our sacks." 23 And he said, "Peace be to you, don't be afraid, your God, and the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks, I had your money." And he brought Simeon out to them. 24 And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet, and he gave their donkeys food. 25 And they made ready the present for when Joseph came at noon, for they heard that they would eat bread there. 26 And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present that was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth. 27 And he asked them about their welfare, and said, "Is your father well, the old man about whom you spoke? Is he still alive?" 28 And they answered, "Your servant our father is in good health, he is still alive. And they bowed down their heads. 29 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, "Is this your younger brother, about whom you spoke to me? And he said, God be gracious to you, my son." 30 And Joseph hurried, for he yearned for his brother, and he looked for a place to cry, and he entered into his room, and cried there. 31 And he washed his face, and went out, and restrained himself, and said, "Bring bread." 32 And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, who were with him, by themselves, because the Egyptians couldn't eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. 33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth, and the men showed their surprise to each other. 34 And he took and sent portions to them from before him, but Benjamin's portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him. ___Genesis chapter 44 1 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 money in his sack's mouth. 2 And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn money." And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. 3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys. 4 And when they had gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, "Get up, follow after the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, Why have you repaid evil for good? 5 Isn't this the cup in which my lord drinks, and by which he divines? You've done evil in so doing." 6 And he overtook them, and he spoke to them the same words. 7 And they said to him, "Why does my lord say these words? God forbid that your servants should do according to this thing, 8 See, the money that we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought back to you out of the land of Canaan, how then could we steal out of your lord's house silver or gold? 9 With whomever of your servants it is found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen." 10 And he said, "Now also let it be according to your words, he with whom it is found shall be my servant, and you shall be blameless." 11 Then every man speedily took down his sack to the ground, and opened their sacks. 12 And he searched, and began at the eldest, and went to the youngest, and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. 13 Then they tore their clothes, and loaded their donkeys, and returned to the city. 14 And Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house, for he was still there, and they fell before him on the ground. 15 And Joseph said to them, "What deed is this that you have done? Don't you know that such a man as I can certainly divine?" 16 And Judah said, "What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the sin of your servants, see, we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup was found." 17 And he said, "God forbid that I should do so, but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant, and as for you, get you up in peace to your father." 18 Then Judah came near to him, and said, "Oh my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord's ears, and let your anger not burn against your servant, for you are like Pharaoh. 19 My lord asked his servants, saying, Have you a father, or a brother? 20 And we said to my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one, and his brother is dead, and only he is left from his mother, and his father loves him. 21 And you said to your servants, Bring him down to me, so I can see him. 22 And we said to my lord, The lad can't leave his father, for if he would leave his father, his father would die. 23 And you said to your servants, Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you'll see my face no more. 24 And when we went up to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. 25 And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food. 26 And we said, We can't go down, if our youngest brother is with us, then we'll go down, for we can't see the man's face, unless our youngest brother is with us. 27 And your servant, my father, said to us, you know that my wife bore me two sons, 28 And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces, and I haven't seen him since, 29 And if you take this also from me, and mischief happens to him, you'll bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. 30 Now therefore when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life, 31 When he sees that the lad is not with us, he'll die, and your servants shall bring down the gray hairs of your servant, our father, with sorrow to the grave. 32 For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, If I don't bring him to you, then I shall bear the blame to my father forever. 33 Now therefore, please, let your servant stay instead of the lad as a bondman to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. 34 For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad is not with me? So that I won't see the evil that shall come on my father." ___Genesis chapter 45 1 Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he shouted, "Cause every man to go out from me." And no man stood with him, while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he cried out loud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. 3 And Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph, is my father still alive?" And his brothers couldn't answer him, for they were troubled at his presence. 4 And Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come near to me." And they came near. And he said, "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 Now therefore don't be grieved, nor angry with yourselves that you sold me into Egypt, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For these two years the famine has been in the land, and yet there are five years, in which there'll be no harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you that sent me here, but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry up, and go up to my father, and say to him, Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt, come down to me, don't wait, 10 And you'll live in the land of Goshen, and you'll be near to me, you, and your children, and your children's children, and your flocks, and your herds, and all that you have, 11 And I'll nourish you there, for there are still five years of famine, so that you, and your households, and all that you have, don't come to poverty. 12 And see, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaks to you. 13 And you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen, and you shall hurry and bring down my father here." 14 And he fell on his brother Benjamin's neck, and cried, and Benjamin cried on his neck. 15 Also he kissed all his brothers, and cried on them, and after that, his brothers talked with him. 16 And the news of it was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, "Joseph's brothers have come," and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants. 17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, Say to your brothers, "Do this, load your animals, and go, get youselves to the land of Canaan, 18 And take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and you'll eat the fat of the land. 19 Now you are commanded, do this, take wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20 Also don't worry about your stuff, for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours." 21 And the children of Israel did so, and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way. 22 To all of them he gave each man changes of clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of clothing. 23 And he sent to his father like this, ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way. 24 So he sent his brothers away, and they departed, and he said to them, "See that you don't have a falling out on the way." 25 And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan to Jacob their father, 26 And told him, "Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt." And Jacob's heart fainted, for he didn't believe them. 27 And they told him all the words of Joseph, that he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived, 28 And Israel said, "It is enough, Joseph my son is still alive, I'll go and see him before I die." ___Genesis chapter 46 1 And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 And God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, "Jacob, Jacob." And he said, "Here I am." 3 And he said, "I am God, the God of your father, don't be afraid to go down into Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there, 4 I will go down with you into Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again, and Joseph shall put his hand on your eyes." 5 And Jacob got up from Beersheba, and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6 And they took their cattle, and their goods, that they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his descendants with him, 7 His sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and he brought all his descendants with him into Egypt. 8 And these are the names of the children of Israel, that went into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn. 9 And the sons of Reuben, Hanoch, and Phallu, and Hezron, and Carmi. 10 And the sons of Simeon, Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman. 11 And the sons of Levi, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 12 And the sons of Judah, Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zerah, but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul. 13 And the sons of Issachar, Tola, and Phuvah, and Job, and Shimron. 14 And the sons of Zebulun, Sered, and Elon, and Jahleel. 15 These are the sons of Leah, that she bore to Jacob in Padanaram, with his daughter Dinah, all the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty three. 16 And the sons of Gad, Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli. 17 And the sons of Asher, Jimnah, and Ishuah, and Isui, and Beriah, and Serah their sister, and the sons of Beriah, Heber, and Malchiel. 18 These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob, sixteen souls. 19 The sons of Rachel Jacob's wife, Joseph, and Benjamin. 20 And to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bore to him. 21 And the sons of Benjamin were Belah, and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard. 22 These are the sons of Rachel, that were born to Jacob, all the souls were fourteen. 23 And the sons of Dan, Hushim. 24 And the sons of Naphtali, Jahzeel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shillem. 25 These are the sons of Bilhah, that Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and she bore these to Jacob, all the souls were seven. 26 All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, that came out of his body, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls were sixty six, 27 And the sons of Joseph, that were born him in Egypt, were two souls, all the souls of the house of Jacob, that came into Egypt, were seventy. 28 And he sent Judah before him to Joseph, to direct his face to Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. 29 And Joseph prepared his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself to him, and he fell on his neck, and cried on his neck a good while. 30 And Israel said to Joseph, "Now let me die, since I have seen your face, because you are still alive." 31 And Joseph said to his brothers, and to his father's house, "I will go up, and show Pharaoh, and say to him, My brothers, and my father's house, that were in the land of Canaan, have come to me, 32 And the men are shepherds, for their trade has been to feed cattle, and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have. 33 And when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation? 34 You shall say, your servants' trade has been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers, so that you can live in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is thought to be dirty by the Egyptians." ___Genesis chapter 47 1 Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, "My father and my brothers, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, have come out of the land of Canaan, and see, they are in the land of Goshen." 2 And he took some of his brothers, five men, and presented them to Pharaoh. 3 And Pharaoh said to his brothers, "What is your occupation?" And they said to Pharaoh, "Your servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers." 4 They said also to Pharaoh, "We have come to be visitors in the land, for your servants have no pasture for their flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan, now therefore, please let your servants live in the land of Goshen." 5 And Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, "Your father and your brothers have come to you, 6 The land of Egypt is before you, in the best of the land make your father and brothers to live, in the land of Goshen let them live, and if you know any men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle." 7 And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8 And Pharaoh said to Jacob, "How old are you?" 9 And Jacob said to Pharaoh, "The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred thirty years, few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage." 10 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh. 11 And Joseph placed his father and his brothers, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. 12 And Joseph nourished his father, and his brothers, and all his father's household, with bread, according to their families. 13 And there was no bread in all the land, for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted because of the famine. 14 And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought, and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. 15 And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph, and said, "Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For the money is gone." 16 And Joseph said, "Give your cattle, and I will give you for your cattle, if there's no money." 17 And they brought their cattle to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the donkeys, and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year. 18 When that year had ended, they came to him the second year, and said to him, "We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent, my lord also has our herds of cattle, there is not any left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands, 19 Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants to Pharaoh, and give us seed, so we can live, and not die, so that the land won't be desolate." 20 And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for each of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine prevailed over them, so the land became Pharaoh's. 21 And as for the people, he moved them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end of it. 22 Only the land of the priests he didn't buy, for the priests had a portion assigned to them by Pharaoh, and ate their portion that Pharaoh gave them, so they didn't sell their lands. 23 Then Joseph said to the people, "See, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh, see, here is seed for you, and you shall plant the land. 24 And in the harvest, you shall give one fifth to Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for those of your households, and for food for your little ones." 25 And they said, "You've saved our lives, let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants." 26 And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt to this day, that Pharaoh should have one fifth, except the land of the priests only, that didn't become Pharaoh's. 27 And Israel lived in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen, and they had possessions in it, and grew, and multiplied very much. 28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years, so the whole age of Jacob was one hundred forty seven years. 29 And the time came near for Israel to die, and he called his son Joseph, and said to him, "If now I have found grace in your sight, put, I pray you, your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me, please don't bury me, in Egypt, 30 But I will lie with my fathers, and you'll carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying place." And he said, "I will do as you have said." 31 And he said, "Swear to me." And he swore to him. And Israel bowed himself on the bed's head. ___Genesis chapter 48 1 And after these things, someone told Joseph, "See, your father is sick," and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 And someone told Jacob, and said, "See, your son Joseph is coming to you," and Israel strengthened himself, and sat on the bed. 3 And Jacob said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, 4 And said to me, See, I will make you fruitful, and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people, and will give this land to your descendants after you for an everlasting possession. 5 And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, that were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine, like Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine. 6 And your issue, that you beget after them, shall be yours, and shall be called after the name of their brothers in their inheritance. 7 And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was but a little way to come to Ephrath, and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath, the same is Bethlehem." 8 And Israel saw Joseph's sons, and said, "Who are these?" 9 And Joseph said to his father, "They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place." And he said, "Please bring them to me, and I will bless them." 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near to him, and he kissed them, and embraced them. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, I had not thought to see your face, and see, God has shown me also your descendants. 12 And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near to him. 14 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it on Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh's head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 And he blessed Joseph, and said, "God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God that fed me all my life long until this day, 16 The Angel who redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads, and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and let them grow into a multitude in the earth." 17 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head." 19 And his father refused, and said, "I know it, my son, I know it, he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great, but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations." 20 And he blessed them that day, saying, "In you shall Israel bless, saying, God make you like Ephraim and as Manasseh," and he set Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 And Israel said to Joseph, "See, I'm dying, but God shall be with you, and bring you again to the land of your fathers. 22 Also I've given to you one portion above your brothers, that I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow." ___Genesis chapter 49 1 And Jacob called to his sons, and said, "Gather yourselves together, so I can tell you what will happen to you in the last days. 2 Gather yourselves together, and hear, you sons of Jacob, and listen to your father Israel. 3 Reuben, you're my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power, 4 Unstable as water, you won't excel, because you went up to your father's bed, then you defiled it, he went up to my couch. 5 Simeon and Levi are brothers, instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. 6 O my soul, don't come into their secret, to their assembly, my honor, don't be united, for in their anger they killed a man, and in their self will they dug down a wall. 7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce and it was cruel, I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. 8 Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise, your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies, your father's children shall bow down before you. 9 Judah is a lion's whelp, from the prey, my son, you have gone up, he stooped down, he couched like a lion, and like an old lion, who shall rouse him up? 10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and the gathering of the people shall be to him. 11 Tying his foal to the vine, and his ass's colt to the choice vine, he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes, 12 His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk. 13 Zebulun shall live at the haven of the sea, and he shall be for a haven of ships, and his border shall be to Zidon. 14 Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens, 15 And he saw that rest was good, and that the land was pleasant, and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a bondservant. 16 Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. 17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that bites the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. 18 I have waited for your salvation, O Lord. 19 Gad, a troop shall overcome him, but he shall overcome at the last. 20 Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties. 21 Naphtali is a hind let loose, he gives goodly words. 22 Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well, whose branches run over the wall, 23 The archers have severly grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him, 24 But his bow lived in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob, (from there is the shepherd, the stone of Israel,) 25 By the God of your father, who shall help you, and by the Almighty, who shall bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb, 26 The blessings of your father have prevailed above the blessings of my ancestors to the farthest bound of the everlasting hills, they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brothers. 27 Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf, in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil." 28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is it that their father spoke to them, and blessed them, everyone, according to his blessing, he blessed them. 29 And he commanded 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, 30 In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, that is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, that Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a burying place. 31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife, there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah. 32 The purchase of the field and of the cave that is in it was from the children of Heth. 33 And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered to his people. ___Genesis chapter 50 1 And Joseph fell on his father's face, and cried on him, and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father, and the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 And forty days were fulfilled for him, because that's what they do when they embalm, and the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days. 4 And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spoke to the house of Pharaoh, saying, "If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, and say, 5 My father made me swear, saying, See, I'm dying, in my grave that I've dug for myself in the land of Canaan is where you shall bury me. Now therefore let me go up, please, and bury my father, and I'll come back." 6 And Pharaoh said, "Go up, and bury your father, like he made you swear." 7 And Joseph went up to bury his father, and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8 And all the house of Joseph, and his brothers, and his father's house, only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen. 9 And both chariots and horsemen went up with him, and it was a very large company. 10 And they came to the threshing floor of Atad, that is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very severe lamentation, and he made a mourning for his father seven days. 11 And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, "This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians," so the name of it was called Abelmizraim, which is beyond Jordan. 12 And his sons did to him according as he commanded them, 13 For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a burying place from Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre. 14 And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brothers, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father. 15 And when Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "Joseph will perhaps hate us, and will certainly repay us for all the evil that we did to him." 16 And they sent a messenger to Joseph, saying, "Your father commanded before he died, saying, 17 So shall you say to Joseph, Please forgive now the sins of your brothers, for they did to you evil, and now, please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father." And Joseph cried when they spoke to him. 18 And his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, "See, we are your servants." 19 And Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, you thought evil against me, but God meant it for good, to make it happen, as it is this day, to save many people alive. 21 Now therefore don't be afraid, I will nourish you, and your little ones." And he comforted them, and spoke kindly to them. 22 And Joseph lived in Egypt, he, and his father's house, and Joseph lived one hundred ten years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation, the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up on Joseph's knees. 24 And Joseph said to his brothers, "I'm dying, and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob." 25 And Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, "God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here." 26 So Joseph died, being one hundred ten years old, and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. ___Exodus chapter 1 1 Now these are the names of the children of Israel, that came into Egypt, every man and his household came with Jacob. 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4 Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 5 And all the souls that came out of the body of Jacob were seventy souls, for Joseph was in Egypt already. 6 And Joseph died, and all his brothers, and all that generation. 7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and became very mighty, and the land was filled with them. 8 Now there rose up a new king over Egypt, who hadn't known Joseph. 9 And he said to his people, See, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we, 10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them, so that they don't multiply, and so it doesn't happen that, when a war comes along, they join with our enemies, and fight against us, and so get themselves out of the land. 11 Therefore they set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. 13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with harshness, 14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all kinds of service in the field, all their service, in which they made them serve, was with harshness. 15 And the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah, 16 And he said, "When you do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them on the stools, if it's a son, then kill him, but if it's a daughter, then she shall live." 17 But the midwives feared God, and didn't do like the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. 18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, "Why have you done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?" 19 And the midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are lively, and receive deliverance before the midwives come in to them." 20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very strong. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he made them houses. 22 And Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, "Every son that is born you shall throw into the river, and every daughter you shall let live." ___Exodus chapter 2 1 And a man of the house of Levi went and took a daughter of Levi as his wife. 2 And the woman conceived, and bore a son, and when she saw him that he was a proper child, she hid him three months. 3 And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child in it, and she laid it in the flags by the river's bank. 4 And his sister stood afar off, to see what would be done to him. 5 And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river, and her maids walked along by the river's side, and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. 6 And when she had opened it, she saw the child, and see, the baby cried. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children. 7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, "Shall I go and call you a nurse of the Hebrew women, so she can nurse the child for you?" 8 And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Go." And the maid went and called the child's mother. 9 And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages." And the woman took the child, and nursed it. 10 And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses, and she said, "Because I took him out of the water." 11 And in those days, when Moses had grown, he went out to his brothers, and looked at their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his brothers. 12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he killed the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. 13 And when he went out the second day, see, two men of the Hebrews were fighting with each other, and he said to him that did the wrong, "Why did you strike your fellow?" 14 And he said, "Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me, like you killed the Egyptian?" And Moses feared, and said, "Surely this thing is known." 15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and lived in the land of Midian, and he sat down by a well. 16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. 17 And the shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. 18 And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, "How is it that you've come so soon today?" 19 And they said, "An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock." 20 And he said to his daughters, "And where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, so he can eat bread." 21 And Moses was content to live with the man, and he gave Moses Zipporah, his daughter. 22 And she bore him a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, "I've been a stranger in a strange land." 23 And in process of time, the king of Egypt died, and the children of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 And God looked at the children of Israel, and God had respect for them. ___Exodus chapter 3 1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, to Horeb. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the middle of a bush, and he looked, and see, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, "I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt." 4 And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the middle of the bush, and said, "Moses, Moses." And he said, "Here I am." 5 And he said, "Don't come near here, put off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground." 6 Also he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. 7 And the Lord said, "I've surely seen the affliction of my people that are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows, 8 And I've come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 Now therefore, see, the cry of the children of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so you can bring out my people the children of Israel out of Egypt." 11 And Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring out the children of Israel out of Egypt?" 12 And he said, "Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be a token to you, that I have sent you, When you've brought the people out of Egypt, you'll serve God on this mountain." 13 And Moses said to God, "See, when I come to the children of Israel, and shall say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they say to me, What is his name? What shall I say to them?" 14 And God said to Moses, "I am that I am," and he said, "Thus shall you say to the children of Israel, I am has sent me to you." 15 And God said also to Moses, "Thus shall you say to the children of Israel, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you, this is my name forever, and this is my memorial to all generations. 16 Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, I have surely visited you, and have seen what is done to you in Egypt, 17 And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey. 18 And they shall listen to your voice, and you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt, and you shall say to him, The Lord God of the Hebrews has met with us, and now let us go, please, three days' journey into the wilderness, so we can sacrifice to the Lord our God. 19 And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand. 20 And I will stretch out my hand, and strike Egypt with all my wonders that I'll do among them, and after that he'll let you go. 21 And I will give these people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, and when you go, you won't go empty, 22 But every woman shall borrow from her neighbor, and from her that is visiting in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing, and you'll put them on your sons, and on your daughters, and you'll spoil the Egyptians." ___Exodus chapter 4 1 And Moses answered, "But see, they won't believe me, nor listen to my voice, for they'll say, The Lord hasn't appeared to you." 2 And the Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" And he said, "A rod." 3 And he said, "Throw it on the ground." And he threw it on the ground, and it became a snake, and Moses ran from it. 4 And the Lord said to Moses, "Put out your hand, and take it by the tail." And he put out his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand, 5 "So that they'll believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you." 6 And the Lord said furthermore to him, "Now put your hand into your bosom." And he put his hand into his bosom, and when he took it out, see, his hand was leprous like snow. 7 And he said, "Put your hand back into bosom." And he put his hand back into his bosom, and pulled it out of his bosom, and see, it had gone back like his other flesh. 8 And if they won't believe you, nor listen to the voice of the first sign, they'll believe the voice of the other sign. 9 And if they won't believe those two signs, nor listen to your voice, you shall take of the water from the river, and pour it on the dry land, and the water that you take out of the river shall become blood on the dry land. 10 And Moses said to the Lord, "O my Lord, I'm not a good speaker, neither until now, nor since you've spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue." 11 And the Lord said to him, "Who made man's mouth? Or who makes those who can't speak, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Haven't I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and I'll be with your mouth, and teach you what you shall say." 13 And he said, "O my Lord, please send, by the hand of him whom you'll send." 14 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and he said, "Isn't Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, see, he's coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he'll be glad in his heart. 15 And you'll speak to him, and put words in his mouth, and I'll be with your mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do. 16 And he shall be your spokesman to the people, and he shall be, even he shall be to you instead of a mouth, and you shall be to him instead of God. 17 And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do signs." 18 And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said to him, "Let me go, please, and return to my brothers that are in Egypt, and see whether they are still alive." And Jethro said to Moses, "Go in peace." 19 And the Lord said to Moses in Midian, "Go, return into Egypt, for all the men are dead who wanted you dead." 20 And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them on an donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt, and Moses took the rod of God in his hand. 21 And the Lord said to Moses, "When you go to return into Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh, that I've put in your hand, but I will harden his heart, so that he won't let the people go. 22 And you shall say to Pharaoh, Thus says the Lord, Israel is my son, my firstborn, 23 And I say to you, Let my son go, so he can serve me, and if you refuse to let him go, see, I'll kill your son, your firstborn." 24 And on the way in the hotel, the Lord met him, and tried to kill him. 25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and threw it at his feet, and said, "Surely you're a bloody husband to me." 26 So he let him go, then she said, "You're a bloody husband, because of the circumcision." 27 And the Lord said to Aaron, "Go into the wilderness to meet Moses." And he went, and met him in the mountain of God, and kissed him. 28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord who had sent him, and all the signs that he had commanded him. 29 And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel, 30 And Aaron spoke all the words that the Lord had spoken to Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. 31 And the people believed, and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked at their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped. ___Exodus chapter 5 1 And afterward, Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, so they can hold a feast to me in the wilderness." 2 And Pharaoh said, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I don't know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go." 3 And they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us, let us go, please, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice to the Lord our God, so he won't fall on us with pestilence, or with the sword." 4 And the king of Egypt said to them, "Why do you, Moses and Aaron, let the people stop working? Get to your burdens." 5 And Pharaoh said, "See, the people of the land now are many, and you make them rest from their burdens." 6 And the same day, Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying, 7 "You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick, like before, let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 And the total number of bricks that they made before, you shall require from them, you shall not diminish any of it, for they are idle, therefore they shout, Let us go and sacrifice to our God. 9 Lay more work on the men, so they will labor in it, and let them not pay attention to vain words." 10 And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, "Thus says Pharaoh, I won't give you straw. 11 Go get yourselves straw where you can find it, yet not any of your work shall be diminished." 12 So the people were scattered around throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw. 13 And the taskmasters hurried them, saying, "Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, like when there was straw." 14 And the officers of the children of Israel, that Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded of, "Why haven't you fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and today, like before?" 15 Then the officers of the children of Israel came and called to Pharaoh, saying, "Why do you deal this way with your servants? 16 No straw has been given to your servants, and they say to us, Make brick, and see, your servants were beaten, but the fault is in your own people." 17 But he said, "You are idle, you are idle, that's why you say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the Lord. 18 Therefore go now, and work, for no straw shall be given to you, yet you shall deliver the number of bricks." 19 And the officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in an evil case, after it was said, you shall not diminish any from the bricks of your daily task. 20 And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came out from Pharaoh, 21 And they said to them, The Lord look at you, and judge, because you've made us to be hated in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us. 22 And Moses returned to the Lord, and said, "Lord, why have you treated these people so badly? Why is it that you've sent me? 23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to these people, nor have you delivered your people at all." ___Exodus chapter 6 1 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Now you'll see what I'll do to Pharaoh, for with a strong hand he'll let them go, and with a strong hand he'll drive them out of his land." 2 And God spoke to Moses, and said to him, "I am the Lord, 3 And I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name Jehovah, I wasn't known to them. 4 And I've also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, in which they were strangers. 5 And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered my covenant. 6 So say to the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I'll bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I'll rid you out of their bondage, and I'll redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments, 7 And I'll take you to myself for a people, and I'll be to you a God, and you'll know that I'm the Lord your God, who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 And I'll bring you into the land, concerning which I swore to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, and I'll give it you for a heritage, I am the Lord." 9 And Moses told these things to the children of Israel, but they didn't listen to Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage. 10 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 11 "Go in, speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to let the children of Israel go out of his land." 12 And Moses spoke before the Lord, saying, "See, the children of Israel haven't listened to me, how then shall Pharaoh listen me, who am of uncircumcised lips?" 13 And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and gave them a charge to the children of Israel, and to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. 14 These are the heads of their fathers' houses, The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi, these are the families of Reuben. 15 And the sons of Simeon, Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman, these are the families of Simeon. 16 And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations, Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari, and the years of the life of Levi were one hundred thirty seven years. 17 The sons of Gershon, Libni, and Shimi, according to their families. 18 And the sons of Kohath, Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel, and the years of the life of Kohath were one hundred thirty three years. 19 And the sons of Merari, Mahali and Mushi, these are the families of Levi according to their generations. 20 And Amram took Jochebed his father's sister as wife, and she bore him Aaron and Moses, and the years of the life of Amram were one hundred thirty seven years. 21 And the sons of Izhar, Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri. 22 And the sons of Uzziel, Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Zithri. 23 And Aaron took Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Naashon, as wife, and she bore him Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 24 And the sons of Korah, Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph, these are the families of the Korhites. 25 And Eleazar, Aaron's son, took one of the daughters of Putiel as wife, and she bore him Phinehas, these are the heads of the fathers of the Levites according to their families. 26 These are that Aaron and Moses, to whom the Lord said, "Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies." 27 These are those who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt, these are that Moses and Aaron. 28 And on the day when the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, 29 The Lord spake to Moses, saying, "I am the Lord, speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you." 30 And Moses said before the Lord, "See, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how is Pharaoh going to listen to me?" ___Exodus chapter 7 1 And the Lord said to Moses, "See, I have made you a god to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. 2 You shall speak all that I command you, and Aaron your brother shall speak to Pharaoh, to send the children of Israel out of his land. 3 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. 4 But Pharaoh won't listen to you, so I can lay my hand on Egypt, and bring out my armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. 5 And 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." 6 And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded them, they did so. 7 And Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh. 8 And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 9 "When Pharaoh shall speak to you, saying, Show me a miracle, then you shall say to Aaron, Take your rod, and throw it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a snake." 10 And Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did what the Lord had commanded, and Aaron threw down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a snake. 11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and those who practiced witchcraft, now the magicians of Egypt, they also did likewise with their enchantments. 12 For each man threw down his rod, and they became snakes, but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. 13 And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he didn't listen to them, as the Lord had said. 14 And the Lord said to Moses, "Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuses to let the people go. 15 Get you to Pharaoh in the morning, see, he goes out to the water, and you shall stand by the river's bank waiting for him, and you shall take in your hand the rod that turned into a snake. 16 And you shall say to him, The Lord God of the Hebrews has sent me to you, saying, Let my people go, so they can serve me in the wilderness, and, see, until now you wouldn't listen. 17 Thus says the Lord, In this you'll know that I am the Lord, see, I'll strike with the rod that is in my hand on the waters that are in the river, and they'll be turned into blood. 18 And the fish that are in the river shall die, and the river shall stink, and the Egyptians shall hate to drink of the water of the river." 19 And the Lord spoke to Moses, Say to Aaron, Take your rod, and stretch out your hand on the waters of Egypt, on their streams, on their rivers, and on their ponds, and on all their pools of water, so they'll become blood, and so there'll be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in containers of wood, and in containers of stone. 20 And Moses and Aaron did so, as the Lord commanded, and he lifted up the rod, and struck the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants, and all the waters that were in the river were turned into blood. 21 And the fish that were in the river died, and the river stank, and the Egyptians couldn't drink of the water of the river, and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. 22 And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments, and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, nor did he listen to them, as the Lord had said. 23 And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, nor did he set his heart on this either. 24 And all the Egyptians dug around the river for water to drink, for they couldn't drink of the water of the river. 25 And seven days were fulfilled, after the Lord had struck the river. ___Exodus chapter 8 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh, and say to him, Thus says the Lord, Let my people go, so that they can serve me. 2 And if you refuse to let them go, see, I'll strike all your borders with frogs, 3 And the river shall produce frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into your house, and into your bedroom, and on your bed, and into the houses of your servants, and on your people, and into your ovens, and into your kneading troughs, 4 And the frogs shall come up on you, and on your people, and on all your servants." 5 And the Lord spoke to Moses, "Say to Aaron, Stretch out your hand with your rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up on the land of Egypt." 6 And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt. 7 And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt. 8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, "Pray to the Lord, so he'll take away the frogs from me, and from my people, and I'll let the people go, so they can do sacrifice to the Lord." 9 And Moses said to Pharaoh, "Glory over me, when shall I pray for you, and for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses, so they'll remain in the river only?" 10 And he said, "Tomorrow." And he said, "Be it according to your word, so that you'll know that there is no one like the Lord our God. 11 And the frogs shall depart from you, and from your houses, and from your servants, and from your people, they'll remain in the river only." 12 And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, and Moses called to the Lord because of the frogs that he'd brought against Pharaoh. 13 And the Lord did according to the word of Moses, and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields. 14 And they gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. 15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart, and wouldn't listen to them, as the Lord had said. 16 And the Lord said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the land, so that it will become lice throughout all the land of Egypt." 17 And they did so, for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and struck the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast, all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt. 18 And the magicians did likewise with their enchantments to produce lice, but they couldn't, so there were lice on man, and on beast. 19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God," and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he didn't listen to them, as the Lord had said. 20 And the Lord said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, see, he comes out to the water, and say to him, Thus says the Lord, Let my people go, so they can serve me. 21 Otherwise, if you won't let my people go, see, I'll send swarms of flies on you, and on your servants, and on your people, and into your houses, and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they are. 22 And I will separate, on that day, the land of Goshen, where my people live, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, so that you'll know that I am the Lord on the earth. 23 And I will put a division between my people and your people, this sign shall be tomorrow." 24 And the Lord did so, and a grievous swarm of flies came into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants' houses, and into all the land of Egypt, the land was ruined because of the swarm of flies. 25 And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, "Go sacrifice to your God in the land." 26 And Moses said, It's not right to do so, for we'll sacrifice what the Egyptians hate to the Lord our God, see, shall we sacrifice what the Egyptians hate before their eyes, and won't they stone us? 27 We'll go three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the Lord our God, as he shall command us. 28 And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, so you can sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness, only you shall not go very far away, intreat for me. 29 And Moses said, "See, I go out from you, and I'll pray to the Lord that the swarms of flies will depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow, but let Pharaoh not deal deceitfully anymore in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord." 30 And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the Lord. 31 And the Lord did according to the word of Moses, and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, not one remained. 32 And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, nor would he let the people go. ___Exodus chapter 9 1 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go in to Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, so they can serve me. 2 For if you refuse to let them go, and will hold them still, 3 Behold, the hand of the Lord is on your cattle that are in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the oxen, and on the sheep, there shall be a very grievous cattle disease. 4 And the Lord shall separate between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt, and nothing shall die of all that is the children's of Israel." 5 And the Lord appointed a set time, saying, "Tomorrow the Lord shall do this thing in the land." 6 And the Lord did that thing on the next day, and all the cattle of Egypt died, but of the cattle of the children of Israel not one died. 7 And Pharaoh sent, and see, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go. 8 And the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron, "Take handfuls of ashes from the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward heaven in the sight of Pharaoh. 9 And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking out with sores on man, and on beast, throughout all the land of Egypt." 10 And they took ashes from the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh, and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven, and it became a boil breaking forth with sores on man, and on beast. 11 And the magicians couldn't stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boil was on the magicians, and on all the Egyptians. 12 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he didn't listen to them, as the Lord had said to Moses. 13 And the Lord said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say to him, Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, so they can serve me. 14 For I will at this time send all my plagues on your heart, and on your servants, and on your people, so that you'll know that there is none like me in all the earth. 15 For now I will stretch out my hand, so I can strike you and your people with pestilence, and you'll be cut off from the earth. 16 And as a matter of fact, for this reason I've raised you up, for to show in you my power, and so that my name will be declared throughout all the earth. 17 As yet do you exalt yourself against my people, so that you won't let them go? 18 Behold, tomorrow about this time I'll cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hasn't been in Egypt since the foundation of it until now. 19 Therefore send now, and gather your cattle, and all that you have in the field, for on every man and beast that shall be found in the field, and hasn't been brought home, the hail shall come down on them, and they'll die." 20 He that feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses, 21 And he that didn't regard the word of the Lord left his servants and his cattle in the field. 22 And the Lord said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that there will be hail in all the land of Egypt, on man, and on beast, and on every plant in the field, throughout the land of Egypt." 23 And Moses stretched out his rod toward heaven, and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along on the ground, and the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt. 24 So there was hail, and fire mixed with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25 And the hail struck throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast, and the hail struck every plant of the field, and broke every tree of the field. 26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail. 27 And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, I have sinned this time, the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. 28 Pray to the Lord (for it is enough) so that there are no more mighty thunderings and hail, and I will let you go, and you'll stay no longer. 29 And Moses said to him, "As soon as I've gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the Lord, and the thunder shall stop, nor shall there be anymore hail, so that you'll know that the earth is the Lord's. 30 But as for you and your servants, I know that you won't yet fear the Lord God." 31 And the flax and the barley was struck, for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled. 32 But the wheat and the rye were not struck, for they had not yet grown up. 33 And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread out his hands to the Lord, and the thunders and hail stopped, and the rain was not poured on the earth. 34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders had stopped, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants. 35 And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, nor would he let the children of Israel go, as the Lord had spoken by Moses. ___Exodus chapter 10 1 And the Lord said to Moses, "Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, so that I can show these, my signs, before him, 2 And so that you'll tell in the ears of your son, and of your son's son, what things I've done in Egypt, and my signs that I've done among them, so that you'll know that I'm the Lord." 3 And Moses and Aaron came in to Pharaoh, and said to him, "Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews, How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, so they can serve me. 4 Otherwise, if you refuse to let my people go, see, tomorrow I'll bring the locusts into your coast, 5 And they'll cover the face of the earth, so no one can see the earth, and they shall eat what remains to you from the hail, and shall eat every tree that grows for you out of the field, 6 And they shall fill your houses, and the houses of all your servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians, that neither your fathers, nor your fathers' fathers have seen, since the day that they were on the earth 'til this day." And he turned himself, and went out from Pharaoh. 7 And Pharaoh's servants said to him, "How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, so that they can serve the Lord their God, don't you yet know that Egypt has been destroyed?" 8 And Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh, and he said to them, "Go, serve the Lord your God, but who are they that shall go?" 9 And Moses said, "We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go, for we must hold a feast to the Lord." 10 And he said to them, "Let the Lord be so with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones, look to it, for evil is before you. 11 Not so, go now you that are men, and serve the Lord, since you desired it." And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence. 12 And the Lord said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, so they'll come up on the land of Egypt, and eat every plant of the land, everything that the hail has left." 13 And Moses stretched out his rod over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind on the land all that day, and all that night, and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts. 14 And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt, they were very grievous, before them there were no such locusts, nor after them shall be such. 15 For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened, and they ate every plant of the land, and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left, and no green thing remained in the trees, or in the plants of the field, through all the land of Egypt. 16 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron hurriedly, and he said, "I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you. 17 Now therefore please forgive my sin only this once, and pray to the Lord your God, so that he'll take away from me this death only." 18 And he went out from Pharaoh, and prayed to the Lord. 19 And the Lord turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and threw them into the Red sea, not one locust remained in all the coasts of Egypt. 20 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he wouldn't let the children of Israel go. 21 And the Lord said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that there will be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness that will be felt." 22 And Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days, 23 They didn't see each other, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the children of Israel had light in their dwelling places. 24 And Pharaoh called to Moses, and said, "Go serve the Lord, only let your flocks and your herds remain, let your little ones also go with you." 25 And Moses said, "You must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, so that we can sacrifice to the Lord our God. 26 Our cattle also shall go with us, there shall not a hoof be left behind, for we must take from them to serve the Lord our God, and we don't know with what we must serve the Lord, until we get there." 27 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go. 28 And Pharaoh said to him, "Get away from me, watch yourself, see my face no more, for on the day you see my face you'll die." 29 And Moses said, "You've spoken well, I will see your face again no more." ___Exodus chapter 11 1 And the Lord said to Moses, "I will bring yet one more plague on Pharaoh, and on Egypt, afterward he will let you go from here, when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out from here completely. 2 Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow from his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold." 3 And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Also the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people. 4 And Moses said, "Thus says the Lord, About midnight I'll go through Egypt, 5 And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sits on his throne, to the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill, and all the firstborn of animals. 6 And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it anymore. 7 But against any of the children of Israel not a dog shall move its tongue, against man or beast, so that you'll know that the Lord puts a difference between the Egyptians and Israel. 8 And all these, your servants, shall come down to me, and bow themselves down to me, saying, Get out, and all the people that follow you, and after that I'll go out." And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger. 9 And the Lord said to Moses, "Pharaoh won't listen to you, so that my wonders will be multiplied in the land of Egypt." 10 And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, and the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he wouldn't let the children of Israel go out of his land. ___Exodus chapter 12 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2 "This month shall be to you the beginning of months, it shall be the first month of the year to you. 3 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month each man shall take to himself a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for a household, 4 And if the household is too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the souls, every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year, you shall take it out from the sheep, or a kid from the goats, 6 And you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month, and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. 7 And they shall take some of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper overhanging above the door of the houses in which they shall eat it. 8 And they shall eat the flesh on that night, roasted with fire, and unleavened bread, and they shall eat it with bitter herbs. 9 Don't eat it raw, nor soaked in water, but roasted with fire, his head with his legs, and with what pertains to it. 10 And you shall let nothing of it remain until the morning, and that which remains of it until the morning you shall burn with fire. 11 And thus shall you eat it, with your midsections clothed, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand, and you shall eat it in haste, it is the Lord's passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast, and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, I am the Lord. 13 And the blood shall be to you a token on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. 14 And this day shall be to you for a memorial, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations, you shall keep it as a feast by an ordinance forever. 15 You shall eat unleavened bread seven days, the first day you shall put away yeast out of your houses, for whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. 16 And on the first day, there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation to you, no kind of work shall be done in them, except that which every man needs to eat, only that may be done by you. 17 And you shall observe the feast of unleavened bread, for in this same day I have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt, therefore you shall observe this day in your generations by an ordinance forever. 18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty first day of the month at evening. 19 No leaven shall be found in your houses for seven days, for whoever eats that which is leavened, that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a stranger, or born in the land. 20 You shall eat nothing leavened, in all your dwelling places you shall eat unleavened bread." 21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said to them, "Draw out and take yourselves a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. 22 And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the horizontal beam above the door, and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason, and none of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. 23 For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the horizontal beam above the door, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you. 24 And you shall observe this thing for an ordinance to you and to your sons forever. 25 And when you've come to the land that the Lord will give you, as he has promised, you shall keep this service. 26 And when your children say to you, What do you mean by this service? 27 You shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians, and delivered our houses." And the people bowed the head and worshipped. 28 And the children of Israel went away, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, they did so. 29 And at midnight, the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle. 30 And Pharaoh got up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians, and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not someone dead. 31 And he called for Moses and Aaron at night, and said, "Rise up, and get out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel, and go, serve the Lord, as you have said. 32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me also." 33 And the Egyptians were urgent on the people, so that they could send them out of the land in haste, for they said, "We're all dead men." 34 And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading troughs being bound up in their clothes on their shoulders. 35 And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses, and they borrowed from the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothes, 36 And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians. 37 And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. 38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them, and flocks, and herds, very much cattle. 39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they brought out of Egypt, for it was not leavened, because they were pushed out of Egypt, and couldn't wait, nor had they prepared any food for themselves. 40 Now the temporary stay of the children of Israel, who lived in Egypt, was four hundred thirty years. 41 And at the end of the four hundred thirty years, the same day, all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. 42 It is a night to be much observed to the Lord for bringing them out from the land of Egypt, this is that night of the Lord to be observed by all the children of Israel in their generations. 43 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "This is the ordinance of the passover, No stranger shall eat of it, 44 But every man's servant that is bought for money, after you've circumcised him, then he shall eat of it. 45 A foreigner and a hired servant shall not eat of it. 46 It shall be eaten in one house, you shall not carry any of the flesh out of the house, nor shall you break a bone of it. 47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. 48 And when a stranger shall visit with you, and will keep the passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it, and he shall be like someone that is born in the land, for no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. 49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and also to the stranger who is visiting among you. 50 Thus did all the children of Israel, as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. 51 And the same day, the Lord brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies. ___Exodus chapter 13 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Regard as holy to me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb, among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast, it is mine." 3 And Moses said to the people, "Remember this day, in which you came out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, for by strength of hand, the Lord brought you out of this place, there shall no leavened bread be eaten. 4 This day, you came out in the month Abib. 5 And it shall be, when the Lord shall bring you into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, that he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month. 6 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the Lord. 7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days, and no leavened bread shall be seen with you, nor shall there be leaven seen with you in all your quarters. 8 And you shall show your son on that day, saying, This is done because of that which the Lord did to me when I came out of Egypt. 9 And it shall be for a sign to you on your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, so that the Lord's law will be in your mouth, for with a strong hand has the Lord brought you out of Egypt. 10 You shall therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year. 11 And it shall be when the Lord shall bring you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and to your fathers, and shall give it to you, 12 That you shall set apart to the Lord all that open the womb, and every firstling that comes from an animal that you have, the males shall be the Lord's. 13 And every firstling of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, and if you won't redeem it, then you shall break its neck, and you shall redeem all the firstborn of man among your children. 14 And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, What is this? That you shall say to him, By strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of bondage, 15 And when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast, therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all that open the womb, being males, but all the firstborn of my children I redeem. 16 And it shall be for a token on your hand, and for frontlets between your eyes, for by strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt." 17 And when Pharaoh had let the people go, God didn't lead them through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near, for God said, So that the people won't change their minds, when they see war, and return to Egypt, 18 But God led the people around, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea, and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt. 19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had strictly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones away from here with you. 20 And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. 21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, to go by day and night, 22 He didn't take away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. ___Exodus chapter 14 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baalzephon, you shall encamp before it by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say about the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness has shut them in. 4 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, so he will follow after them, and I will be honored on Pharaoh, and on all his host, so that the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord." And they did so. 5 And the king of Egypt was told that the people fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, "Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?" 6 And he made his chariot ready, and took his people with him, 7 And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them. 8 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel, and the children of Israel went out with a high hand. 9 But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon. 10 And when Pharaoh came near, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and see, the Egyptians marched after them, and they were very afraid, and the children of Israel shouted to the Lord. 11 And they said to Moses, "Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt thus with us, to carry us out of Egypt? 12 Is not this the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, so that we can serve the Egyptians? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness." 13 And Moses said to the people, "Don't be afraid, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, that he will show to you today, for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you'll see them no more forever. 14 The Lord shall fight for you, and you shall be quiet." 15 And the Lord said to Moses, "Why do you shout to me? Speak to the children of Israel, that they go forward, 16 But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it, and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the middle of the sea. 17 And I, see, I'll harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they'll follow them, and I will get myself honor on Pharaoh, and on all his host, on his chariots, and on his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I've gotten myself honor on Pharaoh, on his chariots, and on his horsemen. 19 And the angel of God, that went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them, and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them, 20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel, and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these, so that the one didn't come near the other all night. 21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 And the children of Israel went into the middle of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand, and on their left. 23 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the middle of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And in the morning watch the Lord looked to the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, 25 And took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove them heavily, so that the Egyptians said, "Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians." 26 And the Lord said to Moses, Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the waters will come back on the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen. 27 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared, and the Egyptians fled against it, and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the middle of the sea. 28 And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them, not one of them remained. 29 But the children of Israel walked on dry land in the middle of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand, and on their left. 30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the sea shore. 31 And Israel saw that great work that the Lord did on the Egyptians, and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses. ___Exodus chapter 15 1 Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying, "I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously, the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea. 2 The Lord is my strength and song, and he has become my salvation, he is my God, and I will prepare him a habitation, my father's God, and I will exalt him. 3 The Lord is a man of war, the Lord is his name. 4 He has thrown into the sea Pharaoh's chariots and his army, his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. 5 The depths have covered them, they sank to the bottom like a stone. 6 Your right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power, your right hand, O Lord, has dashed in pieces the enemy. 7 And in the greatness of your excellency you've overthrown those who rose up against you, you sent out your anger that consumed them like stubble. 8 And with the blast of your nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright like a heap, and the depths were hardened in the heart of the sea. 9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my lust shall be satisfied on them, I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. 10 You blew with your wind, the sea covered them, they sank like lead in the mighty waters. 11 Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? 12 You stretched out your right hand, the earth swallowed them. 13 You in your mercy have led out the people that you've redeemed, you've guided them in your strength to your holy habitation. 14 The people shall hear, and be afraid, sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestine. 15 Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed, the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold of them, all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. 16 Fear and dread shall fall on them, by the greatness of your arm they'll be as still as a stone, 'til your people pass over, O Lord, 'til the people pass over, that you've purchased. 17 You'll bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of your inheritance, in the place, O Lord, that you've made for yourself to live in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, that your hands have established. 18 The Lord shall reign forever and always. 19 For Pharaoh's horse went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the Lord caused the waters of the sea to come back upon them, but the children of Israel went on dry land in the middle of the sea." 20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. 21 And Miriam answered them, "Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously, the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea." 22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur, and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. 23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter, therefore the name of it was called Marah. 24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" 25 And he shouted to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree, which when he had thrown into the waters, the waters were made sweet, he made for them a statute and an ordinance there, and he tested them there, 26 And said, "If you'll diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and will do that which is right in his sight, and will give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I'll put none of these diseases on you, that I have brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord that heals you." 27 And they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water, and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the waters. ___Exodus chapter 16 1 And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt. 2 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, 3 And the children of Israel said to them, "Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we ate bread to the full, for you've brought us out into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger." 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, "See, I'll rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, so I can test them, whether they'll walk in my law, or not. 5 And on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily." 6 And Moses and Aaron said to all the children of Israel, "At evening, then you'll know that the Lord has brought you out from the land of Egypt, 7 And in the morning, then you'll see the glory of the Lord, because he hears your murmurings against the Lord, and what are we, that you murmur against us?" 8 And Moses said, "This shall be, when the Lord shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full, because the Lord hears your murmurings that you murmur against him, and what are we? Your murmurings are not against us, but against the Lord." 9 And Moses spoke to Aaron, "Say to all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the Lord, for he has heard your murmurings." 10 And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the children of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and see, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. 11 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 12 "I've heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, speak to them, saying, In the evening you shall eat flesh, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God. 13 And in the evening even the quails came up, and covered the camp, and in the morning the dew lay around the people. 14 And when the dew that lay there had gone up, see, on the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. 15 And when the children of Israel saw it, they said to each other, "It is manna," for they didn't know what it was. And Moses said to them, "This is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is the thing that the Lord has commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your people, take every man for those who are in his tents." 17 And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. 18 And when they measured it with an omer, he that gathered much had no excess, and he that gathered little had no lack, they gathered every man according to his eating. 19 And Moses said, "Let no man leave of it 'til the morning." 20 But they didn't listen to Moses, but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank, and Moses was angry with them. 21 And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating, and when the sun got hot, it melted. 22 And on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each man, and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. 23 And he said to them, "This is what the Lord has said, Tomorrow is the rest of the holy sabbath to the Lord, bake that which you will bake today, and seethe what you will seethe, and that which remains lay up for you to be kept until the morning. 24 And they laid it up 'til the morning, as Moses said to do, and it didn't stink, nor was there any worm in it. 25 And Moses said, "Eat that today, for today is a sabbath to the Lord, today you won't find it in the field. 26 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none." 27 And some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather, and they found none. 28 And the Lord said to Moses, "How long do you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws? 29 See, because the Lord has given you the sabbath, therefore he gives you on the sixth day the bread of two days, stay every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. 30 So the people rested on the seventh day. 31 And the house of Israel called the name of it Manna, and it was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. 32 And Moses said, "This is the thing that the Lord commands, Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations, so they can see the bread with which I've fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out from the land of Egypt." 33 And Moses said to Aaron, "Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna in it, and lay it up before the Lord, to be kept for your generations. 34 As the Lord commanded Moses," so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept. 35 And the children of Israel ate manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited, they ate manna, until they came to the borders of the land of Canaan. 36 Now an omer is one tenth of an ephah. ___Exodus chapter 17 1 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the Lord, and pitched in Rephidim, and there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So the people chided with Moses, and said, "Give us water so we can drink." And Moses said to them, "Why do you chide with me? Why do you tempt the Lord?" 3 And the people thirsted there for water, and the people murmured against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?" 4 And Moses called to the Lord, saying, "What shall I do to these people? They are almost ready to stone me." 5 And the Lord said to Moses, "Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel, and your rod, with which you struck the river, take in your hand, and go. 6 See, I'll stand before you there on the rock in Horeb, and you'll strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so the people can drink." And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, "Is the Lord among us, or not?" 8 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 And Moses said to Joshua, "Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek, tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand." 10 So Joshua did what Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek, and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And when Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses' hands were heavy, and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat on it, and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side, and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 And Joshua slaughtered Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 14 And the Lord said to Moses, "Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua, for I will completely put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven." 15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi, 16 For he said, "Because the Lord has sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation." ___Exodus chapter 18 1 When Jethro, 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, 2 Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back, 3 And her two sons, of which the name of one was Gershom, for he said, "I have been an alien in a strange land," 4 And the name of the other was Eliezer, "For the God of my father," said he, "was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh," 5 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mountain of God, 6 And he said to Moses, "I your father in law, Jethro, have come to you, and your wife, and her two sons with her." 7 And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and bowed, and kissed him, and they asked each other about their welfare, and they came into the tent. 8 And Moses told his father in law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come on them by the way, and how the Lord delivered them. 9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness that the Lord had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. 10 And Jethro said, "Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods, for in the thing in which they dealt proudly he was above them." 12 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in law before God. 13 And on the next day, Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood by Moses from the morning to the evening. 14 And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, "What is this thing that you do to the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand by you from morning to evening?" 15 And Moses said to his father in law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God, 16 When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between them, and I tell them the statutes of God, and his laws." 17 And Moses' father in law said to him, "The thing that you're doing is not good. 18 You'll surely wear away, both you, and these people that are with you, for this thing is too heavy for you, you're not able to perform it yourself alone. 19 Listen now to my voice, I'll give you advice, and God shall be with you, You be for the people toward God, so that you'll bring the causes to God, 20 And you shall teach them ordinances and laws, and shall show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do. 21 Also you shall provide out of all the people able men, that fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness, and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens, 22 And let them judge the people at all seasons, and it shall be, that every important matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge, so it shall be easier for yourself, and they shall bear the burden with you. 23 If you'll do this thing, and God commands you so, then you'll be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace." 24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said. 25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 26 And they judged the people at all seasons, the hard causes they brought to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. 27 And Moses let his father in law depart, and he went his way into his own land. ___Exodus chapter 19 1 In the third month, after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, the same day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 For they had departed from Rephidim, and had come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness, and Israel camped there before the mountain. 3 And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, "Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel, 4 You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles' wings, and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you'll obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then you shall be a peculiar treasure to me above all people, for all the earth is mine, 6 And you shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the children of Israel." 7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words that the Lord commanded him. 8 And all the people answered together, and said, "All that the Lord has spoken we will do." And Moses returned the words of the people to the Lord. 9 And the Lord said to Moses, "See, I come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever." And Moses told the words of the people to the Lord. 10 And the Lord said to Moses, "Go to the people, and cleanse them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes, 11 And be ready for the third day, for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai. 12 And you shall set bounds around for the people, saying, Take heed to yourselves, so that you don't go up into the mountain, or touch the border of it, whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death, 13 Not a hand shall touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through, whether it's animal or man, it shall not live, when the trumpet sounds long, they shall come up to the mountain." 14 And Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes. 15 And he said to the people, "Be ready for the third day, abstain from sex." 16 And on the third day in the morning, there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the voice of the trumpet very loud, so that all the people that were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the lower part of the mountain. 18 And Mount Sinai was completely smoking, because the Lord descended on it in fire, and the smoke of it ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. 19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice. 20 And the Lord came down on Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain, and the Lord called Moses up to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21 And the Lord said to Moses, "Go down, charge the people, so they won't break through to the Lord to gaze, and many of them die. 22 And let the priests also, who come near to the Lord, sanctify themselves, so the Lord won't hurt them." 23 And Moses said to the Lord, "The people can't come up to Mount Sinai, for you commanded us, saying, Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it." 24 And the Lord said to him, "Away, get down, and you shall come up, you, and Aaron with you, but don't let the priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, so he won't hurt them." 25 So Moses went down to the people, and spoke to them. ___Exodus chapter 20 1 And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 "I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 You shall have no other gods before me. 4 You shall not make for yourselves any engraved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth, 5 You shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the sins of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 And showing mercy to thousands of those who love me, and keep my commandments. 7 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord won't hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain. 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shall you labor, and do all your work, 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord your God, in it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger that is inside your gates, 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day, so the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. 12 Honor your father and your mother, so that your days will be long on the land that the Lord your God gives you. 13 You shall not kill. 14 You shall not commit adultery. 15 You shall not steal. 16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 17 You shall not covet your neighbor's house, you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's." 18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking, and when the people saw it, they moved, and stood far off. 19 And they said to Moses, "You speak with us, and we will listen, but don't let God speak with us, so that we don't die." 20 And Moses said to the people, "Don't be afraid, for God has come to test you, and so that his fear will be before your faces, so that you don't sin." 21 And the people stood far off, and Moses went near the thick darkness where God was. 22 And the Lord said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, you've seen that I have talked with you from heaven. 23 You shall not make with me gods of silver, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold. 24 An altar of earth you shall make for me, and shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings, and your peace offerings, your sheep, and your oxen, in all places where I record my name, I will come to you, and I will bless you. 25 And if you want to make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of cut stone, for if you lift up your tool on it, you've polluted it. 26 Nor shall you go up by steps to my altar, so your nakedness won't be discovered on it." ___Exodus chapter 21 1 "Now these are the judgments that you shall set before them. 2 If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. 3 If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself, if he was married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master has given him a wife, and she has born him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself. 5 And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children, I don't want to go out free, 6 Then his master shall take him to the judges, he shall also take him to the door, or to the door post, and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall serve him forever. 7 And if a man sells his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out like the menservants do. 8 If she doesn't please her master, who has gotten engaged to her, then he shall let her be redeemed. To sell her to a strange nation he shall have no power, since he has dealt deceitfully with her. 9 And if his son has gotten engaged to her, he shall deal with her as with daughters. 10 If he takes for himself another wife, her food, her clothes, and her duty of marriage, he shall not diminish. 11 And if he doesn't do these three to her, then she shall go out free without money. 12 He that strikes a man, so that he dies, shall be surely put to death. 13 And if a man doesn't lie in wait, but God delivers him into his hand, then I will appoint you a place where he shall flee to. 14 But if a man comes presumptuously on his neighbor to kill him with sneakiness, you shall take him from my altar, so he can die. 15 And he that strikes his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death. 16 And he that steals a man, and sells him, or if he's found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death. 17 And he that curses his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death. 18 And if men fight together, and one strikes another with a stone, or with his fist, and he doesn't die, but keeps his bed, 19 If he rises again, and walks out on his staff, then he that struck him shall get off, only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed. 20 And if a man strikes his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he dies under his hand, he shall be surely punished. 21 But if he continues a day or two, he shall not be punished, for he is his money. 22 If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit departs from her, and yet no mischief follows, he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. 23 And if any mischief follows, then you shall give life for life, 24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stroke of the whip for stroke of the whip. 26 And if a man strikes the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, so that it's destroyed, he shall let him go free for his eye's sake. 27 And if he strikes out his manservant's tooth, or his maidservant's tooth, he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake. 28 If an ox gores a man or a woman, so that they die, then the ox shall be surely stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall be free. 29 But if the ox was in the habit of pushing with his horn in the past, and it has been testified to his owner, and he hasn't kept him in, but that he has killed a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to death. 30 If there is laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatever is laid on him. 31 Whether he has gored a son, or has gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done to him. 32 If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant, he shall give to their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned. 33 And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit, and not cover it, and an ox or an ass falls in it, 34 The owner of the pit shall make it good, and give money to the owner of them, and the dead beast shall be his. 35 And if one man's ox hurt another's, so that it dies, then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money of it, and they shall also divide the dead ox . 36 Or if it's known that the ox used to push in the past, and his owner hasn't kept him in, he shall surely pay ox for ox, and the dead shall be his own." ___Exodus chapter 22 1 "If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kills it, or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. 2 If a thief is caught breaking up, and is struck and he dies, no blood shall be shed for him. 3 If the sun has risen on him, there shall be blood shed for him, for he should make full restitution, if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. 4 If the theft is certainly found in his hand alive, whether it is ox, or donkey, or sheep, he shall restore double. 5 If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another man's field, from the best of his own field, and from the best of his own vineyard, he shall make restoration. 6 If fire breaks out, and catches in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, is consumed by it, he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution. 7 If a man shall deliver money or stuff to his neighbor to keep, and it's stolen out of the man's house, if the thief is found, let him pay double. 8 If the thief isn't found, then the master of the house shall be brought to the judges, to see whether he has put his hand to his neighbor's goods. 9 For all kinds of trespass, whether it's for ox, for ass, for sheep, for clothing, or for any kind of lost thing, which another challenges to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges, and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double to his neighbor. 10 If a man delivers to his neighbor a donkey, or an ox, or a sheep, or any animal, to keep, and it dies, or gets hurt, or gets driven away, no man seeing it, 11 Then an oath of the Lord shall be between them both, that he hasn't put his hand to his neighbor's goods, and the owner of it shall accept it, and he shall not make it good. 12 And if it is stolen from him, he shall make restoration to the owner of it. 13 If it has been torn in pieces, then let him bring it for witness, and he shall not make good that which was torn. 14 And if a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it gets hurt, or dies, the owner of it not being with it, he shall surely make it good. 15 But if the owner of it was with it, he shall not make it good, if it is a hired thing, it came for his wages. 16 And if a man entices a maid that is not engaged, and lies with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife. 17 If her father completely refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins. 18 You shall not allow a witch to live. 19 Whosoever lies with a beast shall surely be put to death. 20 He that sacrifices to any god except to the Lord only, he shall be completely destroyed. 21 You shalt not vex a stranger, nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 22 You shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. 23 If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to me, I will surely hear their cry, 24 And my anger shall become hot, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless. 25 If you lend money to any of my people that is poor by you, you shall not be to him like a usurer, you shall not make him pay interest. 26 If you at all take your neighbor's clothing as pledge, you shalt return it to him by sundown, 27 For that is his covering only, it is his clothing for his skin, on what shall he sleep? And when he calls to me, I will hear, for I am gracious. 28 You shall not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of your people. 29 You shall not delay to offer the first of your ripe fruits, and of your liquors, the firstborn of your sons shall you give to me. 30 Likewise shall you do with your oxen, and with your sheep, seven days it shall be with its mother, on the eighth day you shall give it to me. 31 And you shall be holy men to me, nor shall you eat any flesh that is torn by beasts in the field, you shall throw it to the dogs." ___Exodus chapter 23 1 "You shall not raise a false report, don't put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. 2 You shall not follow a multitude to do evil, nor shall you speak in a cause to decline after many to pervert justice, 3 Nor shall you hide yourself from the cause of a poor man who's been done wrong. 4 If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again. 5 If you see the donkey of him that hates you lying under its burden, and would prefer not to help him, you shall surely help him. 6 You shall not pervert the justice of your poor in his cause. 7 Keep far from a false matter, and don't kill the innocent and righteous, for I will not justify the wicked. 8 And you shall take no bribe, for the bribe blinds the wise, and perverts the words of the righteous. 9 Also you shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger, since you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 10 And you shall plant your land six years, and shall gather in the fruits of it, 11 But the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie still, so that the poor of your people can eat, and what they leave, the beasts of the field shall eat. You shall deal similarly with your vineyard, and with your oliveyard. 12 Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, so that your ox and your donkey can rest, and the son of your handmaid, and the stranger, will be refreshed. 13 And in all things that I've said to you take into consideration everything that pertains, and make no mention of the name of other gods, nor let it be heard from your mouth. 14 Three times in the year you shall keep a feast to me. 15 You shall keep the feast of unleavened bread, (you shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, in the time appointed of the month Abib, for in it you came out from Egypt, and no one shall appear before me empty,) 16 And the feast of harvest, the first fruits of your labors, that you've planted in the field, and the feast of in-gathering, which is at the end of the year, when you've gathered in your labors out of the field. 17 Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord God. 18 You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread, nor shall the fat of my sacrifice remain until the morning. 19 The first of the first fruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God. You shall not seethe a kid in its mother's milk. 20 See, I send an Angel before you, to keep you in the way, and to bring you into the place that I've prepared. 21 Beware of him, and obey his voice, don't provoke him, for he won't pardon your transgressions, for my name is in him. 22 But if you indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and an adversary to your adversaries. 23 For my Angel shall go before you, and bring you in to the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, and I will cut them off. 24 You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their doings, but you shall completely destroy them, and completely break down their images. 25 And you shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless your bread, and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you. 26 Nothing shall cast their young, nor be barren, in your land. The number of your days I'll fulfil. 27 I'll send my fear before you, and will destroy all the people to whom you come, and I'll make all your enemies turn their backs to you. 28 And I'll send hornets before you, that will drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before you. 29 I won't drive them out from before you in one year, so the land doesn't become desolate, and the beasts of the field don't multiply against you. 30 Little by little I'll drive them out from before you, until you're increased, and inherit the land. 31 And I will set your bounds from the Red sea to the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the river, for I'll deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you'll drive them out before you. 32 You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. 33 They shall not live in your land, so that they don't make you sin against me, for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you." ___Exodus chapter 24 1 And he said to Moses, "Come up to the Lord, you, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship far off. 2 And Moses alone shall come near the Lord, but they shall not come near, nor shall the people go up with him." 3 And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments, and all the people answered, "All the words that the Lord has said we will do." 4 And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord, and got up early in the morning, and built an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 And he sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord. 6 And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons, and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people, and they said, "All that the Lord has said we will do, and be obedient." 8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, "See the blood of the covenant, that the Lord has made with you concerning all these words." 9 Then Moses went up, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, 10 And they saw the God of Israel, and there was under his feet like a paved work of a sapphire stone, and like the body of heaven in its clearness. 11 And on the nobles of the children of Israel he didn't lay his hand, also they saw God, and ate and drank. 12 And the Lord said to Moses, "Come up to me into the mountain, and be there, and I'll give you tables of stone, and a law, and commandments that I've written, so you'll teach them." 13 And Moses rose up, and his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. 14 And he said to the elders, "Wait for us here, until we come back to you, and see, Aaron and Hur are with you, if any man has any matters to do, let him come to them." 15 And Moses went up into the mountain, and a cloud covered the mountain. 16 And the glory of the Lord stayed on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days, and the seventh day he called to Moses out of the middle of the cloud. 17 And the sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel. 18 And Moses went into the middle of the cloud, and got himself up into the mountain, and Moses was in the mountain forty days and forty nights. ___Exodus chapter 25 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel for them to bring me an offering, of every man that gives it willingly with his heart you shall take my offering. 3 And this is the offering that you shall take from them, gold, and silver, and brass, 4 And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, 5 And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood, 6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, 7 Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. 8 And let them make me a tabernacle, so I can live among them. 9 According to all that I show you, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments of it, you shall make it like that. 10 And they shall make an ark of shittim wood, the length of it shall be forty five inches, and the width of it twenty seven inches, and the height of it twenty seven inches. 11 And you shall plate it with pure gold, inside and outside you shall plate it, and shall make on it a crown of gold around it. 12 And you shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners of it, and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it. 13 And you shalt make staves of shittim wood, and plate them with gold. 14 And you shall put the staves into the rings on the sides of the ark, so that the ark will be carried with them. 15 The staves shall be in the rings of the ark, they shall not be taken from it. 16 And you shall put into the ark the testimony that I'll give you. 17 And you shall make a mercy seat of pure gold, forty five inches shall be the length of it, and twenty inches the width of it. 18 And you shall make two angels of gold, you shall make them of beaten work, in the two ends of the mercy seat. 19 And make one angel on one end, and the other angel on the other end, even of the mercy seat shall you make the angels on the two ends of it. 20 And the angels shall stretch out their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look at each other, the faces of the angels shall be toward the mercy seat. 21 And you shall put the mercy seat above on the ark, and you shall put in the ark the testimony that I shall give you. 22 And I will meet with you there, and I will commune with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two angels that are on the ark of the testimony, of all things that I'll give you in commandment to the children of Israel. 23 You shall also make a table of shittim wood, the length of it shall be thirty six inches, and eighteen inches the width of it, and twenty seven inches the height of it. 24 And you shall plate it with pure gold, and make for it a crown of gold around it. 25 And you shall make for it a border of a hand width around it, and you shall make a golden crown to the border of it around it. 26 And you shall make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet of it. 27 Opposite the border shall the rings be for places of the staves to carry the table. 28 And you shall make the staves of shittim wood, and plate them with gold, so that the table can be carried with them. 29 And you shall make the dishes of it, and spoons of it, and covers of it, and bowls of it, to cover with them, you shall make them of pure gold. 30 And you shall set showbread on the table before me always. 31 And you shall make a candlestick of pure gold, of beaten work shall the candlestick be made, its shaft, and its branches, its bowls, its knobs, and its flowers, shall be of the same. 32 And six branches shall come out of the sides of it, three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side, 33 Three bowls made like almonds, with a knob and a flower in one branch, and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knob and a flower, so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick. 34 And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like almonds, with their knobs and their flowers. 35 And there shall be a knob under two branches of the same, and a knob under two branches of the same, and a knob under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick. 36 Their knobs and their branches shall be of the same, all of it shall be one beaten work of pure gold. 37 And you shall make the seven lamps of it, and they shall light the lamps of it, so that they'll give light opposite it. 38 And the tongs of it, and the snuff dishes of it, shall be of pure gold. 39 Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these containers. 40 And make sure you make them after their pattern, that was shown to you in the mountain." ___Exodus chapter 26 1 "Also you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and red, with angels of cunning work you shall make them. 2 The length of one curtain shall be forty two feet, and the width of one curtain six feet, and every one of the curtains shall have the same measure. 3 The five curtains shall be coupled to each other, and five other curtains shall be coupled to each other. 4 And you shall make loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain from the edge in the coupling, and likewise shall you make in the farthest edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second. 5 Fifty loops shall you make in one curtain, and fifty loops shall you make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second, so that the loops will take hold of each other. 6 And you shall make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches, and it shall be one tabernacle. 7 And you shall make curtains of goats' hair to be a covering on the tabernacle, you shall make eleven curtains. 8 The length of one curtain shall be forty five feet, and the width of one curtain six feet, and the eleven curtains shall be all of the same measure. 9 And you shall couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shall double the sixth curtain in the front of the tabernacle. 10 And you shall make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops in the edge of the curtain that couples the second. 11 And you shall make fifty taches of brass, and put the taches into the loops, and couple the tent together, so that it will be one. 12 And the remnant that remains of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remains, shall hang over the backside of the tabernacle. 13 And eighteen inches on one side, and eighteen inches on the other side of that which remains in the length of the curtains of the tent, it shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it. 14 And you shall make a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers' skins. 15 And you shall make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up. 16 Fifteen feet shall be the length of a board, and twenty seven inches shall be the width of one board. 17 Two tenons shall there be in one board, set in order opposite each other, thus shall you make for all the boards of the tabernacle. 18 And you shall make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards on the south side southward. 19 And you shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards, two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two sockets under another board for its two tenons. 20 And for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side there shall be twenty boards, 21 And their forty sockets of silver, two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board. 22 And for the sides of the tabernacle westward you shall make six boards. 23 And you shall make two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides. 24 And they shall be coupled together beneath, and they shall be coupled together above the head of it to one ring, thus shall it be for them both, they shall be for the two corners. 25 And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets, two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board. 26 And you shall make bars of shittim wood, five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle, 27 And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the two sides westward. 28 And the middle bar of the boards shall reach from end to end. 29 And you shall plate the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars, and you shall plate the bars with gold. 30 And you shall rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion of it that was shown to you in the mountain. 31 And you shall make a vail of blue, and purple, and red cloth, and fine twined linen of cunning work, it shall be made with angels, 32 And you shall hang it on four pillars of shittim wood plated with gold, their hooks shall be of gold, on the four sockets of silver. 33 And you shall hang up the vail under the taches, so that you can bring in there, inside the vail, the ark of the testimony, and the vail shall divide for you between the holy place and the most holy. 34 And you shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the most holy place. 35 And you shall set the table outside the vail, and the candlestick opposite the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south, and you shall put the table on the north side. 36 And you shall make a hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and red cloth, and fine twined linen, made with needlework. 37 And you shall make five pillars of shittim wood for the hanging, and plate them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold, and you shall cast five sockets of brass for them." ___Exodus chapter 27 1 "And you shall make an altar of shittim wood, seven and a half feet long, and seven and a half feet broad, the altar shall be square, and the height of it shall be four and a half feet. 2 And you shall make the horns of it on the four corners of it, its horns shall be of the same, and you shall plate it with brass. 3 And you shall make its pans to receive its ashes, and its shovels, and its basons, and its fleshhooks, and its firepans, you shall make all the containers of it of brass. 4 And you shall make for it a grate of network of brass, and on the net you shall make four brass rings in the four corners of it. 5 And you shall put it under the circle of the altar beneath, so that the net will be as far as the middle of the altar. 6 And you shall make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and plate them with brass. 7 And the staves shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be on the two sides of the altar, to carry it. 8 You shall make it hollow with boards, as it was shown to you in the mountain, so shall they make it. 9 And you shall make the court of the tabernacle, for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of one hundred fifty feet long for one side, 10 And the twenty pillars of it and their twenty sockets shall be of brass, the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver. 11 And likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings of one hundred fifty feet long, and its twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of brass, the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver. 12 And for the width of the court on the west side shall be hangings of seventy five feet, their pillars ten, and their sockets ten. 13 And the width of the court on the east side eastward shall be seventy five feet. 14 The hangings of one side of the gate shall be twenty two and a half feet, their pillars three, and their sockets three. 15 And on the other side shall be hangings twenty two and a half feet, their pillars three, and their sockets three. 16 And for the gate of the court shall be a hanging of thirty feet, of blue, and purple, and red, and fine twined linen, made with needlework, and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four. 17 All the pillars around the court shall be filleted with silver, their hooks shall be of silver, and their sockets of brass. 18 The length of the court shall be one hundred fifty feet, and the width seventy five everywhere, and the height seven and a half of fine twined linen, and their sockets of brass. 19 All the containers of the tabernacle in all the service of it, and all the pins of it, and all the pins of the court, shall be of brass. 20 And you shall command the children of Israel, that they bring you pure beaten olive oil for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. 21 In the tabernacle of the congregation outside the vail, that is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall put it in order from evening to morning before the Lord, it shall be a statute forever to their generations on the behalf of the children of, Israel." ___Exodus chapter 28 1 "And take to yourself Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, so that he can minister to me in the priest's office, Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons. 2 And you shall make holy garments for Aaron, your brother, for glory and for beauty. 3 And you shall speak to all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, so that they can make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, so that he can minister to me in the priest's office. 4 And these are the garments that they shall make, a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and an embroidered coat, a priest's hat, and a girdle, and they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, and his sons, so he can minister to me in the priest's office. 5 And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and red, and fine linen. 6 And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of red, and fine twined linen, with cunning work. 7 It shall have the two shoulder pieces of it joined at the two edges of it, and so it shall be joined together. 8 And the curious girdle of the ephod, that is on it, shall be of the same, according to the work of it, even of gold, of blue, and purple, and red, and fine twined linen. 9 And you shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the children of Israel, 10 Six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth. 11 With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a seal of verification you shall engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel, you shall make them to be set in ouches of gold. 12 And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial to the children of Israel, and Aaron shall carry their names before the Lord on his two shoulders for a memorial. 13 And you shall make ouches of gold, 14 And two chains of pure gold at the ends, of wreathen work shall you make them, and fasten the wreathen chains to the ouches. 15 And you shall make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work, after the work of the ephod you shall make it, of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of red, and of fine twined linen, you shall make it. 16 It shall be square, being doubled, a span shall be the length of it, and a span shall be the width of it. 17 And you shall set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones, the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle, this shall be the first row. 18 And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. 19 And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. 20 And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper, they shall be set in gold in their enclosings. 21 And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, each one with its name shall they be, according to the twelve tribes. 22 And you shall make on the breastplate chains at the ends of wreathen work of pure gold. 23 And you shall make on the breastplate two rings of gold, and shall put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate. 24 And you shall put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings that are on the ends of the breastplate. 25 And the other two ends of the two wreathen chains you shall fasten in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod before it. 26 And you shall make two rings of gold, and you shall put them on the two ends of the breastplate in the border of it, which is in the side of the ephod inward. 27 And you shall make two other rings of gold, and shall put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the front of it, opposite the other coupling of it, above the curious girdle of the ephod. 28 And they shall tie the breastplate by the rings of it to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, so that it will be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and so that the breastplate won't come loose from the ephod. 29 And Aaron shall carry the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment on his heart, when he goes in to the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually. 30 And you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron's heart, when he goes in before the Lord, and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel on his heart before the Lord continually. 31 And you shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue. 32 And there shall be a hole in the top of it, in the middle of it, it shall have a binding of woven work around the hole of it, like the hole of a chain mail vest, so that it doesn't tear. 33 And beneath, on the hem of it, you shall make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of red, around the hem of it, and bells of gold between them around it, 34 A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, on the hem of the robe around it. 35 And it shall be on Aaron to minister, and its sound shall be heard when he goes in to the holy place before the Lord, and when he comes out, so that he doesn't die. 36 And you shall make a plate of pure gold, and engrave on it, like the engravings of a seal of verification, Holiness to the Lord. 37 And you shall put it on a blue lace, so it will be on the priest's hat, it shall be on the front of the priest's hat. 38 And it shall be on Aaron's forehead, so that Aaron will carry the sin of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts, and it shall always be on his forehead, so that they can be accepted before the Lord. 39 And you shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and you shall make the priest's hat from fine linen, and you shall make the girdle of needlework. 40 And for Aaron's sons you shall make coats, and you shall make girdles for them, and you shall make hats for them, for glory and for beauty. 41 And you shall put them on Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, and shall anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, so that they can minister to me in the priest's office. 42 And you shall make for them linen pants to cover their nakedness, from the midsection to the thighs they shall reach, 43 And they shall be on Aaron, and on his sons, when they come in to the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near the altar to minister in the holy place, so that they don't carry sin, and die, it shall be a statute forever to him and his descendants after him." ___Exodus chapter 29 1 "And this is the thing that you shall do to them to hallow them, to minister to me in the priest's office, Take one young bullock, and two rams without blemish, 2 And unleavened bread, and unleavened cakes tempered with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, you shall make them of wheat flour. 3 And you shall put them into one basket, and bring them in the basket, with the bullock and the two rams. 4 And you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall wash them with water. 5 And you shall take the garments, and put on Aaron the coat, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and clothe him with the curious girdle of the ephod, 6 And you shall put the priest's hat on his head, and put the holy crown on the priest's hat. 7 Then you shall take the anointing oil, and pour it on his head, and anoint him. 8 And you shall bring his sons, and put coats on them. 9 And you shall clothe them with girdles, Aaron and his sons, and put the hats on them, and the priest's office shall be theirs for a perpetual statute, and you shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons. 10 And you shall cause a bullock to be brought before the tabernacle of the congregation, and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands on the head of the bullock. 11 And you shall kill the bullock before the Lord, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 12 And you shall take of the blood of the bullock, and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and pour all the blood beside the bottom of the altar. 13 And you shall take all the fat that covers the inwards, and the caul that is above the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, and burn them on the altar. 14 But the flesh of the bullock, and his skin, and his dung, you shall burn with fire outside the camp, it is a sin offering. 15 You shall also take one ram, and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands on the head of the ram. 16 And you shall kill the ram, and you shall take his blood, and sprinkle it around on the altar. 17 And you shall cut the ram in pieces, and wash the inwards of him, and his legs, and put them to his pieces, and to his head. 18 And you shall burn the whole ram on the altar, it is a burnt offering to the Lord, it is a sweet odor, an offering made by fire to the Lord. 19 And you shall take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands on the head of the ram. 20 Then you shall kill the ram, and take some of his blood, and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and on the tip of the right ear of his sons, and on the thumb of their right hand, and on the big toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood on the altar around it. 21 And you shall take of the blood that is on the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron, and on his garments, and on his sons, and on the garments of his sons with him, and he shall be hallowed, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him. 22 Also you shall take of the ram the fat and the rump, and the fat that covers the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, and the right shoulder, for it is a ram of consecration, 23 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, 24 And you shall put all in the hands of Aaron, and in the hands of his sons, and shall wave them for a wave offering before the Lord. 25 And you shall receive them from their hands, and burn them on the altar for a burnt offering, for a sweet odor before the Lord, it is an offering made by fire to the Lord. 26 And you shall take the breast of the ram of Aaron's consecration, and wave it for a wave offering before the Lord, and it shall be your part. 27 And you shall sanctify the breast of the wave offering, and the shoulder of the heave offering, which is waved, and which is heaved up, of the ram of the consecration, of that which is for Aaron, and of that which is for his sons, 28 And it shall be Aaron's and his sons' by a statute forever from the children of Israel, for it is a heave offering, and it shall be a heave offering from the children of Israel of the sacrifice of their peace offerings, their heave offering to the Lord. 29 And the holy garments of Aaron shall be his sons' after him, to be anointed in them, and to be consecrated in them. 30 And that son that is priest instead of him shall put them on seven days, when he comes into the tabernacle of the congregation to minister in the holy place. 31 And you shall take the ram of the consecration, and boil his flesh in the holy place. 32 And Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram, and the bread that is in the basket, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 33 And they shall eat the things with which the atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them, but a stranger shall not eat of it, because they are holy. 34 And if any of the flesh of the consecrations, or of the bread, remain until the morning, then you shall burn the remainder with fire, it shall not be eaten, because it is holy. 35 And thus you shall do to Aaron, and to his sons, according to all things that I've commanded you, seven days you shall consecrate them. 36 And every day you shall offer a bullock for a sin offering for atonement, and you shall cleanse the altar, when you've made an atonement for it, and you shall anoint it, to sanctify it. 37 Seven days you shall make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it, and it shall be an altar most holy, whatever touches the altar shall be holy. 38 Now this is that which you shall offer on the altar, two lambs of the first year day by day continually. 39 The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at evening, 40 And with the one lamb, one tenth deal of flour mixed with one fourth of a hin of beaten oil, and one fourth of a hin of wine for a drink offering. 41 And the other lamb you shall offer at evening, and shall do to it according to the meat offering of the morning, and according to the drink offering of it, for a sweet odor, an offering made by fire to the Lord. 42 This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord, where I'll meet you, to speak there to you. 43 And I'll meet with the children of Israel there, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory. 44 And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest's office. 45 And I will live among the children of Israel, and will be their God. 46 And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, that brought them out of the land of Egypt, so that I can live among them, I am the Lord their God." ___Exodus chapter 30 1 "And you shall make an altar to burn incense on, you shall make it of shittim wood. 2 The length of it shall be eighteen inches, and the width of it eighteen inches, it shall be square, and the height of it shall be three feet, the horns of it shall be of the same. 3 And you shall plate it with pure gold, the top of it, and the sides of it around it, and the horns of it, and you shall make for it a crown of gold around it. 4 And you shall make two golden rings for it under the crown of it, by the two corners of it, on the two sides of it shall you make it, and they shall be for places for the staves to carry it with. 5 And you shall make the staves of shittim wood, and plate them with gold. 6 And you shall put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I'll meet with you. 7 And Aaron shall burn sweet incense on it every morning, when he dresses the lamps, he shall burn incense on it. 8 And when Aaron lights the lamps at evening, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations. 9 You shall offer no strange incense on it, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering, nor shall you pour drink offering on it. 10 And Aaron shall make an atonement on the horns of it once a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements. Once a year he shall make atonement on it throughout your generations, it is most holy to the Lord." 11 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 12 "When you take the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then every man shall give a ransom for his soul to the Lord, when you count them, so that there is no plague among them, when you count them. 13 Here's what they'll give: everyone that passes among those who are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary, (a shekel is twenty gerahs,) a half shekel shall be the offering of the Lord. 14 Everyone that passes among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering to the Lord. 15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering to the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls. 16 And you shall take the atonement money from the children of Israel, and shall appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, so that it will be a memorial to the children of Israel before the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls." 17 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 18 "You shall also make a wash basin of brass, and its base also of brass, to wash at, and you shall put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and you shall put water in it. 19 For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet there, 20 When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, so that they don't die, or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire to the Lord, 21 So that they shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they don't die, and it shall be a statute forever to them, to him and to his descendants throughout their generations." 22 Also, the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23 "Take also to youself principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half as much, even two hundred fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred fifty shekels, 24 And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil, 25 And you shall make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the chemist, it shall be a holy anointing oil. 26 And you shall anoint the tabernacle of the congregation with it, and the ark of the testimony, 27 And the table and all its containers, and the candlestick and its containers, and the altar of incense, 28 And the altar of burnt offering with all its containers, and the wash basin and its base. 29 And you shall sanctify them, so that they'll be most holy, whatever touches them shall be holy. 30 And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, so they can minister to me in the priest's office. 31 And you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, This shall be a holy anointing oil to me throughout your generations. 32 It shall not be poured on man's flesh, nor shall you make any other like it, using its formula, it is holy, and it shall be holy to you. 33 Whoever makes any like it, or whoever puts any of it on a stranger, shall be cut off from his people." 34 And the Lord said to Moses, "Take to youself sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, these sweet spices with pure frankincense, there shall be the same weight of each, 35 And you shall make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the chemist, tempered together, pure and holy, 36 And you shall beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I'll meet with you, it shall be to you most holy. 37 And as for the perfume that you shall make, you shall not make for yourselves according to the formula of it, it shall be holy for the Lord to you. 38 Whoever shall make like that, to smell it, shall be cut off from his people." ___Exodus chapter 31 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "See, I've called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship, 4 To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, 5 And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all kinds of workmanship. 6 And I, see, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I've put wisdom, so they can make all that I've commanded you, 7 The tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furniture of the tabernacle, 8 And the table and its furniture, and the pure candlestick with all its furniture, and the altar of incense, 9 And the altar of burnt offering with all its furniture, and the wash basin and its base, 10 And the cloths of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office, 11 And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place, they shall do according to all that I've commanded you." 12 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 13 "Speak also to the children of Israel, saying, Truly you shall keep my sabbaths, for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, so that you'll know that I am the Lord that purifies you. 14 You shall keep the sabbath therefore, for it is holy to you, everyone that defiles it shall surely be put to death, for whoever does any work in it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Six days may work be done, but on the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord, whoever does any work on the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 16 So the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever, for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. 18 And he gave to Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him on Mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written by the finger of God." ___Exodus chapter 32 1 And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron, and said to him, "Get up, make us gods that will go before us, for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we don't know what has become of him." 2 And Aaron said to them, "Break off the golden earrings, that are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them to me." 3 And all the people broke off the golden earrings that were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. 4 And he received the earrings from them, and after he had made it into a cast-in-foundry calf, he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, that brought you up out of the land of Egypt." 5 And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it, and Aaron made proclamation, and said, "Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord." 6 And they rose up early on the next day, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings, and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. 7 And the Lord said to Moses, "Go, get down, for your people that you brought out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves, 8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them, they have made themselves a cast-in-foundry calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed to it, and said, These are your gods, O Israel, that have brought you up out of the land of Egypt." 9 And the Lord said to Moses, "I have seen these people, and see, they are a stiff-necked people, 10 Now therefore let me alone, so my anger will grow hot against them, and so that I will consume them, and I will make of you a great nation." 11 And Moses begged the Lord his God, and said, "Lord, why does your anger grow hot against your people, that you've brought out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, He brought them out for mischief, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from your fierce anger, and repent of this evil against your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of, I'll give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever." 14 And the Lord repented of the evil that he thought to do to his people. 15 And Moses turned, and went down from the mountain, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand, the tables were written on both sides, on the one side and on the other they were written. 16 And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tables. 17 And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, "There is a noise of war in the camp." 18 And he said, "It is not the voice of those who shout for mastery, nor is it the voice of those who shout for being overcome, but the noise of those who sing that I hear." 19 And as soon as he came near the camp, he saw the calf, and the dancing, and Moses' anger became hot, and he threw the tables out of his hands, and broke them beneath the mountain. 20 And he took the calf that they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and spread it on the water, and made the children of Israel drink it. 21 And Moses said to Aaron, "What did these people do to you, that you've brought so great a sin on them?" 22 And Aaron said, "Let the anger of my lord not be hot, you know the people, that they are set on mischief. 23 For they said to me, Make us gods, that will go before us, for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we don't know what has become of him. 24 And I said to them, Whoever has any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it to me, then I threw it into the fire, and there came out this calf." 25 And when Moses saw that the people were naked, (for Aaron had made them naked to their shame among their enemies,) 26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, "Who is on the Lord's side? Let him come to me." And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him. 27 And he said to them, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and kill every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor." 28 And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses, and that day, about three thousand men fell of the people. 29 For Moses had said, "Consecrate yourselves today to the Lord, every man on his son, and on his brother, so that he will put a blessing on you this day." 30 And on the next day, Moses said to the people, "You've sinned a great sin, and now I'll go up to the Lord, perhaps I'll make an atonement for your sin." 31 And Moses returned to the Lord, and said, "Oh, these people have sinned a great sin, and have made themselves gods of gold. 32 Yet now, if you'll forgive their sin--, and if not, erase me, please, out of your book that you've written." 33 And the Lord said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me I'll erase out of my book. 34 Therefore now go, lead the people to the place of which I've spoken to you, see, my Angel shall go before you, but on the day when I visit, I will visit their sin on them." 35 And the Lord plagued the people, because they made the calf that Aaron made. ___Exodus chapter 33 1 And the Lord said to Moses, "Depart, and go up from here, you and the people that you've brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land that I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, to your seed I'll give it, 2 And I'll send an angel before you, and I'll drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, 3 To a land flowing with milk and honey, for I won't go up among you, for you are a stiff-necked people, so that I don't consume you on the way." 4 And when the people heard this bad news, they mourned, and no man put on his ornaments. 5 For the Lord had said to Moses, "Say to the children of Israel, you are a stiff-necked people, I will come up among you in a moment, and consume you, therefore now put off your ornaments from you, so that I'll know what to do to you." 6 And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by Mount Horeb. 7 And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the Congregation. And everyone who sought the Lord went out to the tabernacle of the congregation, that was outside the camp. 8 And when Moses went out to the tabernacle, all the people got up, and stood every man at his tent door, and watched Moses, until he had gone into the tabernacle. 9 And as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. 10 And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door. 11 And the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, like a man speaks to his friend. And he turned again into the camp, but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, didn't depart out of the tabernacle. 12 And Moses said to the Lord, "See, you said to me, Bring up this people, and you haven't let me know whom you'll send with me. Yet you've said, I know you by name, and you've also found grace in my sight. 13 Now therefore, please, if I've found grace in your sight, show me now your way, so I can know you, so I can find grace in your sight, and consider that this nation is your people." 14 And he said, "My presence shall go with you, and I'll give you rest." 15 And he said to him, "If your presence doesn't go with me, don't carry us up from here. 16 For how shall it be known here that I and your people have found grace in your sight? Is it not in that you go with us? So shall we be separated, I and your people, from all the people that are on the face of the earth." 17 And the Lord said to Moses, "I will do this thing also that you've said, for you've found grace in my sight, and I know you by name." 18 And he said, "I beg you, show me your glory." 19 And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I'll proclaim the name of the Lord before you, and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy." 20 And he said, "You can't see my face, for no man shall see me, and live." 21 And the Lord said, "See, there is a place by me, and you'll stand on a rock, 22 And while my glory passes by, I'll put you in a clift of the rock, and will cover you with my hand while I pass by, 23 And I will take away my hand, and you'll see my back parts, but my face won't be seen." ___Exodus chapter 34 1 And the Lord said to Moses, "Cut two tables of stone like the first, and I'll write on these tables the words that were in the first tables, that you broke. 2 And be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to me in the top of the mountain. 3 And no man shall come up with you, and don't let any man be seen throughout all the mountain, nor let the flocks nor herds feed before that mountain." 4 And he cut two tables of stone like the first, and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up to Mount Sinai, like the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone. 5 And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. 6 And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, "The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the sin of the fathers on the children, and on the children's children, to the third and to the fourth generation." 8 And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped. 9 And he said, "If now I have found grace in your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, please, go among us, for they are a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance." 10 And he said, "See, I make a covenant, before all your people, I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation, and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord, for it is a terrible thing that I'll do with you. 11 Observe that which I command you this day, see, I drive out before you the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite. 12 Watch yourselves so that you don't make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you go, so that it won't be for a trap among you, 13 But you shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves, 14 For you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God, 15 So that you don't make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice to their gods, and someone calls you, and you eat of his sacrifice, 16 And you take of their daughters for your sons, and their daughters go whoring after their gods, and make your sons go whoring after their gods. 17 You shall make for yourselves no gods from melted metal. 18 You shall keep the feast of unleavened bread. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, like I commanded you, in the time of the month Abib, for in the month Abib you came out from Egypt. 19 All that opens the womb is mine, and every firstling among your cattle, whether ox or sheep, that is male. 20 But the firstling of an ass you shall redeem with a lamb, and if you don't redeem him, then you shall break its neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. And no one shall appear before me empty. 21 Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest, in earing time and in harvest you shall rest. 22 And you shall observe the feast of weeks, of the first fruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of in gathering at the year's end. 23 Three times a the year all your men children shall appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel. 24 For I will throw out the nations before you, and enlarge your borders, nor shall any man desire your land, when you go up to appear before the Lord your God three times a year. 25 You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven, nor shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover be left until the morning. 26 The first of the first fruits of your land you shall bring to the house of the Lord your God. You shall not boil a kid in his mother's milk." 27 And the Lord said to Moses, "Write these words, for after the meaning of these words I've made a covenant with you and with Israel." 28 And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights, he neither ate bread, nor drank water. And he wrote on the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. 29 And when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mountain, Moses didn't know that the skin of his face shined while he talked with him. 30 And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, see, the skin of his face shined, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 And Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them. 32 And afterward all the children of Israel came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him in Mount Sinai. 33 And until Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face. 34 But when Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spoke to the children of Israel what he had been commanded. 35 And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shined, and Moses put the vail on his face again, until he went in to speak with Him. ___Exodus chapter 35 1 And Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said to them, "These are the words that the Lord has commanded, that you should do them. 2 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you a holy day, a sabbath of rest to the Lord, whoever does work in it shall be put to death. 3 You shall not start a fire throughout your habitations on the sabbath day." 4 And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, "This is the thing that the Lord commanded, saying, 5 Take from among youselves an offering to the Lord, whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord, gold, and silver, and brass, 6 And blue, and purple, and red, and fine linen, and goats' hair, 7 And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood, 8 And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense, 9 And onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate. 10 And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the Lord has commanded, 11 The tabernacle, its tent, and its covering, its taches, and its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets, 12 The ark, and the staves of it, with the mercy seat, and the vail of the covering, 13 The table, and its staves, and all its containers, and the showbread, 14 The candlestick also for the light, and its furniture, and its lamps, with the oil for the light, 15 And the incense altar, and its staves, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the door at the entrance of the tabernacle, 16 The altar of burnt offering, with its brass grate, its staves, and all its containers, the wash basin and its base, 17 The hangings of the court, its pillars, and their sockets, and the hanging for the door of the court, 18 The pins of the tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords, 19 The cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office." 20 And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. 21 And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him up, and everyone whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments. 22 And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold, and every man that offered, offered an offering of gold to the Lord. 23 And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and red cloth, and fine linen, and goats' hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers' skins, brought them. 24 Everyone that offered an offering of silver and brass brought the Lord's offering, and every man, with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the service, brought it. 25 And all the women that were wise hearted did the spinning with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of red, and of fine linen. 26 And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats' hair. 27 And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate, 28 And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. 29 The children of Israel brought a willing offering to the Lord, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all kinds of work that the Lord had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses. 30 And Moses said to the children of Israel, "See, the Lord has called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 31 And he has filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship, 32 And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, 33 And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any kind of cunning work. 34 And he has put in his heart to teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. 35 He has filled them with wisdom of heart, to work all kinds of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in red, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of those who do any work, and of those who devise cunning work. ___Exodus chapter 36 1 Then Bezaleel and Aholiab worked, and every wise hearted man, in whom the Lord put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all kinds of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the Lord had commanded. 2 And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to the work to do it, 3 And they received from Moses all the offering, that the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it out of. And they also brought to him free offerings every morning. 4 And all the wise men, that did all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work that they made, 5 And they spoke to Moses, saying, "The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the Lord commanded to make." 6 And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, "Let neither man nor woman make anymore work for the offering of the sanctuary." So the people were restrained from bringing. 7 For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much. 8 And every wise hearted man among them that did the work of the tabernacle made ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and red, with angels of cunning work did he make them. 9 The length of one curtain was forty two feet, and the width of one curtain six feet, the curtains were all the same size. 10 And he coupled the five curtains to each other, and the other five curtains he coupled to each other. 11 And he made loops of blue on the edge of one curtain from the edge in the coupling, likewise he made in the farthest side of another curtain, in the coupling of the second. 12 He made fifty loops in one curtain, and fifty loops he made in the edge of the curtain that was in the coupling of the second, the loops held one curtain to another. 13 And he made fifty taches of gold, and coupled the curtains to each other with the taches, so it became one tabernacle. 14 And he made curtains of goats' hair for the tent over the tabernacle, he made eleven curtains. 15 The length of one curtain was forty five feet, and six feet was the width of one curtain, the eleven curtains were the same size. 16 And he coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves. 17 And he made fifty loops on the farthest edge of the curtain in the coupling, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that couples the second. 18 And he made fifty taches of brass to couple the tent together, so that it would be one. 19 And he made a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering of badgers' skins above that. 20 And he made boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood, standing up. 21 The length of a board was fifteen feet, and the width of a board twenty seven inches. 22 One board had two tenons, equally distant from each other, he did like that for all the boards of the tabernacle. 23 And he made boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side southward, 24 And he made forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards, two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two sockets under another board for its two tenons. 25 And for the other side of the tabernacle, that is toward the north corner, he made twenty boards, 26 And their forty sockets of silver, two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board. 27 And for the sides of the tabernacle westward, he made six boards. 28 And he made two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides. 29 And they were coupled beneath, and coupled together at the head of it, to one ring, thus he did to both of them in both corners. 30 And there were eight boards, and their sockets were sixteen sockets of silver, two sockets under every board. 31 And he made bars of shittim wood, five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle, 32 And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the sides westward. 33 And he made the middle bar to shoot through the boards from the one end to the other. 34 And he plated the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold to be places for the bars, and plated the bars with gold. 35 And he made a vail of blue, and purple, and red, and fine twined linen, he made it with angels of cunning work. 36 And he made for it four pillars of shittim wood, and plated them with gold, their hooks were of gold, and he cast for them four sockets of silver. 37 And he made a hanging for the tabernacle door of blue, and purple, and red, and fine twined linen, of needlework, 38 And the five pillars of it with their hooks, and he overlaid their column tops and their fillets with gold, but their five sockets were of brass. ___Exodus chapter 37 1 And Bezaleel made the ark of shittim wood, the length of it was forty five inches, and twenty seven inches the width of it, and twenty seven inches the height of it, 2 And he plated it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a crown of gold around it. 3 And he cast four rings of gold for it, to be set by the four corners of it, two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it. 4 And he made staves of shittim wood, and plated them with gold. 5 And he put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, to carry the ark. 6 And he made the mercy seat of pure gold, the length of it was forty five inches, and the width of it was twenty seven inches. 7 And he made two angels of gold, he made them beaten out of one piece, on the two ends of the mercy seat, 8 One angel on the end on this side, and another angel on the other end on that side, out of the mercy seat he made the angels on the two ends of it. 9 And the cherubims spread out their wings on high, and covered with their wings over the mercy seat, with their faces toward each other, the faces of the cherubims were toward the mercy seat. 10 And he made the table of shittim wood, the length of it was three feet, and eighteen inches was the width of it, and twenty seven inches was the height of it, 11 And he plated it with pure gold, and made for it a crown of gold around it. 12 Also he made a border for it of a hand width around it, and made a crown of gold for the border around it. 13 And he cast four rings of gold for it, and put the rings on the four corners that were in the four feet of it. 14 Opposite the border were the rings, the places for the staves to bear the table. 15 And he made the staves of shittim wood, and plated them with gold, to carry the table. 16 And he made the containers that were on the table, its dishes, and its spoons, and its bowls, and its covers to cover them, of pure gold. 17 And he made the candlestick of pure gold, he made the candlestick of beaten work, its shaft, and its branch, its bowls, its knobs, and its flowers, were of the same, 18 And six branches going out of the sides of it, three branches of the candlestick out of the one side of it, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side of it, 19 Three bowls made like almonds in one branch, a knob and a flower, and three bowls made like almonds in another branch, a knob and a flower, so throughout the six branches going out of the candlestick. 20 And in the candlestick were four bowls made like almonds, its knobs, and its flowers, 21 And a knob under two branches of the same, and a knob under two branches of the same, and a knob under two branches of the same, according to the six branches going out of it. 22 Their knobs and their branches were of the same, all of it was one beaten work of pure gold. 23 And he made his seven lamps, and their snuffers, and their snuffdishes, of pure gold. 24 He made it from a talent of pure gold, and all the containers of it. 25 And he made the incense altar of shittim wood, the length of it was eighteen inches, and the width of it eighteen inches, it was square, and thirty six inches was the height of it, the horns of it were of the same. 26 And he plated it with pure gold, both the top of it, and the sides around it, and the horns of it, also he made for it a crown of gold around it. 27 And he made two rings of gold for it under the crown of it, by the two corners of it, on the two sides of it, to be places for the staves to carry it with. 28 And he made the staves of shittim wood, and plated them with gold. 29 And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the chemist. ___Exodus chapter 38 1 And he made the altar of burnt offering of shittim wood, seven and a half feet was the length of it, and seven and a half feet the width of it, it was square, and four and a half feet was the height of it. 2 And he made the horns of it on the four corners of it, the horns of it were of the same, and he plated it with brass. 3 And he made all the containers of the altar, the pots, and the shovels, and the basons, and the fleshhooks, and the firepans, he made all the containers of it of brass. 4 And for the altar, he made a brass grate of network under the circle of it, beneath to the middle of it. 5 And he cast four rings for the four ends of the grate of brass, to be places for the staves. 6 And he made the staves of shittim wood, and plated them with brass. 7 And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar, to carry it with, he made the altar hollow with boards. 8 And he made the wash basin of brass, and the base of it of brass, of the brass mirrors of the women assembling, who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 9 And he made the court, on the south side southward, the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, one hundred fifty feet, 10 Their pillars were twenty, and their brass sockets twenty, the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver. 11 And for the north side, the hangings were one hundred fifty feet, their pillars were twenty, and their sockets of brass twenty, the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver. 12 And for the west side were hangings of seventy five feet, their pillars ten, and their sockets ten, the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver. 13 And for the east side eastward seventy five feet. 14 The hangings of the one side of the gate were twenty two and a half feet, their pillars three, and their sockets three. 15 And for the other side of the court gate, on this hand and that hand, were hangings of twenty two and a half feet, their pillars three, and their sockets three. 16 All the hangings of the court around it were of fine twined linen. 17 And the sockets for the pillars were of brass, the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver, and the plating of their column tops with silver, and all the pillars of the court were filleted with silver. 18 And the hanging for the gate of the court was needlework, of blue, and purple, and red, and fine twined linen, and thirty feet was the length, and the height in the width was seven and a half feet, corresponding to the hangings of the court. 19 And their pillars were four, and their sockets of brass four, their hooks of silver, and the plating of their column tops and their fillets of silver. 20 And all the pins of the tabernacle, and of the court around it, were of brass. 21 This is the sum of the tabernacle, of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son of Aaron the priest. 22 And Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the Lord commanded Moses. 23 And with him was Aholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a cunning workman, and an embroiderer in blue, and in purple, and in red, and fine linen. 24 All the gold that was occupied for the work in all the work of the holy place, the gold of the offering, was twenty nine talents, and seven hundred thirty shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary. 25 And the silver of those who were numbered of the congregation was a hundred talents, and a thousand seven hundred seventy five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, 26 A bekah for every man, that is, half a shekel, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for everyone that went to be numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty men. 27 And from the hundred talents of silver were cast the sockets of the sanctuary, and the sockets of the vail, a hundred sockets of the hundred talents, one talent per socket. 28 And of the thousand seven hundred seventy five shekels he made hooks for the pillars, and plated their column tops, and filleted them. 29 And the brass of the offering was seventy talents, and two thousand four hundred shekels. 30 And with them he made the sockets for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the brass altar, and the brass grate for it, and all the containers of the altar, 31 And the sockets of the court around it, and the sockets of the court gate, and all the pins of the tabernacle, and all the pins of the court around it. ___Exodus chapter 39 1 And of the blue, and purple, and red, they made cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron, as the Lord commanded Moses. 2 And he made the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, and red, and fine twined linen. 3 And they beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the red, and in the fine linen, with cunning work. 4 They made shoulder pieces for it, to couple it together, it was coupled together by the two edges. 5 And the curious girdle of his ephod, that was on it, was of the same, according to the work of it, of gold, blue, and purple, and red, and fine twined linen, as the Lord commanded Moses. 6 And they made onyx stones enclosed in ouches of gold, engraved, like seals of verification are engraved, with the names of the children of Israel. 7 And he put them on the shoulders of the ephod, so that they would be stones for a memorial to the children of Israel, as the Lord commanded Moses. 8 And he made the breastplate of cunning work, like the work of the ephod, of gold, blue, and purple, and red, and fine twined linen. 9 It was square, they made the breastplate double, a span was the length of it, and a span the width of it, being doubled. 10 And they set in it four rows of stones, the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle, this was the first row. 11 And the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. 12 And the third row, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. 13 And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper, they were enclosed in ouches of gold in their enclosings. 14 And the stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a seal of verification, everyone with his name, according to the twelve tribes. 15 And they made on the breastplate chains at the ends, of wreathen work of pure gold. 16 And they made two ouches of gold, and two gold rings, and put the two rings in the two ends of the breastplate. 17 And they put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings on the ends of the breastplate. 18 And the two ends of the two wreathen chains they fastened in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulderpieces of the ephod, before it. 19 And they made two rings of gold, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on the border of it, which was on the inward side of the ephod. 20 And they made two other golden rings, and put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the front of it, opposite the other coupling of it, above the curious girdle of the ephod. 21 And they tied the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, so it would be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and so that the breastplate wouldn't come loose from ephod, as the Lord commanded Moses. 22 And he made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue. 23 And there was a hole in the middle of the robe, like the hole of a chain mail vest, with a band around the hole, so it wouldn't tear. 24 And they made on the hems of the robe pomegranates of blue, and purple, and red, and twined linen. 25 And they made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates on the hem of the robe, around between the pomegranates, 26 A bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, around the hem of the robe to minister in, as the Lord commanded Moses. 27 And they made coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons, 28 And a priest's hat of fine linen, and goodly bonnets of fine linen, and linen pants of fine twined linen, 29 And a girdle of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and red, of needlework, like the Lord commanded Moses. 30 And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote on it a writing, like the engravings of a seal of verifcation, "Holiness To The Lord." 31 And they tied a lace of blue to it, to fasten it on high on the priest's hat, as the Lord commanded Moses. 32 Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation was finished, and the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so they did. 33 And they brought the tabernacle to Moses, the tent, and all its furniture, its taches, its boards, its bars, and its pillars, and its sockets, 34 And the covering of rams' skins dyed red, and the covering of badgers' skins, and the vail of the covering, 35 The ark of the testimony, and the staves of it, and the mercy seat, 36 The table, and all the containers of it, and the showbread, 37 The pure candlestick, with the lamps of it, with the lamps to be set in order, and all the containers of it, and the oil for light, 38 And the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the tabernacle door, 39 The brass altar, and its grate of brass, its staves, and all its containers, the wash basin and his base, 40 The hangings of the court, its pillars, and its sockets, and the hanging for the court gate, its cords, and its pins, and all the containers of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of the congregation, 41 The cloths of service to do service in the holy place, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons' garments, to minister in the priest's office. 42 According to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work. 43 And Moses looked at all the work, and see, they had done it as the Lord had commanded, so had they done it, and Moses blessed them. ___Exodus chapter 40 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "On the first day of the first month you shall set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. 3 And you shall put in it the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail. 4 And you shall bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order on it, and you shall bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps of it. 5 And you shall set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle. 6 And you shall set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. 7 And you shalt set the wash basin between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shall put water in it. 8 And you shall set up the court around it, and hang up the hanging at the court gate. 9 And you shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is in it, and shall hallow it, and all the containers of it, and it shall be holy. 10 And you shall anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all its containers, and sanctify the altar, and it shall be an altar most holy. 11 And you shall anoint the wash basin and its base, and sanctify it. 12 And you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water. 13 And you shall put the holy garments on Aaron, and anoint him, and sanctify him, so he can minister to me in the priest's office. 14 And you shall bring his sons, and clothe them with coats, 15 And you shall anoint them, like you anointed their father, so they can minister to me in the priest's office, for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations. 16 Thus did Moses, according to all that the Lord commanded him, so did he. 17 And in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was raised up. 18 And Moses raised up the tabernacle, and fastened its sockets, and set up the boards of it, and put in the bars of it, and raised up its pillars. 19 And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above on it, like the Lord commanded Moses. 20 And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above on the ark, 21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the vail of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony, like the Lord commanded Moses. 22 And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, on the side of the tabernacle northward, outside the vail. 23 And he set the bread in order on it before the Lord, like the Lord had commanded Moses. 24 And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, opposite the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward. 25 And he lighted the lamps before the Lord, like the Lord commanded Moses. 26 And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail, 27 And he burnt sweet incense on it, like the Lord commanded Moses. 28 And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle. 29 And he put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered on it the burnt offering and the meat offering, like the Lord commanded Moses. 30 And he set the wash basin between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash with. 31 And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet there, 32 When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near the altar, they washed, as the Lord commanded Moses. 33 And he reared up the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work. 34 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud stayed on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 36 And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys, 37 But if the cloud wasn't taken up, then they didn't journey 'til the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys. ___Leviticus chapter 1 1 And the Lord called to Moses, and spoke to him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, If any man of you brings an offering to the Lord, you shall bring your offering of the cattle, of the herd, and of the flock. 3 If his offering is a burnt sacrifice from the herd, let him offer a male without blemish, he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord. 4 And he shall put his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. 5 And he shall kill the bullock before the Lord, and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood around on the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 6 And he shall skin the burnt offering, and cut it into its pieces. 7 And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar, and lay the wood in order on the fire, 8 And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order on the wood that is on the fire that is on the altar, 9 But his inwards and his legs he shall wash in water, and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet odor to the Lord. 10 And if his offering is of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice, he shall bring a male without blemish. 11 And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the Lord, and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar. 12 And he shall cut it into its pieces, with his head and his fat, and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire that is on the altar, 13 But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water, and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it on the altar, it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet odor to the Lord. 14 And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the Lord is of birds, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons. 15 And the priest shall bring it to the altar, and wring off its head, and burn it on the altar, and the blood of it shall be wrung out at the side of the altar, 16 And he shall pluck away its crop with its feathers, and throw it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes, 17 And he shall split it with the wings of it, but shall not divide it in pieces, and the priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire, it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet odor to the Lord." ___Leviticus chapter 2 1 And when anyone wants to offer a meat offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour, and he shall pour oil on it, and put frankincense on it, 2 And he shall bring it to Aaron's sons, the priests, and he shall take out of it his handful of the flour of it, and of the oil of it, with all the frankincense of it, and the priest shall burn the memorial of it on the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet odor to the Lord, 3 And the remnant of the meat offering shall be Aaron's and his sons', it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the Lord made by fire. 4 And if you bring an oblation of a meat offering baked in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil. 5 And if your offering is a meat offering baked in a pan, it shall be of unleavened fine flour, mixed with oil. 6 You shall divide it in pieces, and pour oil on it, it is a meat offering. 7 And if your offering is a meat offering baked in the frying pan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil. 8 And you shall bring the meat offering that is made of these things to the Lord, and when it is presented to the priest, he shall bring it to the altar. 9 And the priest shall take from the meat offering a memorial of it, and shall burn it on the altar, it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet odor to the Lord. 10 And whatever is left of the meat offering shall be Aaron's and his sons', it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the Lord made by fire. 11 No meat offering that you shall bring to the Lord shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the Lord made by fire. 12 As for the offering of the first fruits, you shall offer them to the Lord, but they shall not be burnt on the altar for a sweet odor. 13 And you shall season with salt every offering of your meat offering, neither shall you allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your meat offering, with all your offerings you shall offer salt. 14 And if you offer a meat offering of your first fruits to the Lord, you shall offer green ears of corn for the meat offering of your first fruits, dried by the fire, corn beaten out of full ears. 15 And you shall put oil on it, and lay frankincense on it, it is a meat offering. 16 And the priest shall burn the memorial of it, part of the beaten corn of it, and part of the oil of it, with all the frankincense of it, it is an offering made by fire to the Lord." ___Leviticus chapter 3 1 "And if his offering is a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offers it of the herd, whether it is a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the Lord. 2 And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood on the altar around it. 3 And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire to the Lord, the fat that covers the inwards, and all the fat that is on the inwards, 4 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, that is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away. 5 And Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar on the burnt sacrifice, that is on the wood that is on the fire, it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet odor to the Lord. 6 And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering to the Lord is of the flock, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish. 7 If he offers a lamb for his offering, then he shall offer it before the Lord. 8 And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation, and Aaron's sons shall sprinkle the blood of it around it on the altar. 9 And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire to the Lord, the fat of it, and the whole rump, he shall take it off hard by the backbone, and the fat that covers the inwards, and all the fat that is on the inwards, 10 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, that is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, he shall take it away. 11 And the priest shall burn it on the altar, it is the food of the offering made by fire to the Lord. 12 And if his offering is a goat, then he shall offer it before the Lord. 13 And he shall lay his hand on the head of it, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation, and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle the blood of it on the altar around it. 14 And he shall offer his offering of it, an offering made by fire to the Lord, the fat that covers the inwards, and all the fat that is on the inwards, 15 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, that is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, he shall take it away. 16 And the priest shall burn them on the altar, it is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet odor, all the fat is the Lord's. 17 It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, so that you eat neither fat nor blood." ___Leviticus chapter 4 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things that ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them, 3 If the priest that is anointed sins according to the sin of the people, then let him bring for his sin, that he has sinned, a young bullock without blemish to the Lord for a sin offering. 4 And he shall bring the bullock to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord, and shall lay his hand on the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the Lord. 5 And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock's blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation, 6 And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle some of the blood seven times before the Lord, before the vail of the sanctuary. 7 And the priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the Lord, that is in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, that is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 8 And he shall take off of it all the fat of the bullock for the sin offering, the fat that covers the inwards, and all the fat that is on the inwards, 9 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, that is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, he shall take away, 10 As it was taken off of the bullock of the sacrifice of peace offerings, and the priest shall burn them on the altar of the burnt offering. 11 And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung, 12 He shall carry even the whole bullock outside the camp to a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire, he shall be burnt where the ashes are poured out. 13 And if the whole congregation of Israel sins through ignorance, and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things that shouldn't be done, and are guilty, 14 When the sin, that they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation. 15 And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bullock before the Lord, and the bullock shall be killed before the Lord. 16 And the priest that is anointed shall bring some of the bullock's blood to the tabernacle of the congregation, 17 And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord, before the vail. 18 And he shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar that is before the Lord, that is in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out all the blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, that is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 19 And he shall take all of its fat from him, and burn it on the altar. 20 And he shall do with the bullock like he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this, and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them. 21 And he shall carry the bullock outside the camp, and burn him like he burned the first bullock, it is a sin offering for the congregation. 22 When a ruler has sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord his God concerning things that shouldn't be done, and is guilty, 23 Or if his sin, that he has sinned, comes to his knowledge, he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish, 24 And he shall lay his hand on the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the Lord, it is a sin offering. 25 And the priest shall 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 shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering. 26 And he shall burn all of its fat on the altar, like the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings, and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him. 27 And if anyone of the common people sins through ignorance, while he does something against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things that ought not to be done, and is guilty, 28 Or if his sin, that he has sinned, comes to his knowledge, then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin that he has sinned. 29 And he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering, and kill the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering. 30 And the priest shall take some of the blood of it with his finger, and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood of it at the bottom of the altar. 31 And he shall take away all the fat of it, like the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings, and the priest shall burn it on the altar for a sweet odor to the Lord, and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him. 32 And if he brings a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring a female without blemish. 33 And he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering, and kill it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering. 34 And the priest shall 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 shall pour out all the blood of it at the bottom of the altar, 35 And he shall take away all the fat of it, like the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings, and the priest shall burn them on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire to the Lord, and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he has committed, and it shall be forgiven him." ___Leviticus chapter 5 1 "And if a soul sins, and hears the voice of cursing, and is a witness, whether he has seen or known of it, if he doesn't tell it, then he shall bear his sin. 2 Or if a soul touches any unclean thing, whether it is a carcase of an unclean animal, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it is hidden from him, he also shall be unclean, and guilty. 3 Or if he touches the uncleanness of man, whatever uncleanness it is that a man shall be defiled with, and it is hidden from him, when he knows about it, then he shall be guilty. 4 Or if a soul swears, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatever it is that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it is hidden from him, when he knows about it, then he shall be guilty in one of these. 5 And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he has sinned in that thing, 6 And he shall bring his trespass offering to the Lord for his sin that he has sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering, and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin. 7 And if he's not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass that he has committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, to the Lord, one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering. 8 And he shall bring them to the priest, who shall offer that which is for the sin offering first, and wring off its head from his neck, but shall not divide it in pieces, 9 And he shall sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, and the rest of the blood shall be wrung out at the bottom of the altar, it is a sin offering. 10 And he shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the manner, and the priest shall make an atonement for him for his sin that he has sinned, and it shall be forgiven him. 11 But if he's not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering one tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering, he shall put no oil on it, nor shall he put any frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering. 12 Then he shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it, even a memorial of it, and burn it on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire to the Lord, it is a sin offering. 13 And the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin that he has sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him, and the remainder shall be the priest's, as a meat offering." 14 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 15 "If a soul commits a trespass, and sins through ignorance, in the holy things of the Lord, then he shall bring for his trespass to the Lord a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with your estimation by shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering, 16 And he shall make amends for the harm that he has done in the holy thing, and shall add twenty percent to it, and give it to the priest, and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him. 17 And if a soul sins, and commits any of these things that are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the Lord, though he didn't know it, yet he is guilty, and shall bear his sin. 18 And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with your estimation, for a trespass offering, to the priest, and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance in which he erred and didn't know it, and it shall be forgiven him. 19 It is a trespass offering, he has certainly trespassed against the Lord." ___Leviticus chapter 6 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "If a soul sins, and commits a trespass against the Lord, and lies to his neighbor about what was delivered to him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or has deceived his neighbor, 3 Or has found that which was lost, and lies about it, and swears falsely, in any of all these that a man does, sinning in it, 4 Then it shall be, because he has sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he has deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered to him to keep, or the lost thing that he found, 5 Or all that about which he has sworn falsely, he shall restore it in the principal, and shall add twenty percent more to it, and give it to him to whom it pertains, in the day of his trespass offering. 6 And he shall bring his trespass offering to the Lord, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with your estimation, for a trespass offering, to the priest, 7 And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the Lord, and it shall be forgiven him for anything of all that he has done in trespassing in it." 8 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 9 "Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering, It is the burnt offering, because of the burning on the altar all night until the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it. 10 And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and he shall put on his flesh his linen pants, and take up the ashes that the fire has consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar. 11 And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. 12 And the fire on the altar shall be burning in it, it shall not be put out, and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order on it, and he shall burn the fat of the peace offerings on it. 13 The fire shall always be burning on the altar, it shall never go out. 14 And this is the law of the meat offering, the sons of Aaron shall offer it before the Lord, before the altar. 15 And he shall take his handful from it, of the flour of the meat offering, and of the oil of it, and all the frankincense that is on the meat offering, and shall burn it on the altar for a sweet odor, even the memorial of it, to the Lord. 16 And the remainder of it shall Aaron and his sons eat, with unleavened bread it shall be eaten in the holy place, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation they shall eat it. 17 It shall not be baked with leaven. I have given it to them for their portion of my offerings made by fire, it is most holy, as is the sin offering, and as the trespass offering. 18 All the males among the children of Aaron shall eat of it. It shall be a statute forever in your generations concerning the offerings of the Lord made by fire, everyone that touches them shall be holy." 19 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 20 "This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, that they shall offer to the Lord in the day when he is anointed, one tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a perpetual meat offering, half of it in the morning, and half of it at night. 21 It shall be made with oil in a pan, and when it is baked, you shall bring it in, and you shall offer the baked pieces of the meat offering for a sweet odor to the Lord. 22 And the priest of his sons that is anointed instead of him shall offer it, it is a statute forever to the Lord, it shall be completely burnt. 23 For every meat offering for the priest shall be completely burnt, it shall not be eaten." 24 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 25 "Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin offering, In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the Lord, it is most holy. 26 The priest that offers it for sin shall eat it, it shall be eaten in the holy place, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation. 27 Whatever touches the flesh of it shall be holy, and when there is sprinkled some of the blood of it on any garment, you shall wash that on which it was sprinkled in the holy place. 28 But the clay pot in which it was sodden shall be broken, and if it is sodden in a brass pot, it shall be scoured, and rinsed in water. 29 All the males among the priests shall eat of it, it is most holy. 30 And no sin offering, from which any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation for the removing of sin in the holy place, shall be eaten, it shall be burnt in the fire." ___Leviticus chapter 7 1 "Likewise this is the law of the trespass offering, it is most holy. 2 In the place where they kill the burnt offering they shall kill the trespass offering, and he shall sprinkle the blood of it around on the altar. 3 And he shall offer of it all the fat of it, the rump, and the fat that covers the inwards, 4 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, that is by the flanks, and the caul that is above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away, 5 And the priest shall burn them on the altar for an offering made by fire to the Lord, it is a trespass offering. 6 Every male among the priests shall eat of it, it shall be eaten in the holy place, it is most holy. 7 Like the sin offering is, so is the trespass offering, there is one law for them, the priest that makes atonement with it shall have it. 8 And the priest that offers any man's burnt offering, the priest shall have for himself the skin of the burnt offering that he has offered. 9 And all the meat offering that is baked in the oven, and all that is dressed in the frying pan, and in the pan, shall be the priest's that offers it. 10 And every meat offering, mixed with oil, and dry, shall all the sons of Aaron have, equal shares. 11 And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that he shall offer to the Lord. 12 If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mixed with oil, of fried fine flour. 13 Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings. 14 And of it, he shall offer one out of the whole offering for a heave offering to the Lord, and it shall be the priest's that sprinkles the blood of the peace offerings. 15 And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered, he shall not leave any of it until the morning. 16 But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow, or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offers his sacrifice, and on the next day also, the remainder of it shall be eaten, 17 But the remainder of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burnt with fire. 18 And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings is eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, nor shall it be credited to him that offers it, it shall be an abomination, and the soul that eats of it shall bear his sin. 19 And the flesh that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten, it shall be burnt with fire, and as for the flesh, all that are clean shall eat of it. 20 But the soul that eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that pertain to the Lord, having his uncleanness on him, that soul shall be cut off from his people. 21 Also the soul that touches any unclean thing, like the uncleanness of man, or any unclean beast, or any abominable unclean thing, and eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that pertain to the Lord, that soul shall be cut off from his people." 22 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, You shall eat no kind of fat, of ox, or of sheep, or of goat. 24 And the fat of the animal that dies by itself, and the fat of that which is torn by animals, may be used in any other use, but you shall in no way eat it. 25 For whoever eats the fat of the animal, of which men offer an offering made by fire to the Lord, the soul that eats it shall be cut off from his people. 26 Also you shall eat no kind of blood, whether it is of bird or of animal, in any of your dwellings. 27 Whatever soul it is that eats any kind of blood, that soul shall be cut off from his people." 28 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 29 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, He that offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to the Lord shall bring his offering to the Lord of the sacrifice of his peace offerings. 30 His own hands shall bring the offerings of the Lord made by fire, the fat with the breast, he shall bring it, so that the breast can be waved for a wave offering before the Lord. 31 And the priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be Aaron's and his sons'. 32 And you shall give the right shoulder to the priest for a heave offering of the sacrifices of your peace offerings. 33 He among the sons of Aaron, that offers the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right shoulder for his part. 34 For the wave breast and the heave shoulder I have taken from the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons by a statute forever from among the children of Israel. 35 This is the portion of the anointing of Aaron, and of the anointing of his sons, out of the offerings of the Lord made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister to the Lord in the priest's office, 36 Which the Lord commanded to be given to them from the children of Israel, in the day that he anointed them, by a statute forever throughout their generations. 37 This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings, 38 That the Lord commanded Moses in Mount Sinai, on the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their oblations to the Lord, in the wilderness of Sinai." ___Leviticus chapter 8 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread, 3 And gather all the congregation together to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation." 4 And Moses did as the Lord commanded him, and the assembly was gathered together to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 5 And Moses said to the congregation, This is the thing that the Lord commanded to be done. 6 And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water. 7 And he put on him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod on him, and he clothed him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and with it, he tied it to him. 8 And he put the breastplate on him, also he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim. 9 And he put the priest's hat on his head, also on the priest's hat, on its front, he put the golden plate, the holy crown, like the Lord commanded Moses. 10 And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and sanctified them. 11 And he sprinkled from it on the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its containers, both the wash basin and its base, to sanctify them. 12 And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him. 13 And Moses brought Aaron's sons, and put coats on them, and clothed them with girdles, and put hats on them, like the Lord commanded Moses. 14 And he brought the bullock for the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bullock for the sin offering. 15 And he killed it, and Moses took the blood, and put it on the horns of the altar around it with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar, and sanctified it, to make peace with God on it. 16 And he took all the fat that was on the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and Moses burned it on the altar. 17 But the bullock, and its hide, its flesh, and its dung, he burnt with fire outside the camp, like the Lord commanded Moses. 18 And he brought the ram for the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. 19 And he killed it, and Moses sprinkled the blood on the altar around it. 20 And he cut the ram into pieces, and Moses burnt the head, and the pieces, and the fat. 21 And he washed the inwards and the legs in water, and Moses burned the whole ram on the altar, it was a burnt sacrifice for a sweet odor, and an offering made by fire to the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses. 22 And he brought the other ram, the ram of consecration, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. 23 And he killed it, and Moses took some of the blood of it, and put it on the tip of Aaron's right ear, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. 24 And he brought Aaron's sons, and Moses put some of the blood on the tip of their right ear, and on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet, and Moses sprinkled the blood on the altar around it. 25 And he took the fat, and the rump, and all the fat that was on the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and the right shoulder, 26 And out of the basket of unleavened bread, that was before the Lord, he took one unleavened cake, and a cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and put them on the fat, and on the right shoulder, 27 And he put all of it on Aaron's hands, and on his sons' hands, and waved them for a wave offering before the Lord. 28 And Moses took them off their hands, and burnt them on the altar on the burnt offering, they were consecrations for a sweet odor, it is an offering made by fire to the Lord. 29 And Moses took the breast, and waved it for a wave offering before the Lord, for of the ram of consecration it was Moses' part, as the Lord commanded Moses. 30 And Moses took some of the anointing oil, and some of the blood that was on the altar, and sprinkled it on Aaron, and on his garments, and on his sons, and on his sons' garments with him, and sanctified Aaron, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him. 31 And Moses said to Aaron and to his sons, "Boil the flesh at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and eat it there with the bread that is in the basket of consecrations, like I commanded, saying, Aaron and his sons shall eat it. 32 And that which remains of the flesh and of the bread you shall burn with fire. 33 And you shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation in seven days, until the days of your consecration have ended, for seven days he shall consecrate you. 34 As he has done this day, so the Lord has commanded to do, to make an atonement for you. 35 Therefore you shall stay at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the Lord, so you don't die, for so I have been commanded." 36 So Aaron and his sons did all things that the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses. ___Leviticus chapter 9 1 And on the eighth day, Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel, 2 And he said to Aaron, "Take a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the Lord. 3 And to the children of Israel you shall speak, saying, Take a kid of the goats for a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering, 4 Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the Lord, and a meat offering mixed with oil, for today the Lord will appear to you." 5 And they brought what Moses commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the congregation came near and stood before the Lord. 6 And Moses said, "This is the thing that the Lord commanded that you should do, and the glory of the Lord shall appear to you." 7 And Moses said to Aaron, "Go to the altar, and offer your sin offering, and your burnt offering, and make an atonement for yourself, and for the people, and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them, like the Lord commanded." 8 Aaron therefore went to the altar, and killed the calf of the sin offering, that was for himself. 9 And the sons of Aaron brought the blood to him, and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it on the horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the bottom of the altar, 10 But the fat, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver of the sin offering he burned on the altar, like the Lord commanded Moses. 11 And the flesh and the hide he burned with fire outside the camp. 12 And he killed the burnt offering, and Aaron's sons presented to him the blood, that he sprinkled around it on the altar. 13 And they presented the burnt offering to him, with the pieces of it, and the head, and he burned them on the altar. 14 And he washed the inwards and the legs, and burned them on the burnt offering on the altar. 15 And he brought the people's offering, and took the goat that was the sin offering for the people, and killed it, and offered it for sin, like the first. 16 And he brought the burnt offering, and offered it according to the manner. 17 And he brought the meat offering, and took a handful of it, and burned it on the altar, beside the burnt sacrifice of the morning. 18 He also killed the bullock and the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings that was for the people, and Aaron's sons presented to him the blood, which he sprinkled on the altar around it, 19 And the fat of the bullock and of the ram, the rump, and what covers the inwards, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver, 20 And they put the fat on the breasts, and he burned the fat on the altar, 21 And Aaron waved the breasts and the right shoulder for a wave offering before the Lord, like Moses commanded. 22 And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings. 23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. 24 And a fire came out from before the Lord, and consumed on the altar the burnt offering and the fat, which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces. ___Leviticus chapter 10 1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer, and put fire in it, and put incense on it, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he didn't command them to do. 2 And fire went out from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. 3 Then Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the Lord spoke, saying, I will be sanctified in those who come near me, and before all the people I will be glorified." And Aaron didn't say anything. 4 And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, "Come near, carry your brothers from before the sanctuary out of the camp." 5 So they went near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp, like Moses had said. 6 And Moses said to Aaron, and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons, "Don't uncover your heads, nor tear your clothes, so you don't die, and so anger doesn't come on all the people, but let your brothers, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning that the Lord has kindled. 7 And you shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, so you don't die, for the anointing oil of the Lord is on you." And they did according to the word of Moses. 8 And the Lord spoke to Aaron, saying, 9 "Don't drink wine nor strong drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of the congregation, so you don't die, it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, 10 And so that you'll put a difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean, 11 And so that you'll teach the children of Israel all the statutes that the Lord has spoken to them by the hand of Moses." 12 And Moses spoke to Aaron, and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons that were left, "Take the meat offering that remains of the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and eat it without leaven beside the altar, for it is most holy, 13 And you shall eat it in the holy place, because it is your due, and your sons' due, of the sacrifices of the Lord made by fire, for so I've been commanded. 14 And the wave breast and heave shoulder you shall eat in a clean place, you, and your sons, and your daughters with you, for they are your due, and your sons' due, which have been given out of the sacrifices of peace offerings of the children of Israel. 15 They shall bring the heave shoulder and the wave breast with the offerings made by fire of the fat, to wave it for a wave offering before the Lord, and it shall be yours, and your sons' with you, by a statute forever, like the Lord has commanded. 16 And Moses diligently sought the goat of the sin offering, and see, it was burnt, and he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron who were left alive, saying, 17 "Why haven't you eaten the sin offering in the holy place, seeing it is most holy, and God has given it you to carry the sin of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the Lord? 18 See, the blood of it was not brought in within the holy place, you should indeed have eaten it in the holy place, like I commanded." 19 And Aaron said to Moses, "See, this day they've offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord, and such things have happened to me, and if I had eaten the sin offering today, would it have been accepted in the sight of the Lord?" 20 And when Moses heard that, he was satisfied. ___Leviticus chapter 11 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying to them, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, These are the animals that you shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. 3 Whatever has a divided hoof, and is split footed, and chews the cud among the animals, you can eat. 4 But these you shall not eat of those that chew the cud, or of those that divide the hoof, like the camel, because it chews the cud, but doesn't have a divided hoof, it is unclean to you. 5 And the coney, because it chews the cud, but doesn't have a divided hoof, it is unclean to you. 6 And the hare, because it chews the cud, but doesn't divide the hoof, it is unclean to you. 7 And the swine, though it has a divided hoof, and is split-footed, yet it doesn't chew the cud, it is unclean to you. 8 You shall not eat of their flesh , and you shall not touch their carcase, they are unclean to you. 9 These you shall eat of all that are in the waters, whatever has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, those you shall eat. 10 And all that don't have fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing that is in the waters, they shall be garbage to you, 11 They shall be garbage to you, you shall not eat their flesh, but you shall hate their dead bodies. 12 Whatever has no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be garbage to you. 13 And these are those that you shall have as garbage among the birds, they shall not be eaten, they are garbage, the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, 14 And the vulture, and the kite after its kind, 15 Every raven after its kind, 16 And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after its kind, 17 And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, 18 And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, 19 And the stork, the heron after its kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. 20 All birds that creep, going on all four, shall be garbage to you. 21 Yet these you can eat of every flying creeping thing that goes on all four, that have legs above their feet, to jump with on the earth, 22 These you can eat, the locust after its kind, and the bald locust after its kind, and the beetle after its kind, and the grasshopper after its kind. 23 But all other flying creeping things, that have four feet, shall be garbage to you. 24 And for these you shall be unclean, whoever touches the dead body of them shall be unclean until evening. 25 And whoever carries any of the dead bodies of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until evening. 26 The dead bodies of every animal that has a divided hoof, and is not split footed, and doesn't chew the cud, are unclean to you, everyone that touches them shall be unclean. 27 And whatever goes on its paws, among all kinds of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean to you, whoever touches their carcase shall be unclean until the evening. 28 And he that carries the dead body of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until evening, they are unclean to you. 29 These also shall be unclean to you among the creeping things that creep on the earth, the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after its kind, 30 And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole. 31 These are unclean to you among all that creep, whoever touches them, when they are dead, shall be unclean until evening. 32 And on whatever any of them falls, when they are dead, it shall be unclean, whether it's any container of wood, or clothing, or skin, or sack, whatever container it is, in which any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until evening, so it shall be cleansed. 33 And every clay pot, into which any of them falls, whatever is in it shall be unclean, and you shall break it. 34 Of all food that can be eaten, that on which such water comes shall be unclean, and all drink that can be drunk in every such container shall be unclean. 35 And everything on which any part of their carcase falls shall be unclean, whether it is oven, or ranges for pots, they shall be broken down, for they are unclean, and shall be unclean to you. 36 But a fountain or pit, in which there is plenty of water, shall be clean, but that which touches their dead body shall be unclean. 37 And if any part of their dead body falls on any planting seed that is to be planted, it shall be clean. 38 But if any water has been put on the seed, and any part of their carcase falls on it, it shall be unclean to you. 39 And if any animal dies, of which you can eat, he that touches the dead body of it shall be unclean until evening. 40 And he that eats of the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until evening, he also that carries the dead body of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until evening. 41 And every creeping thing that creeps on the earth shall be seen as garbage, it shall not be eaten. 42 Whatever goes on the belly, and whatever goes on all four, or whatever has more feet among all creeping things that creep on the earth, those you shall not eat, for they are garbage. 43 You shall not make yourselves polluted with any creeping thing that creeps, nor shall you make yourselves unclean with them, so that you're defiled by them. 44 For I am the Lord your God, you shall therefore purify yourselves, and you shall be holy, for I am holy, nor shall you defile yourselves with any kind of creeping thing that creeps on the earth. 45 For I am the Lord that brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God, you shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. 46 This is the law of the animals, and of the birds, and of every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the earth, 47 To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the animal that can be eaten and the animal that can't be eaten." ___Leviticus chapter 12 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, If a woman has conceived seed, and given birth to a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days, according to the days of the separation for her infirmity, shall she be unclean. 3 And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying thirty three days, she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying have been fulfilled. 5 But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation, and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying sixty six days. 6 And when the days of her purifying have been fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to the priest, 7 Who shall offer it before the Lord, and make an atonement for her, and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that has given birth to a male or a female. 8 And if she's not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering, and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean." ___Leviticus chapter 13 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 2 "When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it's in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest, or to one of his sons the priests, 3 And the priest shall look at the plague in the skin of the flesh, and when the hair in the plague has turned white, and the plague in sight is deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy, and the priest shall look at him, and pronounce him unclean. 4 If the bright spot is white in the skin of his flesh, and is not deeper in sight than the skin, and the hair of it hasn't turned white, then the priest shall shut him up that has the plague for seven days, 5 And the priest shall look at him the seventh day, and see, if the plague in his sight has stopped, and the plague hasn't spread in the skin, then the priest shall shut him up for seven days more, 6 And the priest shall look at him again the seventh day, and see, if the plague is somewhat dark, and the plague hasn't spread in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean, it is just a scab, and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean. 7 But if the scab has spread a lot in the skin, after he has been seen by the priest for his cleansing, he shall be seen by the priest again, 8 And if the priest sees that the scab spreads in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean, it is a leprosy. 9 When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought to the priest, 10 And the priest shall see him, and if the rising is white in the skin, and it has turned the hair white, and there is living raw flesh in the rising, 11 It is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean, and shall not shut him up, for he is unclean. 12 And if a leprosy breaks out in the skin, and the leprosy covers all the skin of him that has the plague from his head even to his foot, wherever the priest looks, 13 Then the priest shall consider, and see, if the leprosy has covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that has the plague, it has all turned white, he is clean. 14 But when raw flesh appears in him, he shall be unclean. 15 And the priest shall see the raw flesh, and pronounce him to be unclean, for the raw flesh is unclean, it is a leprosy. 16 Or if the raw flesh turns back, and has changed to white, he shall come to the priest, 17 And the priest shall see him, and if the plague has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him clean that has the plague, he is clean. 18 The flesh also in which, in the skin of it, was a boil, and has healed, 19 And in place of the boil there is a white rising, or a bright spot, white, and a little reddish, and it is shown to the priest, 20 And if, when the priest sees it, it is in sight lower than the skin, and the hair of it has turned white, the priest shall pronounce him unclean, it is a plague of leprosy broken out of the boil. 21 But if the priest looks at it, and there are no white hairs in it, and if it's not lower than the skin, but is somewhat dark, then the priest shall shut him up seven days, 22 And if it spreads much in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean, it is a plague. 23 But if the bright spot stays in its place, and doesn't spread, it is a burning boil, and the priest shall pronounce him clean. 24 Or, if there is any flesh, in the skin of which there is a hot burning, and the quick flesh that burns has a white bright spot, a little reddish, or white, 25 Then the priest shall look on it, and if the hair in the bright spot has turned white, and it is in sight deeper than the skin, it is a leprosy broken out of the burning, so the priest shall pronounce him unclean, it is the plague of leprosy. 26 But if the priest looks at it, and there's no white hair in the bright spot, and it is no lower than the other skin, but is a little dark, then the priest shall shut him up seven days, 27 And the priest shall look at him the seventh day, and if it has spread a lot in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean, it is the plague of leprosy. 28 And if the bright spot stays in its place, and doesn't spread in the skin, but is a little dark, it is a rising of the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him clean, for it is an inflammation of the burning. 29 If a man or woman has a plague on the head or the beard, 30 Then the priest shall see the plague, and if it's in sight deeper than the skin, and there is in it a yellow thin hair, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean, it is a dry scall, a leprosy on the head or beard. 31 And if the priest looks at the plague of the scall, and it is not in sight deeper than the skin, and if there is no black hair in it, then the priest shall shut him up that has the plague of the scall seven days, 32 And on the seventh day the priest shall look at the plague, and if the scall doesn't spread, and there is no yellow hair in it, and the scall is not in sight deeper than the skin, 33 He shall be shaved, but he shall not shave the scall, and the priest shall shut him up that has the scall seven days more, 34 And on the seventh day the priest shall look at the scall, and if the scall hasn't spread in the skin, nor is in sight deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean, and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean. 35 But if the scall has spread a lot in the skin after his cleansing, 36 Then the priest shall look at him, and see, if the scall has spread in the skin, the priest shall not seek for yellow hair, he is unclean. 37 But if the scall has stopped in his sight, and black hair has grown up in it, the scall has healed, he is clean, and the priest shall pronounce him clean. 38 If a man also or a woman has in the skin of their flesh white bright spots, 39 Then the priest shall look, and if the bright spots in the skin of their flesh are darkish white, it is a freckled spot that grows in the skin, he is clean. 40 And the man whose hair has fallen off his head, he is bald, yet he is clean. 41 And he that has his hair fallen off from the part of his head toward his face, he is forehead bald, yet he is clean. 42 And if there is in the bald head, or bald forehead, a white reddish sore, it is a leprosy that has sprung up in his bald head, or his bald forehead. 43 Then the priest shall look at it, and if the rising of the sore is white reddish in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the leprosy appears in the skin of the flesh, 44 He is a leprous man, he is unclean, the priest shall pronounce him completely unclean, his plague is in his head. 45 And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be torn, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering on his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean. 46 All the days in which the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled, he is unclean, he shall live alone, his habitation shall be outside the camp. 47 The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, whether it's a woolen garment, or a linen garment, 48 Whether it's in the warp, or woof, of linen, or of wool, whether in a skin, or in anything made of skin, 49 And if the plague is greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything of skin, it is a plague of leprosy, and shall be shown to the priest, 50 And the priest shall look at the plague, and shut up whoever has the plague seven days, 51 And he shall look at the plague on the seventh day, if the plague has spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in a skin, or in any work that is made of skin, the plague is a fretting leprosy, it is unclean. 52 He shall therefore burn that garment, whether warp or woof, in wool or in linen, or anything of skin, in which the plague is, for it is a fretting leprosy, it shall be burnt in the fire. 53 And if the priest shall look, and the plague has not spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything of skin, 54 Then the priest shall command that they wash the thing in which the plague is, and he shall shut it up seven days more, 55 And the priest shall look at the plague, after it's been washed, and see, if the plague has not changed its color, and the plague has not spread, it is unclean, you shall burn it in the fire, it has fret inward, whether it's bare inside or outside. 56 And if the priest looks, and the plague is somewhat dark after it's been washed, then he shall tear it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof, 57 And if it still appears in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything of skin, it is a spreading plague, you shall burn the thing in which the plague is with fire. 58 And the garment, either warp, or woof, or whatever thing of skin it is, that you shall wash, if the plague has gone from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and shall be clean. 59 This is the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of wool or linen, either in the warp, or woof, or anything of skins, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean." ___Leviticus chapter 14 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing, He shall be brought to the priest, 3 And the priest shall go out of the camp, and the priest shall look, and if the plague of leprosy has healed in the leper, 4 Then shall the priest command to take for the person that is to be cleansed two clean, living birds, and cedar wood, and red cloth, and hyssop, 5 And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in clay pot over running water, 6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the red cloth, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water, 7 And he shall sprinkle on him that is to be cleansed from leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field. 8 And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, so he'll be clean, and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall wait outside out of his tent seven days. 9 But it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, he shall shave off all his hair, and he shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be clean. 10 And on the eighth day he shall take two male lambs without blemish, and one female lamb of the first year without blemish, and three tenth deals of fine flour for a meat offering, mixed with oil, and one log of oil. 11 And the priest that makes him clean shall present the man that is to be made clean, and those things, before the Lord, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, 12 And the priest shall take one he lamb, and offer him for a trespass offering, and the log of oil, and wave them for a wave offering before the Lord, 13 And he shall kill the lamb in the place where he shall kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the holy place, for as the sin offering is the priest's, so is the trespass offering, it is most holy, 14 And the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and the priest shall put it on the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, 15 And the priest shall take some of the log of oil, and pour it into the palm of his own left hand, 16 And the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and shall sprinkle some of the oil with his finger seven times before the Lord, 17 And of the rest of the oil that is in his hand, the priest shall put on the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, on the blood of the trespass offering, 18 And the remainder of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall pour on the head of him that is to be cleansed, and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the Lord. 19 And the priest shall offer the sin offering, and make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed from his uncleanness, and afterward he shall kill the burnt offering, 20 And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meat offering on the altar, and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and he shall be clean. 21 And if he is poor, and can't get so much, then he shall take one lamb for a trespass offering to be waved, to make an atonement for him, and one tenth deal of fine flour mixed with oil for a meat offering, and a log of oil, 22 And two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, such as he is able to get, and the one shall be a sin offering, and the other a burnt offering. 23 And he shall bring them on the eighth day for his cleansing to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, before the Lord. 24 And the priest shall take the lamb of the trespass offering, and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the Lord, 25 And he shall kill the lamb of the trespass offering, and the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and put it on the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, 26 And the priest shall pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand, 27 And the priest shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before the Lord, 28 And the priest shall put some of the oil that is in his hand on the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, on the place of the blood of the trespass offering, 29 And the rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put on the head of him that is to be cleansed, to make an atonement for him before the Lord. 30 And he shall offer one of the turtledoves, or of the young pigeons, such as he can get, 31 Such as he is able to get, one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, with the meat offering, and the priest shall make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed before the Lord. 32 This is the law of him that has the plague of leprosy, whose hand is not able to get that which pertains to his cleansing." 33 And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 34 "When you've come into the land of Canaan, that I give to you for a possession, and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of your possession, 35 And he that owns the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, It seems to me there is like a plague in the house, 36 Then the priest shall command that they empty the house, before the priest goes into it to see the plague, so that all that is in the house isn't made unclean, and afterward the priest shall go in to see the house, 37 And he shall look at the plague, and if the plague is in the walls of the house with hollow strakes, greenish or reddish, which in sight are lower than the wall, 38 Then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the house, and shut up the house seven days, 39 And the priest shall come again the seventh day, and shall look, and see, if the plague has spread in the walls of the house, 40 Then the priest shall command that they take away the stones in which the plague is, and they shall throw them into an unclean place outside the city, 41 And he shall cause the house to be scraped inside all around, and they shall pour out the dust that they scrape off outside the city into an unclean place, 42 And they shall take other stones, and put them instead of those stones, and he shall take other mortar, and shall plaster the house. 43 And if the plague comes back, and breaks out in the house, after he has taken away the stones, and after he has scraped the house, and after it has been plastered, 44 Then the priest shall come and look, and if the plague has spread in the house, it is a fretting leprosy in the house, it is unclean. 45 And he shall break down the house, the stones of it, and the wood of it, and all the mortar of the house, and he shall carry them out of the city into an unclean place. 46 Also he that goes into the house all the while that it was shut up shall be unclean until evening. 47 And he that lies in the house shall wash his clothes, and he that eats in the house shall wash his clothes. 48 And if the priest shall come in, and look at it, and the plague hasn't spread in the house, after the house was plastered, then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague has been healed. 49 And he shall take two birds to cleanse the house, and cedar wood, and red cloth, and hyssop, 50 And he shall kill one of the birds in a clay pot over running water, 51 And he shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the red cloth, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the killed bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times, 52 And he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, and with the living bird, and with the cedar wood, and with the hyssop, and with the red cloth, 53 But he shall let the living bird go outside the city into the open fields, and make an atonement for the house, and it shall be clean. 54 This is the law for all kinds of plague of leprosy, and scall, 55 And for the leprosy of a garment, and of a house, 56 And for a rising, and for a scab, and for a bright spot, 57 To teach when it is unclean, and when it is clean, this is the law of leprosy." ___Leviticus chapter 15 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, When any man has a running issue out of his flesh, because of his issue, he is unclean. 3 And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue, whether his flesh runs with his issue, or his flesh has stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness. 4 Every bed on which he that has the issue lies is unclean, and everything on which he sits, shall be unclean. 5 And whoever touches his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until evening. 6 And he that sits on anything on which he sat that has the issue, shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until evening. 7 And he that touches the flesh of him that has the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until evening. 8 And if he that has the issue spits on him that is clean, then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until evening. 9 And whatever saddle he rides on that has the issue shall be unclean. 10 And whoever touches anything that was under him shall be unclean until evening, and he that carries any of those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until evening. 11 And whomever he touches that has the issue, and hasn't rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until evening. 12 And the clay pot that he touches who has the issue shall be broken, and every container of wood shall be rinsed in water. 13 And when he that has an issue has been cleansed from his issue, then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean. 14 And on the eighth day he shall take for himself two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and come before the Lord to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and give them to the priest, 15 And the priest shall offer them, one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the Lord for his issue. 16 And if any man's seed of copulation goes out of him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until evening. 17 And every garment, and every skin, on which is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until evening. 18 The woman also with whom man shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until evening. 19 And if a woman has an issue, and her issue in her flesh is blood, she shall be put apart seven days, and whoever touches her shall be unclean until evening. 20 And everything that she lies on in her separation shall be unclean, everything also that she sits on shall be unclean. 21 And whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until evening. 22 And whosoever touches anything that she sat on shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until evening. 23 And if it is on her bed, or on anything on which she sits, when he touches it, he shall be unclean until evening. 24 And if any man lies with her at all, and her flowers are on him, he shall be unclean seven days, and all the bed on which he lies shall be unclean. 25 And if a woman has blood going out of her many days out of the time of her separation, or if it runs beyond the time of her separation, all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be like the days of her separation, she shall be unclean. 26 Every bed on which she lies all the days of her issue shall be to her like the bed of her separation, and whatever she sits on shall be unclean, like the uncleanness of her separation. 27 And whoever touches those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until evening. 28 But if she is cleansed from her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean. 29 And on the eighth day she shall take for herself two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and bring them to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 30 And the priest shall offer one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the Lord for the flow of her uncleanness. 31 Thus you shall separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, so that they don't die in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them. 32 This is the law of him that has an issue, and of him whose seed goes from him, and is defiled by it, 33 And of her that is sick of her menstrual fluids, and of him that has a flow, of the man, and of the woman, and of him that lies with her that is unclean." ___Leviticus chapter 16 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the Lord, and died, 2 And the Lord said to Moses, "Speak to Aaron your brother, that he shouldn't come just any time into the holy place, inside the vail before the mercy seat, that is on the ark, so that he doesn't die, for I will appear in the cloud on the mercy seat. 3 Thus Aaron shall come into the holy place, with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. 4 He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen pants on his flesh, and shall be clothed with a linen girdle, and he shall be attired with the linen priest's hat, these are holy garments, therefore he shall wash his flesh in water, and so put them on. 5 And he shall take two kids of the goats from the congregation of the children of Israel for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. 6 And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house. 7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 8 And Aaron shall draw straws for the two goats, one straw for the Lord, and the other straw for the scapegoat. 9 And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord's lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. 10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness. 11 And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering that is for himself, 12 And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the Lord, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it inside the vail, 13 And he shall put the incense on the fire before the Lord, so that the cloud of the incense will cover the mercy seat that is on the testimony, so he doesn't die. 14 And he shall take some of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat eastward, and before the mercy seat, he shall sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. 15 Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring its blood inside the vail, and do with that blood like he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat, 16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins, and he shall do like that for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remains among them, among their uncleanness. 17 And no man shall be in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goes in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he comes out, and has made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel. 18 And he shall go out to the altar that is before the Lord, and make an atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bullock, and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar around it. 19 And he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and make it holy from the uncleanness of the children of Israel. 20 And when he has made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat, 21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the sins of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness, 22 And the goat shall carry on him all their sins to a land not inhabited, and he shall let the goat go in the wilderness. 23 And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall put off the linen garments that he put on when he went into the holy place, and shall leave them there, 24 And he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place, and put on his garments, and come out, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people. 25 And he shall burn the fat of the sin offering on the altar. 26 And he that let the goat go for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp. 27 And the bullock for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall someone carry outside the camp, and they shall burn their skins in the fire, and their flesh, and their dung. 28 And he that burns them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp. 29 And this shall be a statute forever to you, that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it is one of your own country, or a stranger that is a visitor among you, 30 For on that day, the priest shall make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, so that you'll be clean from all your sins before the Lord. 31 It shall be a sabbath of rest to you, and you shall afflict your souls, by a statute forever. 32 And the priest, whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priest's office instead of his father, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, the holy garments, 33 And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation. 34 And this shall be an everlasting statute to you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year." And he did as the Lord commanded Moses. ___Leviticus chapter 17 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them, This is the thing that the Lord has has commanded, saying, 3 Whatever man there is of the house of Israel, that kills an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that kills it outside of the camp, 4 And doesn't bring it to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering to the Lord before the tabernacle of the Lord, blood shall be imputed to that man, he has shed blood, and that man shall be cut off from among his people, 5 So that the children of Israel will bring their sacrifices that they offer in the open field, so that they'll bring them to the Lord, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to the priest, and offer them for peace offerings to the Lord. 6 And the priest shall sprinkle the blood on the altar of the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet odor to the Lord. 7 And they shall no more offer their sacrifices to devils, after whom they have gone whoring. This shall be a statute forever to them throughout their generations. 8 And you shall say to them, Whatever man there is of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who are visiting among you, that offers a burnt offering or sacrifice, 9 And doesn't bring it to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer it to the Lord, that man shall be cut off from among his people. 10 And whatever man there is of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that are visitors among you, that eats any kind of blood, I will set my face against that soul that eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people. 11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make an atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul. 12 Therefore I said to the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, nor shall any stranger that visits among you eat blood. 13 And whatever man there is of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that's a visitor among you, who hunts and catches any animal or bird that can be eaten, he shall pour out the blood of it, and cover it with dust. 14 For it is the life of all flesh, the blood of it is for the life of it, therefore I said to the children of Israel, you shall eat the blood of no kind of flesh, for the life of all flesh is the blood of it, whoever eats it shall be cut off. 15 And every soul that eats that which died of itself, or that which was torn by animals, whether it is one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until evening, then he shall be clean. 16 But if he doesn't wash them, nor bathe his flesh, then he shall bear his sin." ___Leviticus chapter 18 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, I am the Lord your God. 3 You shall not do after the doings of the land of Egypt, where you lived, and after the doings of the land of Canaan, where I bring you, you shall not do, nor shall you walk in their ordinances. 4 You shall do my judgments, and keep my ordinances, to walk in them, I am the Lord your God. 5 You shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments, which if a man does, he shall live in them, I am the Lord. 6 None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness, I am the Lord. 7 The nakedness of your father, or the nakedness of your mother, you shall not uncover, she is your mother, you shall not uncover her nakedness. 8 The nakedness of your father's wife you shall not uncover, it is your father's nakedness. 9 The nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or daughter of your mother, whether she is born at home, or born somewhere else, their nakedness you shall not uncover. 10 The nakedness of your son's daughter, or of your daughter's daughter, their nakedness you shall not uncover, for their's is your own nakedness. 11 The nakedness of your father's wife's daughter, begotten by your father, she is your sister, you shall not uncover her nakedness. 12 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's sister, she is your father's near kinswoman. 13 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister, for she is your mother's near kinswoman. 14 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's brother, you shall not approach to his wife, she is your aunt. 15 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter in law, she is your son's wife, you shall not uncover her nakedness. 16 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife, it is your brother's nakedness. 17 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 her nakedness, for they are her near kinswomen, it is wickedness. 18 Nor shall you take a wife that is your wife's sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her lifetime. 19 Also you shall not approach to a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness. 20 Also you shall not lie carnally with your neighbor's wife, to defile yourself with her. 21 And you shall not let any of your children pass through the fire to Molech, nor shall you profane the name of your God, I am the Lord. 22 Men shall not lie with men like with women, it is abomination. 23 Nor shall you lie with any beast to defile yourself with them, nor shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down before it, it is confusion. 24 Don't defile yourselves in any of these things, for in all these the nations have been defiled that I threw out before you, 25 And the land is defiled, so I visit its sin on it, and the land itself vomits out its inhabitants. 26 You shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations, nor any of your own nation, nor any stranger that visits among you, 27 (For all these abominations the men of the land have done, that were before you, and the land is defiled,) 28 So that the land doesn't vomit you out also, when you defile it, like it vomited out the nations that were before you. 29 For whoever shall commit any of these abominations, the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people. 30 Therefore you shall keep my ordinances, so that you don't commit any of these abominable customs, that were committed before you, and so that you don't defile yourselves in them, I am the Lord your God." ___Leviticus chapter 19 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them, you shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. 3 You shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths, I am the Lord your God. 4 Don't turn to idols, nor make for yourselves gods shaped from melted metal, I am the Lord your God. 5 And if you offer a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord, you shall offer it at your own will. 6 It shall be eaten the same day you offer it, and on the next day, and if any of it remains until the third day, it shall be burnt in the fire. 7 And if it is eaten at all on the third day, it is dirty, it shall not be accepted. 8 Therefore everyone that eats it shall bear his sin, because he has profaned a holy thing of the Lord, and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 9 And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not completely reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard, you shall leave them for the poor and stranger, I am the Lord your God. 11 You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to each other. 12 And you shall not swear by my name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God, I am the Lord. 13 You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him, the wages of him that is hired shall not remain with you all night until the morning. 14 You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear your God, I am the Lord. 15 You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, you shall not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty, but in righteousness you shall judge your neighbor. 16 You shall not go up and down as a tale bearer among your people, nor shall you stand against the blood of your neighbor, I am the Lord. 17 You shall not hate your brother in your heart, you shall in any wise rebuke your neighbor, and not allow sin on him. 18 You shall not avenge, nor carry any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor like yourself, I am the Lord. 19 You shall keep my statutes. You shall not let your cattle mate with a different kind, you shall not plant your field with mixed seed, nor shall a garment mixed of linen and wool come on you. 20 And whoever lies carnally with a woman that is a bondmaid, engaged to a man, and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her, she shall be scourged, they shall not be put to death, because she was not free. 21 And he shall bring his trespass offering to the Lord, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, a ram for a trespass offering. 22 And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the Lord for his sin that he has done, and he shall be forgiven for the sin that he has done. 23 And when you come into the land, and have planted all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count the fruit of it as uncircumcised, it shall be as uncircumcised to you for three years, it shall not be eaten. 24 But in the fourth year all the fruit of it shall be holy to praise the Lord with. 25 And in the fifth year you shall eat of the fruit of it, so that it will yield to you the increase of it, I am the Lord your God. 26 You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor shall you use enchantment, nor observe times. 27 You shall not round the corners of your heads, nor shall you mar the corners of your beard. 28 You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks on yourselves, I am the Lord. 29 Do not prostitute your daughter, to cause her to be a whore, so that the land doesn't fall to whoredom, and so it doesn't become full of wickedness. 30 You shall keep my sabbaths, and respect my sanctuary, I am the Lord. 31 Don't regard those who have familiar spirits, and don't seek after wizards, to pollute yourselves with them, I am the Lord your God. 32 You shall rise up before the gray head, and honor the face of the old man, and fear your God, I am the Lord. 33 And if a stranger visits with you in your land, you shall not harass him. 34 But the stranger that lives with you shall be to you like someone born among you, and you shall love him like yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt, I am the Lord your God. 35 You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in weight, or in measuring. 36 You shall have honest balances, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin, I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. 37 Therefore you shall observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them, I am the Lord." ___Leviticus chapter 20 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Again, you shall say to the children of Israel, Whoever he is of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that visit in Israel, that gives any of his children to Molech, he shall surely be put to death, the people of the land shall stone him with stones. 3 And I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given of his children to Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name. 4 And if the people of the land in any way hide their eyes from the man, when he gives of his children to Molech, and don't kill him, 5 Then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all that go whoring after him, to commit whoredom with Molech, from among their people. 6 And the soul that turns after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go whoring after them, I will set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people. 7 Make yourselves holy therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. 8 And you shall keep my statutes, and do them, I am the Lord who makes you holy. 9 For everyone that curses his father or his mother shall be surely put to death, he has cursed his father or his mother, his blood shall be on himself. 10 And the man that commits adultery with another man's wife, with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. 11 And the man that lies with his father's wife has uncovered his father's nakedness, both of them shall surely be put to death, their blood shall be on themselves. 12 And if a man lies with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death, they have made confusion, their blood shall be on themselves. 13 If a man also lies with mankind, like they lie with a woman, both of them have committed a filthy act, they shall surely be put to death, their blood shall be on them. 14 And if a man takes a wife and her mother, it is wickedness, they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they, so that there is no wickedness among you. 15 And if a man lies with an animal, he shall surely be put to death, and you shall kill the animal. 16 And if a woman approaches to any animal, and lies down at it, you shall kill the woman, and the animal, they shall surely be put to death, their blood shall be on themselves. 17 And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness, it is a wicked thing, and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people, he has uncovered his sister's nakedness, he shall carry his sin. 18 And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness, he has discovered her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood, and both of them shall be cut off from among their people. 19 And you shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister, nor of your father's sister, for he uncovers his near kin, they shall bear their sin. 20 And if a man shall lie with his uncle's wife, he has uncovered his uncle's nakedness, they shall bear their sin, they shall die childless. 21 And if a man shall take his brother's wife, it is an unclean thing, he has uncovered his brother's nakedness, they shall be childless. 22 You shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them, so that the land, where I bring you to live there, doesn't vomit you out. 23 And you shall not walk in the ways of the nations that I threw out before you, for they committed all these things, and therefore I hated them. 24 But I have said to you, you shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess it, a land that flows with milk and honey, I am the Lord your God, who has separated you from other people. 25 You shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean, and between unclean birds and clean, and you shall not make your souls dirty by beast, or by bird, or by any kind of living thing that creeps on the ground that I have separated from you as unclean. 26 And you shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from other people, so that you would be mine. 27 A man also or woman that has a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death, they shall stone them with stones, their blood shall be on themselves." ___Leviticus chapter 21 1 And the Lord said to Moses, "Speak to the priests the sons of Aaron, and say to them, No one shall be defiled for the dead among his people, 2 But for his kin, that is near to him, that is, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother, 3 And for his sister a virgin, that is close to him, who has had no husband, for her, he may be defiled. 4 But he shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself. 5 They shall not make baldness on their head, nor shall shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh. 6 They shall be holy to their God, and not profane the name of their God, for they offer the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and the bread of their God, therefore they shall be holy. 7 They shall not take a wife that is a whore, or profane, nor shall they take a woman put away from her husband, for he is holy to his God. 8 You shall sanctify him therefore, for he offers the bread of your God, he shall be holy to you, for I the Lord, who sanctifies you, am holy. 9 And the daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by playing the whore, she profanes her father, she shall be burnt with fire. 10 And he that is the high priest among his brothers, on whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor tear his clothes, 11 Nor shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother, 12 Nor shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God, for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is on him, I am the Lord. 13 And he shall take a wife in her virginity. 14 A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or a prostitute, these shall he not take, but he shall take a virgin of his own people as wife. 15 Nor shall he profane his children among his people, for I the Lord sanctify him." 16 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 17 "Speak to Aaron, saying, Whoever he is of your seed in their generations that has any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God. 18 For whatever man he is that has a blemish, he shall not approach, a blind man, or a lame, or he that has a flat nose, or anything extra, 19 Or a man that is broken footed, or broken handed, 20 Or crookbacked, or a dwarf, or that has a blemish in his eye, or is scurvy, or scabbed, or has his stones broken, 21 No man that has a blemish of the descendants of Aaron the priest shall come near to offer the offerings of the Lord made by fire, he has a blemish, he shall not come near to offer the bread of his God. 22 He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy. 23 Only he shall not go into the vail, nor come near the altar, because he has a blemish, so that he doesn't profane my sanctuaries, for I the Lord sanctify them." 24 And Moses told it to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel. ___Leviticus chapter 22 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to Aaron and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they don't profane my holy name in the things that they make holy to me, I am the Lord. 3 Say to them, Whoever he is of all your descendants among your generations, that goes to the holy things, that the children of Israel hallow to the Lord, having his uncleanness on him, that soul shall be cut off from my presence, I am the Lord. 4 Whatever man of the descendants of Aaron is a leper, or has a fluid going from him, he shall not eat of the holy things, until he's clean. And whoever touches anything that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed of copulation goes from him, 5 Or whoever touches any creeping thing, by which he becomes unclean, or a man from whom he can catch uncleanness, whatever uncleanness he has, 6 The soul that has touched any such shall be unclean until evening, and shall not eat of the holy things, unless he washes his flesh with water. 7 And when the sun goes down, he shall be clean, and shall afterward eat of the holy things, because it is his food. 8 That which dies of itself, or is torn by animals, he shall not eat to defile himself with it, I am the Lord. 9 They shall therefore keep my ordinance, so they don't carry sin for it, and die therefore, if they profane it, I the Lord sanctify them. 10 No stranger shall eat of the holy thing, a visitor of the priest, or a hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing. 11 But if the priest buys any soul with his money, he shall eat of it, and he that is born in his house, they shall eat of his food. 12 If the priest's daughter also is married to a stranger, she may not eat of an offering of the holy things. 13 But if the priest's daughter is a widow, or divorced, and has no child, and has returned to her father's house, like in her youth, she shall eat of her father's food, but no stranger shall eat of it. 14 And if a man eats of a holy thing unknowingly, then he shall add twenty percent to it, and shall give it to the priest with the holy thing. 15 And they shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel that they offer to the Lord, 16 Or allow them to carry the sin of trespass, when they eat their holy things, for I the Lord make them holy." 17 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 18 "Speak to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them, Whoever he is of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, that wants to offer his sacrifice for all his vows, and for all his free will offerings, that they will offer to the Lord for a burnt offering, 19 You shall offer of your own free will, a male without blemish, of the beef, of the sheep, or of the goats. 20 But whatever has a blemish, you shall not offer, since it won't be acceptable for you. 21 And whoever offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord to fulfill his vow, or a free will offering in beef or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted, there shall be no blemish in it. 22 Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scurvy, or scabbed, you shall not offer these to the Lord, nor make an offering by fire of them on the altar to the Lord. 23 Either a bullock or a lamb that has any extra parts or any missing parts, you can offer it for a freewill offering, but for a vow it won't be accepted. 24 You shall not offer to the Lord that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut, nor shall you make any offering of it in your land. 25 Nor from a stranger's hand shall you offer the bread of your God from any of these, because their corruption is in them, and blemishes are in them, they shall not be accepted for you." 26 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 27 "When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is born, then it shall be seven days under its mother, and from the eighth day and from then on, it shall be accepted for an offering made by fire to the Lord. 28 And whether it is a cow or female sheep, you shall not kill both it and its young on the same day. 29 And when you want to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord, offer it at your own will. 30 On the same day it shall be eaten up, you shall leave none of it until the next day, I am the Lord. 31 Therefore you shall keep my commandments, and do them, I am the Lord. 32 Nor shall you profane my holy name, but I will be holy among the children of Israel, I am the Lord who makes you holy, 33 Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God, I am the Lord." ___Leviticus chapter 23 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, Concerning the feasts of the Lord, that you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are my feasts. 3 Work shall be done six days, but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, a holy convocation, you shall do no work in it, it is the sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings. 4 These are the feasts of the Lord, even holy convocations, that you shall proclaim in their seasons. 5 On the fourteenth day of the first month at evening is the Lord's passover. 6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread to the Lord, seven days you must eat unleavened bread. 7 On the first day you shall have a holy convocation, you shall do no servile work on it. 8 But you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord seven days, on the seventh day is a holy convocation, you shall do no servile work on it." 9 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 10 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, When you've come into the land that I give to you, and shall reap the harvest of it, then you shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest, 11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you, on the next day after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. 12 And you shall offer that day when you wave the sheaf, a he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering to the Lord. 13 And the meat offering of it shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to the Lord for a sweet odor, and the drink offering of it shall be of wine, one fourth of a hin. 14 And you shall eat no bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the same day that you have brought an offering to your God, it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 15 And you shall count for yourselves from the next day after the sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, seven sabbaths shall be complete, 16 Until the next day after the seventh sabbath you shall number fifty days, and you shall offer a new meat offering to the Lord. 17 You shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals, they shall be of fine flour, they shall be baked with leaven, they are the first fruits to the Lord. 18 And you shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams, they shall be for a burnt offering to the Lord, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, an offering made by fire, of sweet odor to the Lord. 19 Then you shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings. 20 And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the first fruits for a wave offering before the Lord, with the two lambs, they shall be holy to the Lord for the priest. 21 And you shall proclaim on the same day, so it will be a holy convocation to you, you shall do no servile work in it, it shall be a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations. 22 And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not completely clean the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning of your harvest, you shall leave them for the poor, and for the stranger, I am the Lord your God." 23 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. 25 You shall do no servile work in it, but you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord." 26 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 27 "Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement, it shall be a holy convocation to you, and you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. 28 And you shall do no work on that day, for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God. 29 For whatever soul it is that shall not be afflicted on that day, he shall be cut off from among his people. 30 And whatever soul it is that does any work on that day, I will destroy the same soul from among his people. 31 You shall do no kind of work, it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32 It shall be to you a sabbath of rest, and you shall afflict your souls, on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening until evening, you shall celebrate your sabbath." 33 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 34 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days to the Lord. 35 On the first day shall be a holy convocation, you shall do no servile work in it. 36 Seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord, on the eighth day shall be a holy convocation to you, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord, it is a solemn assembly, and you shall do no servile work in it. 37 These are the feasts of the Lord that you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the Lord, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, everything on its day, 38 Beside the sabbaths of the Lord, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, that you give to the Lord. 39 Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep a feast to the Lord seven days, on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath. 40 And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the boughs of good trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days. 41 And you shall keep it a feast to the Lord seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations, you shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 You shall live in booths seven days, all that are Israelites by birth shall live in booths, 43 So that your generations will know that I made the children of Israel to live in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I am the Lord your God." 44 And Moses declared to the children of Israel the feasts of the Lord. ___Leviticus chapter 24 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Command the children of Israel, to bring to you pure beaten olive oil for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually. 3 Outside the vail of the testimony, in the tabernacle of the congregation, Aaron shall order it from the evening until the morning before the Lord continually, it shall be a statute forever in your generations. 4 He shall order the lamps on the pure candlestick before the Lord continually. 5 And you shall take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes of it, two tenth deals shall be in one cake. 6 And you shall set them in two rows, six in a row, on the pure table before the Lord. 7 And you shall put pure frankincense on each row, so it will be on the bread for a memorial, an offering made by fire to the Lord. 8 He shall set it in order every sabbath before the Lord continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant. 9 And it shall be Aaron's and his sons', and they shall eat it in the holy place, for it is most holy to him of the offerings of the Lord made by fire by a perpetual statute." 10 And the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel, and this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel fought together in the camp, 11 And the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the Lord, and cursed. And they brought him to Moses, (and his mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan,) 12 And they put him in ward, so the mind of the Lord would be shown to them. 13 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 14 "Bring out him that has cursed outside the camp, and let all that heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him. 15 And you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. 16 And he that blasphemes the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him, as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemes the name of the Lord, shall be put to death. 17 And he that kills any man shall surely be put to death. 18 And he that kills a beast shall make it good, beast for beast. 19 And if a man causes a blemish in his neighbor, as he has done, so shall it be done to him, 20 Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, as he has caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done back to him. 21 And he that kills a beast, he shall restore it, and he that kills a man, he shall be put to death. 22 You shall have one kind of law, as well for the stranger, as for someone of your own country, for I am the Lord your God." 23 And Moses spoke to the children of Israel, that they should bring him that had cursed out of the camp, and stone him with stones. And the children of Israel did as the Lord commanded Moses. ___Leviticus chapter 25 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses in Mount Sinai, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you, then the land shall keep a sabbath to the Lord. 3 Six years you shall plant your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather in the fruit of it, 4 But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest to the land, a sabbath for the Lord, you shall neither plant your field, nor prune your vineyard. 5 That which grows of its own accord of your harvest you shall not reap, nor gather the grapes of your vine undressed, for it is a year of rest to the land. 6 And the sabbath of the land shall be food for you, for you, and for your servant, and for your maid, and for your hired servant, and for your stranger that is visiting with you, 7 All the increase of it shall be food for your cattle, and for the animals that are in your land. 8 And you shall number seven sabbaths of years to yourselves, seven times seven years, and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be to you forty nine years. 9 Then you shall cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, you shall make the trumpet sound throughout all your land on the day of atonement. 10 And you shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all the inhabitants of it, it shall be a jubilee to you, and you shall return every man to his possession, and you shall return every man to his family. 11 That fiftieth year shall be a jubilee to you, you shall not plant, nor reap that which grows of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of your vine undressed. 12 For it is the jubilee, it shall be holy to you, you shall eat the increase of it out of the field. 13 In the year of this jubilee you shall return every man to his possession. 14 And if you sell anything to your neighbor, or buy anything from your neighbor's hand, you shall not oppress each other, 15 According to the number of years after the jubilee you shall buy from your neighbor, and according to the number of years of the fruits he shall sell to you, 16 According to the multitude of years you shall increase the price of it, and according to the fewness of years you shall diminish the price of it, for according to the number of the years of the fruits does he sell to you. 17 You shall therefore not oppress each other, but you shall fear your God, for I am the Lord your God. 18 So you shall do my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them, and you shall live in the land in safety. 19 And the land shall yield its fruit, and you shall eat your fill, and live in it in safety. 20 And if you shall say, What shall we eat the seventh year? See, we shall not plant, nor gather in our increase, 21 Then I will command my blessing on you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years. 22 And you shall plant the eighth year, and eat yet of old fruit until the ninth year, until its fruits come in, you shall eat of the old store. 23 The land shall not be sold forever, for the land is mine, for you are strangers and visitors with me. 24 And in all the land of your possession you shall grant a redemption for the land. 25 If your brother has become poor, and has sold away some of his possession, and if any of his relatives come to redeem it, then he shall redeem what his brother sold. 26 And if the man has no one to redeem it, and he himself is able to redeem it, 27 Then let him count the years of the sale of it, and restore the excess to the man to whom he sold it, so he can return to his possession. 28 But if he is not able to restore it to him, then that which is sold shall remain in the hand of him that has bought it until the year of jubilee, and in the jubilee it shall go out, and he shall return to his possession. 29 And if a man sells a dwelling house in a walled city, then he can redeem it within a whole year after it is sold, within a full year he can redeem it. 30 And if it isn't redeemed within the space of a full year, then the house that is in the walled city shall be established forever to him that bought it throughout his generations, it shall not go out in the jubilee. 31 But the houses of the villages that have no wall around them shall be counted as the fields of the country, they can be redeemed, and they shall go out in the jubilee. 32 But, the cities of the Levites, and the houses of the cities of their possession, the Levites can redeem at any time. 33 And if a man buys from the Levites, then the house that was sold, and the city of his possession, shall go out in the year of jubilee, for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel. 34 But the field of the suburbs of their cities can't be sold, for it is their perpetual possession. 35 And if your brother has become poor, and fallen in decay with you, then you shall provide him relief, yes, though he is a stranger, or a visitor, so that he can live with you. 36 Don't take interest from him, or increase, but fear your God, so that your brother can live with you. 37 You shall not give him your money at interest, nor lend him your food for increase. 38 I am the Lord your God, that brought you out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God. 39 And if your brother that lives by you has become poor, and has been sold to you, you shall not compel him to serve like a bond servant, 40 But like a hired servant, and as a visitor, he shall be with you, and shall serve you until the year of jubilee, 41 And then he shall depart from you, both he and his children with him, and shall return to his own family, and to the possession of his fathers shall he return. 42 For they are my servants that I brought out of the land of Egypt, they shall not be sold as bondmen. 43 You shall not rule over him with rigor, but shall fear your God. 44 Both your bondmen, and your bondmaids, that you shall have, shall be of the heathen that are around you, you shall buy bondmen and bondmaids from them. 45 Also, of the children of the strangers that are visitors among you, from them you shall buy, and from their families that are with you, that they fathered in your land, and they shall be your possession. 46 And you shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession, they shall be your bondmen forever, but over your brothers, the children of Israel, you shall not rule over each other with rigor. 47 And if a visitor or stranger grows rich by you, and your brother that lives by him grows poor, and sells himself to the stranger or visitor by you, or to the stock of the stranger's family, 48 After he has been sold, he can be redeemed again, one of his brothers can redeem him, 49 Either his uncle, or his uncle's son, may redeem him, or any that is near of kin to him of his family can redeem him, or if he is able, he can redeem himself. 50 And he shall reckon with him that bought him from the year that he was sold to him until the year of jubilee, and the price of his sale shall be according to the number of years, according to the time of a hired servant shall it be with him. 51 If there are yet many years behind, according to them, he shall give back the price of his redemption out of the money that he was bought for. 52 And if few years remain until the year of jubilee, then he shall count with him, and according to his years he shall give him back the price of his redemption. 53 And as a yearly hired servant, he shall be with him, and the other shall not rule with rigor over him in your sight. 54 And if he has not been redeemed in these years, then he shall go out in the year of jubilee, both he, and his children with him. 55 For to me the children of Israel are servants, they are my servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt, I am the Lord your God." ___Leviticus chapter 26 1 "You shall make for yourselves no idols nor graven image, nor rear up a standing image, nor shall you set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down to it, for I am the Lord your God. 2 You shall keep my sabbaths, and show reverence to my sanctuary, I am the Lord. 3 If you walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them, 4 Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. 5 And your threshing shall reach to the vintage, and the vintage shall reach to the planting time, and you'll eat your bread to the full, and live in your land safely. 6 And I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and no one shall make you afraid, and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, nor shall the sword go through your land. 7 And you shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. 8 And five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight, and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. 9 For I will have respect to you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you. 10 And you shall eat old store, and bring out the old because of the new. 11 And I will set my tabernacle among you, and my soul shall not hate you. 12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you shall be my people. 13 I am the Lord your God, that brought you out of the land of Egypt, so that you wouldn't be their bondmen, and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you to go upright. 14 But if you won't listen to me, and won't do all these commandments, 15 And if you shall despise my statutes, or if your soul hates my judgments, so that you won't do all my commandments, but that you break my covenant, 16 I also will do this to you, I will appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart, and you'll plant your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. 17 And I will set my face against you, and you'll be killed before your enemies, those who hate you shall rule over you, and you'll flee when no one pursues you. 18 And if, for all of this, you still won't listen to me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. 19 And I will break the pride of your power, and I will make your heaven like iron, and your earth like brass, 20 And your strength shall be spent in vain, for your land shall not yield its increase, nor shall the trees of the land yield their fruits. 21 And if you walk contrary to me, and won't listen to me, I will bring seven times more plagues on you according to your sins. 22 I'll also send wild beasts among you, that shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number, and your highways shall be desolate. 23 And if you won't be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary to me, 24 Then I will also walk contrary to you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins. 25 And I will bring a sword on you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant, and when you are gathered together in your cities, I will send the pestilence among you, and you'll be delivered into the hand of the enemy. 26 And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver your bread back to you by weight, and you shall eat, and not be satisfied. 27 And if for all this you still won't listen to me, but walk contrary to me, 28 Then I will also walk contrary to you in fury, and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. 29 And you'll eat the flesh of your sons, and you'll eat the flesh of your daughters. 30 And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and throw your dead bodies on the dead bodies of your idols, and my soul shall hate you. 31 And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries to desolation, and I will not smell your sweet odors. 32 And I will bring the land into desolation, and your enemies that live in it shall be astonished at it. 33 And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you, and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste. 34 Then the land shall enjoy its sabbaths, as long as it lies desolate, and you are in your enemies' land, then the land shall rest, and enjoy its sabbaths. 35 As long as it lies desolate it shall rest, because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when you lived on it. 36 And on those who are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies, and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them, and they shall flee, like fleeing from a sword, and they shall fall when no one pursues. 37 And they shall fall on each other, as it were before a sword, when no one pursues, and you shall have no power to stand before your enemies. 38 And you'll perish among the heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up. 39 And those who are left of you shall pine away in their sin in your enemies' lands, and also in the sins of their fathers they shall pine away with them. 40 If they shall confess their sin, and the sin of their fathers, with their trespass that they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary to me, 41 And that I also have walked contrary to them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies, if then their uncircumcised hearts are humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their sin, 42 Then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and I will also remember my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land. 43 The land also shall be left by them, and shall enjoy its sabbaths, while it lies desolate without them, and they shall accept of the punishment of their sin, because they despised my judgments, and because their soul hated my statutes. 44 And yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not throw them away, nor will I hate them, to destroy them completely, and to break my covenant with them, for I am the Lord their God. 45 But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, so that I would be their God, I am the Lord." 46 These are the statutes and judgments and laws, that the Lord made between him and the children of Israel in Mount Sinai by the hand of Moses. ___Leviticus chapter 27 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, When a man shall make a singular vow, the persons shall be for the Lord by your estimation. 3 And your estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old up to sixty years old, even your estimation shall be fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary. 4 And if it is a female, then your estimation shall be thirty shekels. 5 And if it is from five years old even to twenty years old, then your estimation shall be of the male twenty shekels, and for the female ten shekels. 6 And if it is from a month old even to five years old, then your estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver, and for the female your estimation shall be three shekels of silver. 7 And if it is from sixty years old and above, if it is a male, then your estimation shall be fifteen shekels, and for the female ten shekels. 8 But if he is poorer than your estimation, then he shall present himself before the priest, and the priest shall value him, according to his ability that vowed shall the priest value him. 9 And if it is a beast, of which men bring an offering to the Lord, all that any man gives of such to the Lord shall be holy. 10 He shall not alter it, nor change it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good, and if he shall at all change beast for beast, then it and the exchange of it shall be holy. 11 And if it is any unclean beast, from which they don't offer a sacrifice to the Lord, then he shall present the beast before the priest, 12 And the priest shall value it, whether it is good or bad, as you value it, who is the priest, so shall it be. 13 But if he will at all redeem it, then he shall add twenty percent of it, to your estimation. 14 And when a man shall sanctify his house to be holy to the Lord, then the priest shall estimate it, whether it is good or bad, as the priest shall estimate it, so shall it stand. 15 And if he that sanctified it will redeem his house, then he shall add twenty percent of the money of your estimation to it, and it shall be his. 16 And if a man shall sanctify to the Lord some part of a field of his possession, then your estimation shall be according to the seed of it, a homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver. 17 If he sanctifies his field from the year of jubilee, according to your estimation it shall stand. 18 But if he sanctifies his field after the jubilee, then the priest shall reckon to him the money according to the years that remain, until the year of the jubilee, and it shall be abated from your estimation. 19 And if he that sanctified the field will in any way redeem it, then he shall add twenty percent of the money of your estimation to it, and it shall be assured to him. 20 And if he will not redeem the field, or if he has sold the field to another man, it shall not be redeemed anymore. 21 But the field, when it goes out in the jubilee, shall be holy to the Lord, like a field devoted, the possession of it shall be the priest's. 22 And if a man sanctifies to the Lord a field that he has bought, that is not of the fields of his possession, 23 Then the priest shall reckon to him the worth of your estimation, until the year of the jubilee, and he shall give your estimation in that day, like a holy thing to the Lord. 24 In the year of the jubilee, the field shall return to him from whom it was bought, even to him to whom the possession of the land used to belong. 25 And all your estimations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary, twenty gerahs shall be the shekel. 26 Only the firstling of the beasts, that should be the Lord's firstling, no man shall sanctify it, whether it is ox, or sheep, it is the Lord's. 27 And if it is of an unclean beast, then he shall redeem it according to your estimation, and shall add twenty percent to it, or if it is not redeemed, then it shall be sold according to your estimation. 28 But no devoted thing, that a man shall devote to the Lord of all that he has, both of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed, every devoted thing is most holy to the Lord. 29 No one devoted, that shall be devoted of men, shall be redeemed, but shall surely be put to death. 30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's, it is holy to the Lord. 31 And if a man will at all redeem any of his tithes, he shall add to it twenty percent of it. 32 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth shall be holy to the Lord. 33 He shall not search whether it is good or bad, nor shall he change it, and if he changes it at all, then both it and the change of it shall be holy, it shall not be redeemed." 34 These are the commandments, that the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel in Mount Sinai. ___Numbers chapter 1 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 "Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls, 3 From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go out to war in Israel, you and Aaron shall number them by their armies. 4 And with you, there shall be a man of every tribe, everyone head of the house of his fathers. 5 And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you, of the tribe of Reuben, Elizur the son of Shedeur. 6 Of Simeon, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 7 Of Judah, Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 8 Of Issachar, Nethaneel the son of Zuar. 9 Of Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon. 10 Of the children of Joseph, of Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud, of Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 11 Of Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gideoni. 12 Of Dan, Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 13 Of Asher, Pagiel the son of Ocran. 14 Of Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel. 15 Of Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan." 16 These were the famous of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel. 17 And Moses and Aaron took these men that are mentioned by their names, 18 And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and older, by their polls. 19 As the Lord commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai. 20 And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and older, all that were able to go out to war, 21 Those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Reuben, were forty six thousand five hundred. 22 Of the children of Simeon, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, those that were numbered of them, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and older, all that were able to go out to war, 23 Those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty nine thousand three hundred. 24 Of the children of Gad, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and older, all that were able to go out to war, 25 Those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Gad, were forty five thousand six hundred fifty. 26 Of the children of Judah, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and older, all that were able to go out to war, 27 Those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Judah, were seventy four thousand six hundred. 28 Of the children of Issachar, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and older, all that were able to go out to war, 29 Those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty four thousand four hundred. 30 Of the children of Zebulun, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and older, all that were able to go out to war, 31 Those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty seven thousand four hundred. 32 Of the children of Joseph, namely, of the children of Ephraim, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and older, all that were able to go out to war, 33 Those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand five hundred. 34 Of the children of Manasseh, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and older, all that were able to go out to war, 35 Those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty two thousand two hundred. 36 Of the children of Benjamin, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and older, all that were able to go out to war, 37 Those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty five thousand four hundred. 38 Of the children of Dan, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and older, all that were able to go out to war, 39 Those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Dan, were sixty two thousand seven hundred. 40 Of the children of Asher, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and older, all that were able to go out to war, 41 Those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Asher, were forty one thousand five hundred. 42 Of the children of Naphtali, throughout their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and older, all that were able to go out to war, 43 Those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty three thousand four hundred. 44 These are those that were numbered, that Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, being twelve men, each one was for the house of his fathers. 45 So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and older, all that were able to go out to war in Israel, 46 All of those who were numbered were six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty. 47 But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them. 48 For the Lord had spoken to Moses, saying, 49 "Only you shall not number the tribe of Levi, nor take the sum of them among the children of Israel, 50 But thou shall appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the containers of it, and over all things that belong to it, they shall carry the tabernacle, and all the containers of it, and they shall minister to it, and shall encamp around the tabernacle. 51 And when the tabernacle sets forward, the Levites shall take it down, and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up, and the stranger that comes near shall be put to death. 52 And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts. 53 But the Levites shall pitch around the tabernacle of testimony, so there won't be any anger against the congregation of the children of Israel, and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony." 54 And the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did they. ___Numbers chapter 2 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 "Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the flag of their father's house, they shall pitch far off around the tabernacle of the congregation. 3 And on the east side, toward the rising of the sun, those of the standard of the camp of Judah shall pitch throughout their armies, and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah. 4 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were seventy four thousand six hundred. 5 And those that pitch next to him shall be the tribe of Issachar, and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the children of Issachar. 6 And his host, and those that were numbered of it, were fifty four thousand four hundred. 7 Then the tribe of Zebulun, and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the children of Zebulun. 8 And his host, and those that were numbered of it, were fifty seven thousand four hundred. 9 All that were numbered in the camp of Judah were one hundred eighty six thousand four hundred, throughout their armies. These shall go out first. 10 On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies, and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur. 11 And his host, and those that were numbered of it, were forty six thousand five hundred. 12 And those who pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon, and the captain of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 13 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty nine thousand three hundred. 14 Then the tribe of Gad, and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel. 15 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty five thousand six hundred fifty. 16 All that were numbered in the camp of Reuben were one hundred fifty one thousand four hundred fifty, throughout their armies. And they shall go out in the second rank. 17 Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the middle of the camp, as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards. 18 On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies, and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud. 19 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty thousand five hundred. 20 And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh, and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 21 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty two thousand two hundred. 22 Then the tribe of Benjamin, and the captain of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni. 23 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty five thousand four hundred. 24 All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were one hundred eight thousand one hundred, throughout their armies. And they shall go forward in the third rank. 25 The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies, and the captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 26 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were sixty two thousand seven hundred. 27 And those that encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher, and the captain of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran. 28 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty one thousand five hundred. 29 Then the tribe of Naphtali, and the captain of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan. 30 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty three thousand four hundred. 31 All of those who were numbered in the camp of Dan were one hundred fifty seven thousand six hundred. They shall go hindmost with their standards. 32 These are those who were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers, all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty." 33 But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel, as the Lord commanded Moses. 34 And the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, everyone after their families, according to the house of their fathers. ___Numbers chapter 3 1 These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses on the day that the Lord spoke with Moses in Mount Sinai. 2 And these are the names of the sons of Aaron, Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests that were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office. 4 And Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord, when they offered strange fire before the Lord, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children, and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father. 5 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 6 "Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, so they can minister to him. 7 And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle. 8 And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. 9 And you shall give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons, they are completely given to him out of the children of Israel. 10 And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office, and the stranger that comes near shall be put to death." 11 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 12 "And I, see, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that open the womb among the children of Israel, therefore the Levites shall be mine, 13 Because all the firstborn are mine, for on the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed to myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast, they shall be mine, I am the Lord." 14 And the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying, 15 "Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families, every male from a month old and older, you shall number them." 16 And Moses numbered them according to the word of the Lord, as he was commanded. 17 And these were the sons of Levi by their names, Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari. 18 And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families, Libni, and Shimei. 19 And the sons of Kohath by their families, Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 20 And the sons of Merari by their families, Mahli, and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers. 21 Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites, these are the families of the Gershonites. 22 Those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, those that were numbered of them were seven thousand five hundred. 23 "The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward. 24 And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael. 25 And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation shall be the tabernacle, and the tent, the covering of it, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, 26 And the hangings of the court, and the curtain for the door of the court, that is by the tabernacle, and by the altar and around it, and the cords of it for all the service of it. 27 And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izeharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites, these are the families of the Kohathites. 28 In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, was eight thousand six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary. 29 The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward. 30 And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. 31 And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the containers of the sanctuary with which they minister, and the hanging, and all the service of it. 32 And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of those who are in charge of the sanctuary. 33 Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites, these are the families of Merari. 34 And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand two hundred. 35 And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail, these shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward. 36 And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars of it, and the pillars of it, and the sockets of it, and all the containers of it, and all that serve those things, 37 And the pillars of the court and around it, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords. 38 But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel, and the stranger that comes near shall be put to death." 39 All that were numbered of the Levites, that Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the Lord, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and older, were twenty two thousand. 40 And the Lord said to Moses, "Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names. 41 And you shall take the Levites for me (I am the Lord) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel." 42 And Moses numbered, as the Lord commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel. 43 And all the firstborn males by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty two thousand two hundred seventy three. 44 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 45 "Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle, and the Levites shall be mine, I am the Lord. 46 And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred seventy three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites, 47 You shall take five shekels each by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shall you take them, (the shekel is twenty gerahs,) 48 And you shall give the money, with which the odd number of them is to be redeemed, to Aaron and to his sons." 49 And Moses took the redemption money of those who were over and above those who were redeemed by the Levites, 50 Of the firstborn of the children of Israel he took the money, a thousand three hundred sixty five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, 51 And Moses gave the money of those who were redeemed to Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses. ___Numbers chapter 4 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 "Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers, 3 From thirty years old and older until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation. 4 This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, about the most holy things, 5 And when the camp sets forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering veil, and cover the ark of testimony with it, 6 And shall put on it the covering of badgers' skins, and shall spread over it a cloth completely of blue, and shall put in the staves of it. 7 And on the table of showbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put on it the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover with, and the continual bread shall be on it, 8 And they shall spread on them a red cloth, and cover the same with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put in the staves of it. 9 And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and its lamps, and its tongs, and its snuff dishes, and all the oil containers of it, with which they minister to it, 10 And they shall put it and all the containers of it inside a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put it on a bar. 11 And on the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put to the staves of it, 12 And they shall take all the instruments of ministry, with which they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put them on a bar, 13 And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth on it, 14 And they shall put on it all the containers of it, with which they minister about it, the censers, the flesh hooks, and the shovels, and the basins, all the containers of the altar, and they shall spread on it a covering of badgers' skins, and put in the staves of it. 15 And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the containers of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward, after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to carry it, but they shall not touch any holy thing, so that they don't die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation. 16 And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest pertains the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that is in it, in the sanctuary, and in the containers of it. 17 And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 18 "Don't cut off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites, 19 But do this with them, so that they can live, and not die, when they approach the most holy things, Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them each one to his service and to his burden, 20 But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, so they don't die." 21 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 22 "Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, throughout the houses of their fathers, by their families, 23 From thirty years old and older up to fifty years old you shall number them, all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation. 24 This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, to serve, and for burdens, 25 And they shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tabernacle of the congregation, its covering, and the covering of the badgers' skins that is on top of it, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, 26 And the hangings of the court, and the hanging for the door of the gate of the court, which is by the tabernacle and by the altar and around it, and their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and all that is made for them, that's how they'll serve. 27 At the appointment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burdens, and in all their service, and you shall appoint to them in charge all their burdens. 28 This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation, and their charge shall be under the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest. 29 As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them after their families, by the house of their fathers, 30 From thirty years old and older up to fifty years old you shall number them, everyone that enters into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation. 31 And this is the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tabernacle of the congregation, the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars of it, and the pillars of it, and sockets of it, 32 And the pillars of the court and around it, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service, and by name you shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden. 33 This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tabernacle of the congregation, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest." 34 And Moses and Aaron and the chief of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites after their families, and after the house of their fathers, 35 From thirty years old and older up to fifty years old, everyone that enters into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation, 36 And those that were numbered of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred fifty. 37 These were those who were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all that could do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, which Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses. 38 And those who were numbered of the sons of Gershon, throughout their families, and by the house of their fathers, 39 From thirty years old and older up to fifty years old, everyone that enters into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation, 40 Those that were numbered of them, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, were two thousand six hundred thirty. 41 These are those who were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, of all that could do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the Lord. 42 And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, 43 From thirty years old and older up to fifty years old, everyone that enters into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation, 44 Those that were numbered of them after their families, were three thousand two hundred. 45 These are those who were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses. 46 All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chief of Israel numbered, after their families, and after the house of their fathers, 47 From thirty years old and older up to fifty years old, everyone that came to do the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation, 48 Those that were numbered of them, were eight thousand five hundred eighty. 49 According to the commandment of the Lord, they were numbered by the hand of Moses, everyone according to his service, and according to his burden, thus were they numbered by him, as the Lord commanded Moses. ___Numbers chapter 5 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and everyone that has something flowing out, and whoever is defiled by the dead, 3 Both male and female you shall put out, you shall put them outside the camp, so that they don't defile their camps, among which I live." 4 And the children of Israel did so, and put them out outside the camp, as the Lord spoke to Moses, the children of Israel did so. 5 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 6 "Speak to the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against the Lord, and that person is guilty, 7 Then they shall confess their sin that they have done, and he shall repay his trespass with the principal of it, and add to it twenty percent of it, and give it to him against whom he has trespassed. 8 But if the man has no kinsman to repay the trespass to, let the trespass be repaid to the Lord, to the priest, beside the ram of the atonement, by which an atonement shall be made for him. 9 And every offering of all the holy things of the children of Israel, which they bring to the priest, shall be his. 10 And every man's hallowed things shall be his, whatever any man gives the priest, it shall be his." 11 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 12 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, If any man's wife goes aside, and commits a trespass against him, 13 And a man lies with her carnally, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband, and is kept close, and she is defiled, and there is no witness against her, nor does she get pregnant, 14 And the spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife, and she is defiled, or if the spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife, and she is not defiled, 15 Then the man shall bring his wife to the priest, and he shall bring her offering for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal, he shall pour no oil on it, nor put frankincense on it, for it is an offering of jealousy, an offering of memorial, bringing sin to remembrance. 16 And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the Lord, 17 And the priest shall take holy water in a clay pot, and the priest shall take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle, and put it into the water, 18 And the priest shall set the woman before the Lord, and uncover the woman's head, and put the offering of memorial in her hands, which is the jealousy offering, and the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causes the curse, 19 And the priest shall charge her with an oath, and say to the woman, If no man has lain with you, and if you haven't gone aside to uncleanness with someone else instead of your husband, be free from this bitter water that causes the curse, 20 But if you've gone aside to another instead of your husband, and if you're defiled, and some man has lain with you beside your husband, 21 Then the priest shall charge the woman with an oath of cursing, and the priest shall say to the woman, The Lord make you a curse and an oath among your people, when the Lord makes your thigh to rot, and your belly to swell, 22 And this water that causes the curse shall go into your bowels, to make your belly swell, and your thigh to rot, and the woman shall say, Amen, amen. 23 And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out with the bitter water, 24 And he shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that causes the curse, and the water that causes the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter. 25 Then the priest shall take the jealousy offering out of the woman's hand, and shall wave the offering before the Lord, and offer it on the altar, 26 And the priest shall take a handful of the offering, the memorial of it, and burn it on the altar, and afterward shall cause the woman to drink the water. 27 And when he has made her drink the water, then it shall occur that, if she is defiled, and has done trespass against her husband, that the water that causes the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter, and her belly shall swell, and her thigh shall rot, and the woman shall be a curse among her people. 28 And if the woman isn't defiled, but is clean, then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed. 29 This is the law of jealousies, when a wife goes aside to another instead of her husband, and is defiled, 30 Or when the spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous over his wife, and shall set the woman before the Lord, and the priest shall execute on her all this law. 31 Then the man shall be guiltless from sin, and this woman shall bear her sin. ___Numbers chapter 6 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves to the Lord, 3 He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, nor shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried. 4 All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk. 5 All the days of the vow of his separation no razor shall come on his head, until the days are fulfilled, in which he separates himself to the Lord, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow. 6 All the days that he separates himself to the Lord, he shall not come near a dead body. 7 He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die, because the consecration of his God is on his head. 8 All the days of his separation, he is holy to the Lord. 9 And if any man dies very suddenly by him, and he has defiled the head of his consecration, then he shall shave his head on the day of his cleansing, on the seventh day he shall shave it. 10 And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, 11 And the priest shall offer one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, and make an atonement for him, because he sinned by the dead, and shall hallow his head that same day. 12 And he shall consecrate to the Lord the days of his separation, and shall bring a lamb of the first year for a trespass offering, but the days that were before shall be lost, because his separation was defiled. 13 And this is the law of the Nazarite, when the days of his separation are fulfilled, he shall be brought to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, 14 And he shall offer his offering to the Lord, one he lamb of the first year, without blemish for a burnt offering, and one female lamb of the first year, without blemish for a sin offering, and one male sheep without blemish for peace offerings, 15 And a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oil, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings. 16 And the priest shall bring them before the Lord, and shall offer his sin offering, and his burnt offering, 17 And he shall offer the male sheep for a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord, with the basket of unleavened bread, the priest shall offer also his meat offering, and his drink offering. 18 And the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire that is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings. 19 And the priest shall take the boiled shoulder of the ram, and one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them on the hands of the Nazarite, after the hair of his separation has been shaved, 20 And the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the Lord, this is holy for the priest, with the wave breast and heave shoulder, and after that the Nazarite can drink wine. 21 This is the law of the Nazarite who has vowed, and of his offering to the Lord for his separation, beside that which his hand shall get, according to the vow that he vowed, so he must do after the law of his separation." 22 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23 "Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, In this way you shall bless the children of Israel, saying to them, 24 The Lord bless you, and keep you, 25 The Lord make his face shine on you, and be gracious to you, 26 The Lord lift up his countenance on you, and give you peace. 27 And they shall put my name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them." ___Numbers chapter 7 1 On the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments of it, both the altar and all the containers of it, and had anointed them, and sanctified them, 2 The princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes, and were over those who were numbered offered, 3 And they brought their offering before the Lord, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen, a wagon for each pair of princes, and for each one, an ox, and they brought them before the tabernacle. 4 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 5 "Take it from them, so that they will be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and you shall give them to the Levites, to every man according to his service." 6 And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites. 7 He gave two wagons and four oxen to the sons of Gershon, according to their service, 8 And he gave four wagons and eight oxen to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 9 But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because the service of the sanctuary belonging to them was that they should carry on their shoulders. 10 And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar on the day that it was anointed, the princes offered their offering before the altar. 11 And the Lord said to Moses, "They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar." 12 And he that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah, 13 And his offering was one silver charger, the weight of it was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meat offering, 14 One spoon of ten shekels of gold, full of incense, 15 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering, 16 One kid of the goats for a sin offering, 17 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year, this was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 18 On the second day, Nethaneel the son of Zuar, prince of Issachar, offered, 19 He offered for his offering one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meat offering, 20 One spoon of gold of ten shekels, full of incense, 21 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering, 22 One kid of the goats for a sin offering, 23 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year, this was the offering of Nethaneel the son of Zuar. 24 On the third, day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun, offered, 25 His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meat offering, 26 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense, 27 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering, 28 One kid of the goats for a sin offering, 29 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year, this was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon. 30 On the fourth day, Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the children of Reuben, offered, 31 His offering was one silver charger of the weight of one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meat offering, 32 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense, 33 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering, 34 One kid of the goats for a sin offering, 35 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year, this was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur. 36 On the fifth day, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of Simeon, offered, 37 His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meat offering, 38 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense, 39 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering, 40 One kid of the goats for a sin offering, 41 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year, this was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 42 On the sixth day, Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad, offered, 43 His offering was one silver charger of the weight of one hundred thirty shekels, a silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meat offering, 44 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense, 45 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering, 46 One kid of the goats for a sin offering, 47 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year, this was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel. 48 On the seventh day, Elishama the son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim, offered, 49 His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meat offering, 50 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense, 51 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering, 52 One kid of the goats for a sin offering, 53 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year, this was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud. 54 On the eighth day, offered Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, prince of the children of Manasseh, 55 His offering was one silver charger of the weight of one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meat offering, 56 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense, 57 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering, 58 One kid of the goats for a sin offering, 59 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year, this was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 60 On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin, offered, 61 His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meat offering, 62 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense, 63 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering, 64 One kid of the goats for a sin offering, 65 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year, this was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni. 66 On the tenth day, Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan, offered, 67 His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meat offering, 68 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense, 69 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering, 70 One kid of the goats for a sin offering, 71 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year, this was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 72 On the eleventh day, Pagiel the son of Ocran, prince of the children of Asher, offered, 73 His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meat offering, 74 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense, 75 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering, 76 One kid of the goats for a sin offering, 77 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year, this was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ocran. 78 On the twelfth day, Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali, offered, 79 His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meat offering, 80 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense, 81 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering, 82 One kid of the goats for a sin offering, 83 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year, this was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan. 84 This was the dedication of the altar, on the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel, twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold, 85 Each charger of silver weighing one hundred thirty shekels, each bowl seventy, all the silver containers weighed two thousand four hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, 86 The golden spoons were twelve, full of incense, weighing ten shekels each, after the shekel of the sanctuary, all the gold of the spoons was one hundred twenty shekels. 87 All the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve bullocks, the rams twelve, the lambs of the first year twelve, with their meat offering, and the kids of the goats for sin offering twelve. 88 And all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace offerings were twenty four bullocks, the rams sixty, the he goats sixty, the lambs of the first year sixty. This was the dedication of the altar, after it was anointed. 89 And when Moses had gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of someone speaking to him from off the mercy seat that was on the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims, and he spoke to him. ___Numbers chapter 8 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to Aaron, and say to him, When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light opposite the candlestick." 3 And Aaron did so, he lighted the lamps of it opposite the candlestick, as the Lord commanded Moses. 4 And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold, to the shaft of it, to the flowers of it, was beaten work, according to the pattern that the Lord had shown Moses, so he made the candlestick. 5 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 6 "Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them. 7 And thus shall you do to them to cleanse them, sprinkle water of purifying on them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean. 8 Then let them take a young bullock with its meat offering, fine flour mixed with oil, and you shall take another young bullock for a sin offering. 9 And you shall bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation, and you shall gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together, 10 And you shall bring the Levites before the Lord, and the children of Israel shall put their hands on the Levites, 11 And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the Lord for an offering of the children of Israel, so they can execute the service of the Lord. 12 And the Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bullocks, and you shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, to the Lord, to make an atonement for the Levites. 13 And you shall set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them for an offering to the Lord. 14 Thus shall you separate the Levites from among the children of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine. 15 And after that, the Levites shall go in to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and you shall cleanse them, and offer them for an offering. 16 For they are completely given to me from among the children of Israel, instead of such as open every womb, instead of the firstborn of all the children of Israel, I've taken them to me. 17 For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast, on the day that I struck every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself. 18 And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel. 19 And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel, so that there is no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come near the sanctuary." 20 And Moses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel, did to the Levites according to all that the Lord commanded Moses concerning the Levites, the children of Israel did so to them. 21 And the Levites were purified, and they washed their clothes, and Aaron offered them as an offering before the Lord, and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them. 22 And after that, the Levites went in to do their service in the tabernacle of the congregation before Aaron, and before his sons, as the Lord had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, they did so to them. 23 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24 "This is what pertains to the Levites, from twenty five years old and older they shall go in to wait on the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, 25 And from the age of fifty years, they shall stop waiting on the service of it, and shall serve no more, 26 But shall minister with their brothers in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shall you do to the Levites concerning their charge." ___Numbers chapter 9 1 And 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, 2 "Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at its appointed season. 3 In the fourteenth day of this month, at evening, you shall keep it in its appointed season, according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies of it, you shall keep it." 4 And Moses spoke to the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover. 5 And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at evening in the wilderness of Sinai, according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel. 6 And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, so that they couldn't keep the passover on that day, and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day, 7 And those men said to him, "We are defiled by the dead body of a man, why are we kept back, so that we can't offer an offering of the Lord in its appointed season among the children of Israel?" 8 And Moses said to them, "Stand still, and I will hear what the Lord will command concerning you." 9 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 10 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or is in a journey far off, yet he shall keep the passover to the Lord. 11 The fourteenth day of the second month at evening they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 12 They shall leave none of it until the morning, nor break any bone of it, according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it. 13 But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and chooses not to keep the passover, the same soul shall be cut off from among his people, because he didn't bring the offering of the Lord in its appointed season, that man shall bear his sin. 14 And if a stranger shall visit among you, and will keep the passover to the Lord, according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner of it, so shall he do, you shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land." 15 And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony, and at evening there was on the tabernacle like the appearance of fire, until the morning. 16 So it was always, the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. 17 And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed, and in the place where the cloud was, the children of Israel pitched their tents there. 18 At the commandment of the Lord the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the Lord they pitched, as long as the cloud stayed on the tabernacle they rested in their tents. 19 And when the cloud stayed on the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the Lord, and didn't journey. 20 And so it was, when the cloud was a few days on the tabernacle, according to the commandment of the Lord they stayed in their tents, and according to the commandment of the Lord they journeyed. 21 And so it was, when the cloud stayed from evening 'til the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed, whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed. 22 Or whether it was two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud stayed on the tabernacle, remaining on it, the children of Israel stayed in their tents, and didn't journey, but when it was taken up, they journeyed. 23 At the commandment of the Lord they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the Lord they journeyed, they kept the charge of the Lord, at the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses. ___Numbers chapter 10 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Make for yourselves two trumpets of silver, of a whole piece you shall make them, so that you can use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. 3 And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to you at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 4 And if they blow with only one trumpet, then the princes, who are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. 5 When you blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward. 6 When you blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey, they shall blow an alarm for their journeys. 7 But when the congregation is to be gathered together, you shall blow, but you shall not sound an alarm. 8 And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets, and they shall be to you for an ordinance forever throughout your generations. 9 And if you go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresses you, then you shall blow an alarm with the trumpets, and you shall be remembered before the Lord your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies. 10 Also on the day of your gladness, and on your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, you shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings, so that they will be to you for a memorial before your God, I am the Lord your God." 11 On the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle of the testimony. 12 And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai, and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran. 13 And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses. 14 In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies, and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 15 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethaneel the son of Zuar. 16 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon. 17 And the tabernacle was taken down, and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, carrying the tabernacle. 18 And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies, and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur. 19 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 20 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel. 21 And the Kohathites set forward, carrying the sanctuary, and the others set up the tabernacle for when they came. 22 And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies, and over his host was Elishama the son of Ammihud. 23 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 24 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni. 25 And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, which was the rearmost of all the camps throughout their hosts, and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 26 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran. 27 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan. 28 Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward. 29 And Moses said to Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, "We are journeying to the place of which the Lord said, I will give it to you, come with us, and we will do you good, for the Lord has spoken good concerning Israel." 30 And he said to him, "I won't go, but I will depart to my own land, and to my relatives." 31 And he said, "Don't leave us, please, since you know how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and you can be eyes for us. 32 And it shall be, if you go with us, yes, it shall be, that what goodness the Lord shall do to us, we will do the same to you." 33 And they departed from the mountain of the Lord three days' journey, and the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them. 34 And the cloud of the Lord was on them by day, when they went out of the camp. 35 When the ark set forward, Moses said, "Rise up, Lord, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you." 36 And when it rested, he said, "Return, O Lord, to the many thousands of Israel." ___Numbers chapter 11 1 And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord, and the Lord heard it, and his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them, and consumed those who were in the outermost parts of the camp. 2 And the people cried to Moses, and when Moses prayed to the Lord, the fire was quenched. 3 And he called the name of the place Taberah, because the fire of the Lord burned among them. 4 And the mixed multitude that was among them started lusting, and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, "Who shall give us flesh to eat? 5 We remember the fish, that we ate in Egypt freely, the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic, 6 But now our soul has dried away, there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes." 7 And the manna was like coriander seed, and the color of it like the color of bdellium. 8 And the people went around, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it, and the taste of it was like the taste of fresh oil. 9 And when the dew fell on the camp at night, the manna fell on it. 10 Then Moses heard the people crying throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent, and the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly, also Moses was displeased. 11 And Moses said to the Lord, "Why have you afflicted your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me? 12 Have I conceived all this people? Have I begotten them, that you should say to me, Carry them in your bosom, like a nursing father bears the sucking child, to the land that you promised to their fathers? 13 From where would I have flesh to give to all this people? For they weep to me, saying, Give us flesh, so that we can eat. 14 I am not able to carry all these people alone, because they are too heavy for me. 15 And if you deal thus with me, kill me, please, out of hand, if I have found favor in your sight, and let me not see my wretchedness." 16 And the Lord said to Moses, "Gather to me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people, and officers over them, and bring them to the tabernacle of the congregation, so that they can stand there with you. 17 And I will come down and talk with you there, and I will take some of the spirit that is on you, and will put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you don't carry it yourself alone. 18 And say to the people, Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat flesh, for you've wept in the ears of the Lord, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt, therefore the Lord will give you flesh, and you shall eat. 19 You shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, 20 But a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils, and it is loathsome to you, because you have despised the Lord who is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why did we come out of Egypt?" 21 And Moses said, "The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen, and you have said, I will give them flesh, so they can eat a whole month. 22 Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them?" 23 And the Lord said to Moses, Has the Lord's hand grown short? You shall see now whether my word shall happen to you or not." 24 And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the Lord, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them around the tabernacle. 25 And the Lord came down in a cloud, and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was on him, and gave it to the seventy elders, and it occurred that, when the spirit rested on them, they prophesied, and did not stop. 26 But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad, and the spirit rested on them, and they were of those who were written, but didn't go out to the tabernacle, and they prophesied in the camp. 27 And a young man ran, and told Moses, and said, "Eldad and Medad prophesy in the camp." 28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, said, "My lord Moses, forbid them." 29 And Moses said to him, "Are you envious for my sake? Would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!" 30 And Moses went into the camp, he and the elders of Israel. 31 And a wind went out from the Lord, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, like a day's journey on this side, and like a day's journey on the other side, around the camp, and like three feet high on the face of the earth. 32 And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails, he that gathered least gathered ten homers, and they spread them all around for themselves around the camp. 33 And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, before it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord struck the people with a very great plague. 34 And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah, because there they buried the people that lusted. 35 And the people journeyed from Kibrothhattaavah to Hazeroth, and stayed at Hazeroth. ___Numbers chapter 12 1 And Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married, for he had married an Ethiopian woman. 2 And they said, "Has the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? Hasn't he also spoken by us?" And the Lord heard it. 3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all the men who were on the face of the earth.) 4 And the Lord spoke suddenly to Moses, and to Aaron, and to Miriam, "Come out you three to the tabernacle of the congregation." And the three came out. 5 And the Lord came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both stepped forth. 6 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 will speak to him in a dream. 7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I will speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches, and the similitude of the Lord he shall see, why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?" 9 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed. 10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle, and see, Miriam became leprous, white as snow, and Aaron looked at Miriam, and see, she was leprous. 11 And Aaron said to Moses, "Alas, my lord, I beg of you, don't lay the sin on us, in which we have done foolishly, and in which we have sinned. 12 Let her not be like a dead person, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother's womb." 13 And Moses cried to the Lord, saying, "Heal her now, O God, I beg of you." 14 And the Lord said to Moses, "If her father had only spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? Let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again." 15 And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days, and the people didn't journey 'til Miriam was brought in again. 16 And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran. ___Numbers chapter 13 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Send men, so they can search the land of Canaan, that I give to the children of Israel, of every tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a ruler among them." 3 And Moses by the commandment of the Lord sent them from the wilderness of Paran, all those men were heads of the children of Israel. 4 And these were their names, of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur. 5 Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori. 6 Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh. 7 Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph. 8 Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun. 9 Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu. 10 Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi. 11 Of the tribe of Joseph, namely, of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi. 12 Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli. 13 Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael. 14 Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi. 15 Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi. 16 These are the names of the men that Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea, the son of Nun, Jehoshua. 17 And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, Go up this way southward, and go up into the mountain, 18 And see the land, what it is, and the people that live in it, whether they are strong or weak, few or many, 19 And what the land is that they live in, whether it is good or bad, and what cities they are that they live in, whether in tents, or in strong holds, 20 And what the land is, whether it is fat or lean, whether or not there is wood in it. And be of good courage, and bring some of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the first ripe grapes. 21 So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob, as you come to Hamath. 22 And they ascended by the south, and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23 And they came to the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from there a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they carried it between two of them on a staff, and they brought some of the pomegranates, and of the figs. 24 The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from there. 25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. 26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, to the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh, and brought back word to them, and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 And they told him, "We came to the land where you sent us, and surely it flows with milk and honey, and this is the fruit of it. 28 However, the people are strong that live in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great, and also we saw the children of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites live in the land of the south, and the Hittites, and the Jebusites and the Amorites live in the mountains, and the Canaanites live by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan." 30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once, and possess it, for we are well able to overcome it." 31 But the men that went up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are." 32 And they brought up an evil report about the land that they had searched to the children of Israel, saying, "The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eats up the inhabitants of it, and all the people that we saw in it are big and tall men. 33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, who come from the giants, and we were in our own sight like grasshoppers, and so were we in their sight." ___Numbers chapter 14 1 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried, and the people cried that night. 2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, "Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would God we had died in this wilderness! 3 And why has the Lord brought us to this land, to fall by the sword, so that our wives and our children will be a prey? Wouldn't it have been better for us to return into Egypt?" 4 And they said to each other, "Let's choose a leader, and let's return to Egypt." 5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. 6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were of those who searched the land, tore their clothes, 7 And they spoke to all the company of the children of Israel, saying, "The land, that we passed through to search it, is a very good land. 8 If the Lord delights in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. 9 Only don't rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us, their defense has departed from them, and the Lord is with us, don't fear them." 10 But all the congregation said stone them with stones. And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel. 11 And the Lord said to Moses, "How long will these people provoke me? And how long will it be before they believe me, for all the signs that I have shown among them? 12 I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of you a greater nation and mightier than they are." 13 And Moses said to the Lord, "Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for you brought up this people in your might from among them,) 14 And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land, for they have heard that you, Lord, are among these people, that you Lord are seen face to face, and that your cloud stands over them, and that you go before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night. 15 Now if you shall kill all these people like one man, then the nations that have heard the fame of you will say, 16 Because the Lord was not able to bring these people into the land that he promised them, therefore he has killed them in the wilderness. 17 And now, I beg of you, let the power of my Lord be great, according as you have spoken, saying, 18 The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving sin and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the sins of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation. 19 Pardon, I beg of you, the sin of these people according to the greatness of your mercy, and as you have forgiven these people, from Egypt even until now." 20 And the Lord said, "I have pardoned according to your word, 21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. 22 Because all those men who have seen my glory, and my miracles, that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not listened to my voice, 23 Surely they shall not see the land that I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of them that provoked me see it, 24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and has followed me fully, him will I bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. 25 (Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valley.) Tomorrow, turn and get into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea." 26 And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 27 "How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, who murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, that they murmur against me. 28 Say to them, As truly as I live, says the Lord, as you have spoken in my ears, so I will do to you, 29 Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, who have murmured against me, 30 Doubtless you shall not come into the land, concerning which I swore to make you live in it, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. 31 But your little ones, that you said would be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land that you have despised. 32 But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness. 33 And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your dead bodies are wasted in the wilderness. 34 After the number of the days in which you searched the land, forty days, each day for a year, you shall bear your sins, forty years, and you shall know my breach of promise. 35 I the Lord have said, I will surely do it to all this evil congregation, that have gathered together against me, in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die." 36 And the men that Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander on the land, 37 Those men that brought up the evil report on the land, died by the plague before the Lord. 38 But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were of the men that went to search the land, continued to live. 39 And Moses told these sayings to all the children of Israel, and the people mourned greatly. 40 And they rose up early in the morning, and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, "See, we're here, and will go up to the place that the Lord has promised, for we have sinned." 41 And Moses said, "Why do you now transgress the commandment of the Lord? But it won't prosper. 42 Don't go up, for the Lord is not among you, so that you won't be smitten before your enemies. 43 For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and you'll fall by the sword, because you've turned away from the Lord, therefore the Lord will not be with you." 44 But they presumed to go up to the hill top, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and Moses, didn't depart out of the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites who lived in that hill, and struck them, and crushed them, as far as Hormah." ___Numbers chapter 15 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, When you've come into the land of your habitations, that I give to you, 3 And want to make an offering by fire to the Lord, a burnt offering, or a sacrifice in performing a vow, or in a freewill offering, or in your solemn feasts, to make a sweet odor to the Lord, of the herd, or of the flock, 4 Then he that offers his offering to the Lord shall bring a meat offering of a tenth deal of flour mixed with one quarter of a hin of oil. 5 And you shall prepare one fourth of a hin of wine for a drink offering, with the burnt offering or sacrifice, for one lamb. 6 Or for a ram, you shall prepare for a meat offering two tenth deals of flour mixed with one third of a hin of oil. 7 And for a drink offering, you shall offer one third of a hin of wine, for a sweet odor to the Lord. 8 And when you prepare a bullock for a burnt offering, or for a sacrifice in performing a vow, or peace offerings to the Lord, 9 Then he shall bring with a bullock, a meat offering of three tenth deals of flour mixed with half a hin of oil. 10 And you shall bring half a hin of wine for a drink offering, for an offering made by fire, of a sweet odor to the Lord. 11 Thus shall it be done for one bullock, or for one ram, or for a lamb, or a kid. 12 According to the number that you shall prepare, so shall you do to everyone according to their number. 13 All that are born of the country shall do these things after this manner, in offering an offering made by fire, of a sweet odor to the Lord. 14 And if a stranger visits with you, or whoever is among you in your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a sweet odor to the Lord, as you do, so shall he do. 15 One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that visits with you, an ordinance forever in your generations, as you are, so shall the stranger be before the Lord. 16 One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that visits with you." 17 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 18 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, When you come into the land I'm bringing you to, 19 Then it shall be that, when you eat of the bread of the land, you shall offer up a heave offering to the Lord. 20 You shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough for a heave offering, as you do the heave offering of the threshing floor, so shall you heave it. 21 Of the first of your dough, you shall give to the Lord a heave offering in your generations. 22 And if you've erred, and not observed all these commandments that the Lord has spoken to Moses, 23 All that the Lord has commanded you by the hand of Moses, from the day that the Lord commanded Moses, and from now on among your generations, 24 Then it shall be, if anything is committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet odor to the Lord, with its meat offering, and its drink offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering. 25 And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them, for it is ignorance, and they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire to the Lord, and their sin offering before the Lord, for their ignorance, 26 And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the children of Israel, and the stranger that visits among them, since all the people were in ignorance. 27 And if any soul sins through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering. 28 And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sins ignorantly, when he sins by ignorance before the Lord, to make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him. 29 You shall have one law for him that sins through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that visits among them. 30 But the soul that does anything presumptuously, whether he is born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproaches the Lord, and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 31 Because he has despised the word of the Lord, and has broken his commandment, that soul shall completely be cut off, his sin shall be on him." 32 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks on the sabbath day. 33 And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation. 34 And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. 35 And the Lord said to Moses, "The man shall surely be put to death, all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp." 36 And all the congregation brought him outside the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died, as the Lord commanded Moses. 37 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 38 "Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them to make themselves fringes on the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put on the fringe of the borders a ribbon of blue, 39 And it shall be to you for a fringe, so that you can look at it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them, and so that you don't seek after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you use to go whoring, 40 So that you will remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God. 41 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." ___Numbers chapter 16 1 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men, 2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown, 3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said to them, "You take too much on you, since all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them, why then do you lift up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?" 4 And when Moses heard it, he fell on his face, 5 And he spoke to Korah and to all his company, saying, "Tomorrow the Lord will show who are his, and who is holy, and will cause him to come near to him, even him whom he has chosen he will cause to come near to him. 6 This do, Take censers, Korah, and all his company, 7 And put fire in them, and put incense in them before the Lord tomorrow, and it shall be that the man whom the Lord chooses, he shall be holy, you take too much on you, you sons of Levi." 8 And Moses said to Korah, "Hear, I pray you, you sons of Levi, 9 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? 10 And he has brought you near to him, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you, and do you seek the priesthood also? 11 For which cause both you and all your company have gathered together against the Lord, and what is Aaron, that you murmur against him?" 12 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, who said, "We will not come up, 13 Is it a small thing that you've brought us up out of a land that flows with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, unless you totally make yourself a prince over us? 14 Also you haven't brought us into a land that flows with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards, do you want to put out the eyes of these men? We won't come up." 15 And Moses was very angry, and said to the Lord, "Don't respect their offering, I haven't taken one donkey from them, nor have I hurt one of them." 16 And Moses said to Korah, "Be before the Lord, you and all your group, you, and them, and Aaron, tomorrow, 17 And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring before the Lord every man his censer, two hundred fifty censers, you also, and Aaron, each of you his censer." 18 And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense on it, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron. 19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the congregation. 20 And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 21 "Separate yourselves from among this congregation, so that I can consume them in a moment." 22 And they fell on their faces, and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?" 23 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24 "Speak to the congregation, saying, Get up from around the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram." 25 And Moses rose up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 And he spoke to the congregation, saying, "Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, so that you're not consumed in all their sins." 27 So they got up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side, and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children. 28 And Moses said, "Hereby you'll know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own mind. 29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men, then the Lord has not sent me. 30 But if the Lord does a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth, and swallows them up, with all that pertains to them, and they go down quickly into the pit, then you shall understand that these men have provoked the Lord." 31 As he had made an end of speaking all these words, the ground split apart that was under them, 32 And the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that pertained to Korah, and all their goods. 33 They, and all that pertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed on them, and they perished from among the congregation. 34 And all Israel that were around them fled at the cry of them, for they said, "So the earth doesn't swallow us up also." 35 And a fire came out from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred fifty men that offered incense. 36 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 37 "Speak to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, to take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter the fire yonder, for they are hallowed. 38 The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar, for they offered them before the Lord, therefore they are hallowed, and they shall be a sign to the children of Israel." 39 And Eleazar the priest took the brass censers, with which those who were burnt had offered, and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar, 40 To be a memorial to the children of Israel, so that no stranger, that is not of the descendants of Aaron, comes near to offer incense before the Lord, so that he doesn't become like Korah, and like his company, as the Lord said to him by the hand of Moses. 41 But on the next day, all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, "You've killed the people of the Lord." 42 When the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation, and see, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord appeared. 43 And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation. 44 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 45 "Get you up from among this congregation, so that I can consume them as in a moment." And they fell on their faces. 46 And Moses said to Aaron, "Take a censer, and put fire in it from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly to the congregation, and make an atonement for them, for anger has gone out from the Lord, the plague has begun." 47 And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the middle of the congregation, and, see, the plague had begun among the people, and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. 48 And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague stopped. 49 Now those who died in the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, beside those who died in connection with the matter of Korah. 50 And Aaron returned to Moses to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the plague had stopped. ___Numbers chapter 17 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and take from every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers, twelve rods, and write every man's name on his rod. 3 And you shall write Aaron's name on the rod of Levi, for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers. 4 And you shall lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you. 5 And the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom, and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, by which they murmur against you." 6 And Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and everyone of their princes each gave him a rod, one for each prince, according to their fathers' houses, twelve rods, and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. 7 And Moses laid up the rods before the Lord in the tabernacle of witness. 8 And on the next day Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and see, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds. 9 And Moses brought out all the rods from before the Lord to all the children of Israel, and they looked, and every man took his rod. 10 And the Lord said to Moses, "Bring Aaron's rod back before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels, and you shall quite take away their murmurings from me, so they don't die." 11 And Moses did so, as the Lord commanded him, so did he. 12 And the children of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, "See, we die, we perish, we all perish. 13 Whoever comes any where near to the tabernacle of the Lord shall die, shall we be consumed with dying?" ___Numbers chapter 18 1 And the Lord said to Aaron, "You and your sons, and your father's house with you, shall bear the sin of the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear the sin of your priesthood. 2 And your brothers also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, bring with you, so that they will be joined to you, and minister to you, but you and your sons with you shall minister before the tabernacle of witness. 3 And they shall keep your charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle, only they shall not come near the containers of the sanctuary and the altar, so that neither they die, nor you also die. 4 And they shall be joined to you, and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, for all the service of the tabernacle, and a stranger shall not come near you. 5 And you shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar, so that there is no wrath anymore on the children of Israel. 6 And I, see, I have taken your brothers the Levites from among the children of Israel, to you they are given as a gift for the Lord, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. 7 Therefore you and your sons with you shall keep your priest's office for everything of the altar, and inside the veil, and you shall serve, I have given your priest's office to you as a service of gift, and the stranger that comes near shall be put to death." 8 And the Lord spoke to Aaron, "See, I also have given you the charge of my heave offerings of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel, I have given them to you because of the anointing, and to your sons, by an ordinance forever. 9 This shall be yours of the most holy things, reserved from the fire, every oblation of theirs, every meat offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of theirs, which they shall render to me, shall be most holy for you and for your sons. 10 In the most holy place you shall eat it, every male shall eat it, it shall be holy to you. 11 And this is yours, the heave offering of their gift, with all the wave offerings of the children of Israel, I have given them to you, and to your sons and to your daughters with you, by a statute forever, everyone that is clean in your house shall eat of it. 12 All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the first fruits of them that they shall offer to the Lord, I have given them to you. 13 And whatever is first ripe in the land, which they shall bring to the Lord, shall be yours, everyone that is clean in your house shall eat of it. 14 Everything devoted in Israel shall be yours. 15 Everything that opens the womb in all flesh, which they bring to the Lord, whether it is of men or beasts, shall be yours, but the firstborn of man you shall surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts you shall redeem. 16 And you shall redeem those that are to be redeemed from a month old, according to your estimation, for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs. 17 But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, you shall not redeem, they are holy, you shall sprinkle their blood on the altar, and shall burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a sweet odor to the Lord. 18 And the flesh of them shall be yours, like the wave breast and like the right shoulder are yours. 19 I've given to you all the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer to the Lord, and your sons and your daughters with you, by a statute forever, it is a covenant of salt forever before the Lord to you and to your children with you." 20 And the Lord spoke to Aaron, "You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any part among them, I am your part and your inheritance among the children of Israel. 21 And see, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service that they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. 22 Nor must the children of Israel from now on come near the tabernacle of the congregation, so they don't bear sin, and die. 23 But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall carry their sin, it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance. 24 But the tithes of the children of Israel, that they offer as a heave offering to the Lord, I have given to the Levites to inherit, therefore I have said to them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance." 25 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 26 "Thus speak to the Levites, and say to them, When you take from the children of Israel the tithes that I've given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall offer up a heave offering of it for the Lord, one tenth of the tithe. 27 And this your heave offering shall be reckoned to you, as though it were the corn of the threshing floor, and as the fullness of the winepress. 28 Thus you also shall offer a heave offering to the Lord of all your tithes, that you receive from the children of Israel, and you shall give of it the Lord's heave offering to Aaron the priest. 29 Out of all your gifts you shall offer every heave offering of the Lord, of all the best of it, even the hallowed part of it out of it. 30 Therefore you shall say to them, When you've heaved the best of it from it, then it shall be counted to the Levites like the increase of the threshing floor, and like the increase of the winepress. 31 And you shall eat it in every place, you and your households, for it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation. 32 And you shall carry no sin because of it, when you've heaved from it the best of it, nor shall you pollute the holy things of the children of Israel, so you don't die." ___Numbers chapter 19 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 "This is the ordinance of the law which the Lord has commanded, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, to bring you a red heifer without spot, in which is no blemish, and on which no yoke has come, 3 And you shall give her to Eleazar the priest, so that he can bring her outside the camp, and someone shall kill her before his face, 4 And Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle some of her blood directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times, 5 And someone shall burn the heifer in his sight, her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn, 6 And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and red cloth, and throw it into the middle of the burning of the heifer. 7 Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until evening. 8 And he that burns her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until evening. 9 And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up outside the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation, it is a purification for sin. 10 And he that gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until evening, and it shall be to the children of Israel, and to the stranger that visits among them, for a statute forever. 11 He that touches the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days. 12 He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean, but if he doesn't purify himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean. 13 Whoever touches the dead body of any man that is dead, and doesn't purify himself, defiles the tabernacle of the Lord, and that soul shall be cut off from Israel, because the water of separation was not sprinkled on him, he shall be unclean, his uncleanness is still on him. 14 This is the law, when a man dies in a tent, all that come into the tent, and all that is in the tent, shall be unclean seven days. 15 And every open container, that has no covering tied on it, is unclean. 16 And whoever touches someone killed by a sword in the open fields, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days. 17 And for an unclean person they shall take some of the ashes of the burnt heifer of purification for sin, and running water shall be put to it in a container, 18 And a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it on the tent, and on all the containers, and on the persons that were there, and on him that touched a bone, or someone killed, or someone dead, or a grave, 19 And the clean person shall sprinkle on the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day, and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at evening. 20 But the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the Lord, the water of separation hasn't been sprinkled on him, he is unclean. 21 And it shall be a perpetual statute to them, that he that sprinkles the water of separation shall wash his clothes, and he that touches the water of separation shall be unclean until evening. 22 And whatever the unclean person touches shall be unclean, and the soul that touches it shall be unclean until evening." ___Numbers chapter 20 1 Then the children of Israel came, the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin, in the first month, and the people lived in Kadesh, and Miriam died there, and was buried there. 2 And there was no water for the congregation, and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. 3 And the people found fault with Moses, and said, "Would to God that we had died when our brothers died before the Lord! 4 And why have you brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, so that we and our cattle would die here? 5 And why have you made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in to this evil place? It is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates, nor is there any water to drink." 6 And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell on their faces, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. 7 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 8 "Take the rod, and gather the assembly together, you, and Aaron your brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes, and it shall give forth its water, and you shall bring forth water to them out of the rock, so you shall give the congregation and their animals drink." 9 And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as he commanded him. 10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels, must we fetch you water out of this rock?" 11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he struck the rock twice, and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their animals also. 12 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you didn't believe me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this congregation into the land that I have given them." 13 This is the water of Meribah, because the children of Israel strove with the Lord, and he was sanctified in them. 14 And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, "Thus says your brother Israel, You know all the travail that has fallen on us, 15 How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have lived in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers, 16 And when we cried to the Lord, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and has brought us out of Egypt, and see, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of your border, 17 Please let us pass through you country, we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, nor will we drink of the water of the wells, we will go by the king's high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed your borders." 18 And Edom said to him, "You shall not pass by me, or I'll come out against you with the sword." 19 And the children of Israel said to him, "We will go by the highway, and if I and my cattle drink of your water, then I will pay for it, I will only, without doing anything else, go through on foot." 20 And he said, "You shall not go through." And Edom came out against him with many people, and with a strong hand. 21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border, so Israel turned away from him. 22 And the children of Israel, the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came to Mount Hor. 23 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in Mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying, 24 "Aaron shall be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter into the land that I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah. 25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor, 26 And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son, and Aaron shall be gathered to his people, and shall die there." 27 And Moses did as the Lord commanded, and they went up into Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. 28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son, and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain, and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29 And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, all the house of Israel. ___Numbers chapter 21 1 And when king Arad the Canaanite, who lived in the south, heard that Israel came by the way of the spies, then he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners. 2 And Israel vowed a vow to the Lord, and said, "If you'll indeed deliver these people into my hand, then I will completely destroy their cities." 3 And the Lord listened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites, and they completely destroyed them and their cities, and he called the name of the place Hormah. 4 And they journeyed from Mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to go around the land of Edom, and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 5 And the people spoke against God, and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, nor is there any water, and our soul loathes this light bread." 6 And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, and many people of Israel died. 7 Therefore 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'll take away the serpents from us." And Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole, and it shall happen, that everyone that is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live." 9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it on a pole, and if a serpent had bitten any man, when he saw the serpent of brass, he lived. 10 And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in Oboth. 11 And they journeyed from Oboth, and pitched at Ijeabarim, in the wilderness which is before Moab, toward the sun rising. 12 From there they moved, and pitched in the valley of Zared. 13 From there they moved, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which is in the wilderness that comes out of the coasts of the Amorites, for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. 14 So it is said in the book of the wars of the Lord, What he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon, 15 And at the stream of the brooks that goes down to the dwelling of Ar, and lies on the border of Moab. 16 And from there they went to Beer, that is the well about which the Lord spoke to Moses, "Gather the people together, and I will give them water." 17 Then Israel sang this song, "Spring up, O well, sing to it, 18 The princes dug the well, the nobles of the people dug it, by the direction of the lawgiver, with their staves." And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah, 19 And from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20 And from Bamoth in the valley, that is in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, that looks toward Jeshimon. 21 And Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, 22 "Let me pass through your land, we will not turn into the fields, or into the vineyards, we will not drink of the waters of the well, but we will go along by the king's highway, until we've gone past your borders." 23 And Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his border, but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness, and he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel. 24 And Israel struck him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from Arnon to Jabbok, up to the children of Ammon, for the border of the children of Ammon was strong. 25 And Israel took all these cities, and Israel lived in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the villages of it. 26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, up to Arnon. 27 So those who speak in proverbs say, "Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared, 28 For a fire has gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon, it has consumed Ar of Moab, and the lords of the high places of Arnon. 29 Woe to you, Moab! You are undone, O people of Chemosh, he has given his sons that escaped, and his daughters, into captivity to Sihon king of the Amorites. 30 We have shot at them, Heshbon has perished up to Dibon, and we have laid them waste up to Nophah, that reaches to Medeba." 31 Thus Israel lived in the land of the Amorites. 32 And Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages of it, and drove out the Amorites that were there. 33 And 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 the battle at Edrei. 34 And the Lord said to Moses, "Don't be afraid of him, for I have delivered him into your hand, and all his people, and his land, and you'll do to him like you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon." 35 So they struck him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was no one left alive to him, and they possessed his land. ___Numbers chapter 22 1 And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side of Jordan by Jericho. 2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And Moab was very afraid of the people, because they were many, and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. 4 And Moab said to the elders of Midian, "Now shall this company lick up all that are around us, like the ox licks up the grass of the field." And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. 5 He sent messengers therefore to Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, "See, there is a people that has come out from Egypt, see, they cover the face of the earth, and they live opposite me, 6 Come now therefore, please, curse these people for me, for they are too mighty for me, perhaps I'll prevail, so that we can strike them, and so that I can drive them out of the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed." 7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand, and they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak. 8 And he said to them, "Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the Lord shall speak to me," and the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9 And God came to Balaam, and said, "What men are these with you?" 10 And Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, 11 See, there is a people that's come out of Egypt, that covers the face of the earth, come now, curse them for me, perhaps I'll be able to overcome them, and drive them out." 12 And God said to Balaam, "You shall not go with them, you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed." 13 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, "Go back to your land, for the Lord refuses to give me permission to go with you." 14 And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, "Balaam refuses to come with us." 15 And Balak sent again princes, more, and more honorable than the others. 16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me, 17 For I will promote you to very great honor, and I will do whatever you say to me, come therefore, please, curse for me these people." 18 And Balaam answered the servants of Balak, "If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can't go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more. 19 Now therefore, plsase, wait also here this night, so that I will know what more the Lord will say to me." 20 And God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, "If the men come to call you, rise up, and go with them, but yet the word which I shall say to you, you shall do that." 21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. 22 And God's anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his ass, and his two servants were with him. 23 And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand, and the ass turned aside out off the road, and went into the field, and Balaam struck the ass, to turn her onto the road. 24 But the angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. 25 And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she thrust herself against the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall, and he struck her again. 26 And the angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27 And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam, and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the ass with a staff. 28 And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you've struck me these three times?" 29 And Balaam said to the ass, "Because you've mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now would I kill you." 30 And the ass said to Balaam, "Am I not your ass, on which you've ridden ever since I was yours until this day? Did I ever do like that to you?" And he said, "No." 31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand, and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. 32 And the angel of the Lord said to him, "Why have you struck your ass these three times? See, I went out to withstand you, because your way is perverse before me, 33 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times, unless she had turned from me, surely now also I would have killed you, and saved her alive." 34 And Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, "I have sinned, for I didn't know that you stood in the way against me, now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go back again." 35 And the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but only the word that I shall speak to you, that's what you'll say." So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. 36 And when Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him to a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, that is in the utmost coast. 37 And Balak said to Balaam, "Didn't I earnestly send to you to call you? Why didn't you come to me? Am I not able indeed to promote you to honor?" 38 And Balaam said to Balak, "See, I've come to you, Do I now have any power at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that's what I'll say." 39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kirjathhuzoth. 40 And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him. 41 And on the next day, Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, so that from there he could see the utmost part of the people. ___Numbers chapter 23 1 And Balaam said to Balak, "Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams." 2 And Balak did as Balaam had said, and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. 3 And Balaam said to Balak, "Stand by your burnt offering, and I will go, perhaps the Lord will come to meet me, and whatever he shows me I will tell you." And he went to a high place. 4 And God met Balaam, and he said to Him, "I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered on every altar a bullock and a ram." 5 And the Lord put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, "Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak." 6 And he returned to him, and see, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab. 7 And he took up his parable, and said, "Balak the king of Moab has brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel. 8 How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? Or how shall I defy, whom the Lord has not defied? 9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I look at him, see, the people shall live alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. 10 Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of one fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!" 11 And Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and see, you've completely blessed them." 12 And he answered, "Must I not be careful to speak what the Lord has put in my mouth?" 13 And Balak said to him, "Please come, with me to another place, from where you can see them, you shall see only the utmost part of them, and shall not see them all, and curse them for me from there." 14 And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar. 15 And he said to Balak, "Stand here by your burnt offering, while I meet the Lord over there." 16 And the Lord met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, "Go back to Balak, and say thus." 17 And when he came to him, see, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said to him, "What has the Lord spoken?" 18 And he took up his parable, and said, "Rise up, Balak, and hear, listen to me, you son of Zippor, 19 God is not a man, that he should lie, nor the son of man, that he should change his mind, has he said, and shall he not do it? Or has he spoken, and shall he not make it good? 20 See, I have received commandment to bless, and he has blessed, and I can't reverse it. 21 He has not seen sin in Jacob, nor has he seen perverseness in Israel, the Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them. 22 God brought them out of Egypt, he has strength like a wild bull. 23 Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, nor is there any divination against Israel, according to this time it shall be said about Jacob and about Israel, What has God done! 24 See, the people shall rise up like a great lion, and lift up themselves like a young lion, he shall not lie down until he eats of the prey, and drinks the blood of the slain." 25 And Balak said to Balaam, "Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all." 26 But Balaam answered Balak, "Didn't I tell you, All that the Lord says, I must do?" 27 And Balak said to Balaam, "Please come, I will bring you to another place, perhaps it will please God that you can curse them for me from there." 28 And Balak brought Balaam to the top of Peor, that looks toward Jeshimon. 29 And Balaam said to Balak, "Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams." 30 And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar. ___Numbers chapter 24 1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he didn't go, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel living in his tents according to their tribes, and the spirit of God came on him. 3 And he took up his parable, and said, "Balaam the son of Beor has said, and the man whose eyes are open has said, 4 He has said, who heard the words of God, who saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open, 5 How good are your tents, O Jacob, and your tabernacles, O Israel! 6 Like the valleys, they are spread forth, like gardens by the river's side, like the trees of lign aloes that the Lord has planted, and like cedar trees beside the waters. 7 He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his descendants shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. 8 God brought him out of Egypt, he has strength like a wild bull, he shall eat up the nations that are his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows. 9 He couched, he lay down like a lion, and like a great lion, who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesses you, and cursed is he that curses you." 10 And 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, and, see, you've completely blessed them these three times. 11 Therefore now flee to your place, I thought to promote you to great honor, but see, the Lord has kept you back from honor." 12 And Balaam said to Balak, "Didn't I say also to your messengers that you sent to me, saying, 13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can't go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of my own mind, but what the Lord says, that's what I'll say? 14 And now, see, I go to my people, come therefore, and I will tell you what these people shall do to your people in the latter days." 15 And he took up his parable, and said, "Balaam the son of Beor has said, and the man whose eyes are open has said, 16 He has said, who heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, who saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open, 17 I shall see him, but not now, I shall see him, but not near, a Star shall come out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall strike the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. 18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies, and Israel shall do valiantly. 19 He that shall have dominion shall come out of Jacob, and shall destroy him that remains of the city." 20 And when he looked at Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, "Amalek was the first of the nations, but his latter end shall be that he perishes forever." 21 And he looked at the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, "Strong is your dwelling place, and you put your nest in a rock. 22 But the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry you away captive." 23 And he took up his parable, and said, "Alas, who shall live when God does this! 24 And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish forever." 25 And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place, and Balak also went his way. ___Numbers chapter 25 1 And Israel lived in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. 2 And they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate, and bowed down to their gods. 3 And Israel joined himself to Baalpeor, and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. 4 And the Lord said to Moses, "Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the Lord opposite the sun, so that the fierce anger of the Lord will be turned away from Israel." 5 And Moses said to the judges of Israel, "All of you kill their men that were joined to Baalpeor." 6 And see, one of the children of Israel came and brought to his brothers a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 7 And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand, 8 And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stopped from the children of Israel. 9 And those that died in the plague were twenty four thousand. 10 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 11 "Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my anger away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, so that I didn't consume the children of Israel in my jealousy. 12 Therefore say, See, I give to him my covenant of peace, 13 And he shall have it, and his descendants after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel." 14 Now the name of the Israelite that was killed, that was killed with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites. 15 And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur, he was head over a people, and of a chief house in Midian. 16 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 17 "Vex the Midianites, and strike them, 18 For they vex you with their wiles, with which they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, who was killed on the day of the plague for Peor's sake." ___Numbers chapter 26 1 And after the plague, the Lord spoke to Moses and to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying, 2 "Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and older, throughout their fathers' house, all that are able to go to war in Israel." 3 And Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, 4 "Take the sum of the people, from twenty years old and older, as the Lord commanded Moses and the children of Israel, who went out of the land of Egypt. 5 Reuben, the eldest son of Israel, the children of Reuben, Hanoch, of whom comes the family of the Hanochites, of Pallu, the family of the Palluites, 6 Of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites, of Carmi, the family of the Carmites. 7 These are the families of the Reubenites, and those who were numbered of them were forty three thousand seven hundred thirty. 8 And the sons of Pallu, Eliab. 9 And the sons of Eliab, Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This is that Dathan and Abiram, who were famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the Lord, 10 And the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, when the fire devoured two hundred fifty men, and they became a sign. 11 But the children of Korah didn't die. 12 The sons of Simeon after their families, of Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites, of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites, of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites, 13 Of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites, of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites. 14 These are the families of the Simeonites, twenty two thousand two hundred. 15 The children of Gad after their families, of Zephon, the family of the Zephonites, of Haggi, the family of the Haggites, of Shuni, the family of the Shunites, 16 Of Ozni, the family of the Oznites, of Eri, the family of the Erites, 17 Of Arod, the family of the Arodites, of Areli, the family of the Arelites. 18 These are the families of the children of Gad according to those that were numbered of them, forty thousand five hundred. 19 The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. 20 And the sons of Judah after their families were, of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites, of Pharez, the family of the Pharzites, of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites. 21 And the sons of Pharez were, of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites, of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites. 22 These are the families of Judah according to those that were numbered of them, seventy six thousand five hundred. 23 Of the sons of Issachar after their families, of Tola, the family of the Tolaites, of Pua, the family of the Punites, 24 Of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites, of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites. 25 These are the families of Issachar according to those that were numbered of them, sixty four thousand three hundred. 26 Of the sons of Zebulun after their families, of Sered, the family of the Sardites, of Elon, the family of the Elonites, of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites. 27 These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those that were numbered of them, sixty thousand five hundred. 28 The sons of Joseph after their families were Manasseh and Ephraim. 29 Of the sons of Manasseh, of Machir, the family of the Machirites, and Machir begat Gilead, of Gilead come the family of the Gileadites. 30 These are the sons of Gilead, of Jeezer, the family of the Jeezerites, of Helek, the family of the Helekites, 31 And of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites, and of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites, 32 And of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites, and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites. 33 And Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters, and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 34 These are the families of Manasseh, and those that were numbered of them, fifty two thousand seven hundred. 35 These are the sons of Ephraim after their families, of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthalhites, of Becher, the family of the Bachrites, of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites. 36 And these are the sons of Shuthelah, of Eran, the family of the Eranites. 37 These are the families of the sons of Ephraim according to those that were numbered of them, thirty two thousand five hundred. These are the sons of Joseph after their families. 38 The sons of Benjamin after their families, of Bela, the family of the Belaites, of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites, of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites, 39 Of Shupham, the family of the Shuphamites, of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites. 40 And the sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman, of Ard, the family of the Ardites, and of Naaman, the family of the Naamites. 41 These are the sons of Benjamin after their families, and those who were numbered of them were forty five thousand six hundred. 42 These are the sons of Dan after their families, of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan after their families. 43 All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those that were numbered of them, were sixty four thousand four hundred. 44 Of the children of Asher after their families, of Jimna, the family of the Jimnites, of Jesui, the family of the Jesuites, of Beriah, the family of the Beriites. 45 Of the sons of Beriah, of Heber, the family of the Heberites, of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites. 46 And the name of the daughter of Asher was Sarah. 47 These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those that were numbered of them, who were fifty three thousand four hundred. 48 Of the sons of Naphtali after their families, of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites, of Guni, the family of the Gunites, 49 Of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites, of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites. 50 These are the families of Naphtali according to their families, and those who were numbered of them were forty five thousand four hundred. 51 These were the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred one thousand seven hundred thirty." 52 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 53 "To these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names. 54 To many you shall give the larger inheritance, and to few you shall give the smaller inheritance, to everyone shall his inheritance be given according to those who were numbered of him. 55 But the land shall be divided by drawing straws, according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit. 56 According to the drawing of straws shall the possession of it be divided between many and few." 57 And these are those who were numbered of the Levites after their families, of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites, of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites, of Merari, the family of the Merarites. 58 These are the families of the Levites, the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korathites. And Kohath begat Amram. 59 And the name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whom her mother bore to Levi in Egypt, and she bore Aaron and Moses to Amram, and Miriam their sister. 60 And to Aaron was born Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 61 And Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire before the Lord. 62 And those who were numbered of them were twenty three thousand, all males from a month old and upward, for they were not numbered among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given to them among the children of Israel. 63 These are those who were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. 64 But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. 65 For the Lord had said about them, "They shall surely die in the wilderness." And there was not left a man of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. ___Numbers chapter 27 1 Then came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and these are the names of his daughters, Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah. 2 And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, 3 "Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of those who gathered themselves together against the Lord in the company of Korah, but died in his own sin, and had no sons. 4 Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he has no son? Give us therefore a possession among the brothers of our father." 5 And Moses brought their cause before the Lord. 6 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 7 "The daughters of Zelophehad speak right, you shall surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brothers, and you shall cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them. 8 And you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, If a man dies, and has no son, then you shall cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter. 9 And if he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers. 10 And if he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father's brothers. 11 And if his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it, and it shall be to the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the Lord commanded Moses." 12 And the Lord said to Moses, "Get up into this Mount Abarim, and see the land that I've given to the children of Israel. 13 And when you've seen it, you also shall be gathered to people, like Aaron your brother was gathered. 14 For you rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes, that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin." 15 And Moses spoke to the Lord, saying, 16 "Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, 17 Who will go out before them, and who will go in before them, and who will lead them out, and who will bring them in, so that the congregation of the Lord are not like sheep that have no shepherd." 18 And the Lord said to Moses, "Take Joshua, the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him, 19 And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation, and give him a charge in their sight. 20 And you shall put some of your honor on him, so that all the congregation of the children of Israel will be obedient. 21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask advice for him after the judgment of Urim before the Lord, at his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, all the congregation." 22 And Moses did as the Lord commanded him, and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation, 23 And he laid his hands on him, and gave him a charge, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses. ___Numbers chapter 28 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Command the children of Israel, and say to them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet odor to me, you shall observe to offer to me in their due season. 3 And you shall say to them, This is the offering made by fire that you shall offer to the Lord, two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering. 4 The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at evening, 5 And one tenth of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mixed with one fourth of a hin of beaten oil. 6 It is a continual burnt offering, that was ordained in Mount Sinai for a sweet odor, a sacrifice made by fire to the Lord. 7 And the drink offering of it shall be one fourth of a hin for the one lamb, in the holy place you shall cause the strong wine to be poured to the Lord for a drink offering. 8 And the other lamb you shall offer at evening, like the meat offering of the morning, and like the drink offering of it, you shall offer it, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet odor to the Lord. 9 And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mixed with oil, and the drink offering of it, 10 This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and its drink offering. 11 And in the beginnings of your months you shall offer a burnt offering to the Lord, two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot, 12 And three tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mixed with oil, for one bullock, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mixed with oil, for one ram, 13 And a several tenth deal of flour mixed with oil for a meat offering to one lamb, for a burnt offering of a sweet odor, a sacrifice made by fire to the Lord. 14 And their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine to a bullock, and one third of a hin to a ram, and one fourth of a hin to a lamb, this is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year. 15 And one kid of the goats shall be offered for a sin offering to the Lord, beside the continual burnt offering, and its drink offering. 16 And on the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the Lord. 17 And on the fifteenth day of this month is the feast, unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days. 18 On the first day shall be a holy convocation, you shall do no kind of servile work in it, 19 But you shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt offering to the Lord, two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year, they shall be to you without blemish, 20 And their meat offering shall be of flour mixed with oil, you shall offer three tenth deals for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram, 21 You shall offer a several tenth deal for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs, 22 And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you. 23 You shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering. 24 After this manner you shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet odor to the Lord, it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and its drink offering. 25 And on the seventh day you shall have a holy convocation, you shall do no servile work. 26 Also in the day of the first fruits, when you bring a new meat offering to the Lord, after your weeks are out, you shall have a holy convocation, you shall do no servile work, 27 But you shall offer the burnt offering for a sweet odor to the Lord, two young bullocks, one ram, seven lambs of the first year, 28 And their meat offering of flour mixed with oil, three tenth deals to one bullock, two tenth deals to one ram, 29 A several tenth deal to one lamb, throughout the seven lambs, 30 And one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you. 31 You shall offer them beside the continual burnt offering, and its meat offering, (they shall be to you without blemish) and their drink offerings." ___Numbers chapter 29 1 "And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation, you shall do no servile work, it is a day of blowing the trumpets to you. 2 And you shall offer a burnt offering for a sweet odor to the Lord, one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year without blemish, 3 And their meat offering shall be of flour mixed with oil, three tenth deals for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram, 4 And one tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs, 5 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you, 6 Beside the burnt offering of the month, and its meat offering, and the daily burnt offering, and its meat offering, and their drink offerings, according to their manner, for a sweet odor, a sacrifice made by fire to the Lord. 7 And you shall have on the tenth day of this seventh month a holy convocation, and you shall afflict your souls, you shall not do any work in it, 8 But you shall offer a burnt offering to the Lord for a sweet odor, one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year, they shall be to you without blemish, 9 And their meat offering shall be of flour mixed with oil, three tenth deals to a bullock, and two tenth deals to one ram, 10 A several tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs, 11 One kid of the goats for a sin offering, beside the sin offering of atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering of it, and their drink offerings. 12 And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation, you shall do no servile work, and you shall keep a feast to the Lord seven days, 13 And you shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet odor to the Lord, thirteen young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year, they shall be without blemish, 14 And their meat offering shall be of flour mixed with oil, three tenth deals to every bullock of the thirteen bullocks, two tenth deals to each ram of the two rams, 15 And a several tenth deal to each lamb of the fourteen lambs, 16 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, beside the continual burnt offering, its meat offering, and its drink offering. 17 And on the second day you shall offer twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without spot, 18 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner, 19 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, beside the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering of it, and their drink offerings. 20 And on the third day eleven bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish, 21 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner, 22 And one goat for a sin offering, beside the continual burnt offering, and its meat offering, and its drink offering. 23 And on the fourth day, ten bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish, 24 Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner, 25 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, beside the continual burnt offering, its meat offering, and its drink offering. 26 And on the fifth day, nine bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without spot, 27 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner, 28 And one goat for a sin offering, beside the continual burnt offering, and its meat offering, and its drink offering. 29 And on the sixth day, eight bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish, 30 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner, 31 And one goat for a sin offering, beside the continual burnt offering, its meat offering, and its drink offering. 32 And on the seventh day, seven bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish, 33 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner, 34 And one goat for a sin offering, beside the continual burnt offering, its meat offering, and its drink offering. 35 On the eighth day, you shall have a solemn assembly, you shall do no servile work in it, 36 But you shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet odor to the Lord, one bullock, one ram, seven lambs of the first year without blemish, 37 Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullock, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner, 38 And one goat for a sin offering, beside the continual burnt offering, and its meat offering, and its drink offering. 39 You shall do these things to the Lord in your set feasts, beside your vows, and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your meat offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings." 40 And Moses told the children of Israel according to all that the Lord commanded Moses. ___Numbers chapter 30 1 And Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, "This is the thing that the Lord has commanded. 2 If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. 3 If a woman also vows a vow to the Lord, and binds herself by a bond, being in her father's house in her youth, 4 And her father hears her vow, and her bond with which she has bound her soul, and her father shall be silent to her, then all her vows shall stand, and every bond with which she has bound her soul shall stand. 5 But if her father disallows her on the day that he hears, not any of her vows, or of her bonds with which she has bound her soul, shall stand, and the Lord shall forgive her, because her father disallowed her. 6 And if she at all had a husband, when she vowed, or uttered anything out of her lips, with which she bound her soul, 7 And her husband heard it, and was silent to her in the day that he heard it, then her vows shall stand, and her bonds with which she bound her soul shall stand. 8 But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it, then he shall make her vow that she vowed, and that which she spoke with her lips, with which she bound her soul, of no effect, and the Lord shall forgive her. 9 But every vow of a widow, and of her that is divorced, with which they have bound their souls, shall stand against her. 10 And if she vowed in her husband's house, or bound her soul by a bond with an oath, 11 And her husband heard it, and was silent to her, and didn't disallow her, then all her vows shall stand, and every bond with which she bound her soul shall stand. 12 But if her husband has completely made them void on the day he heard them, then whatever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not stand, her husband has made them void, and the Lord shall forgive her. 13 Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void. 14 But if her husband completely stays silent to her from day to day, then he establishes all her vows, or all her bonds, that are on her, he confirms them, because he was silent to her on the day that he heard them. 15 But if he shall in any way make them void after he has heard them, then he shall bear her sin." 16 These are the statutes, that the Lord commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, between the father and his daughter, being yet in her youth in her father's house. ___Numbers chapter 31 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites, afterward you shall be gathered to your people." 3 And Moses spoke to the people, saying, "Arm some of yourselves for the war, and let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the Lord against Midian. 4 Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, you shall send to the war." 5 So there were delivered out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand from every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war. 6 And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every tribe, them and Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the holy instruments, and the trumpets to blow in his hand. 7 And they warred against the Midianites, as the Lord commanded Moses, and they killed all the males. 8 And they killed the kings of Midian, beside the rest of those who were killed, namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian, they also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword. 9 And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian captives, and their little ones, and took the spoil of all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods. 10 And they burned all their cities in which they lived, and all their good castles, with fire. 11 And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, both of men and of beasts. 12 And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, to Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and to the congregation of the children of Israel, to the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by Jordan near Jericho. 13 And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went out to meet them outside the camp. 14 And Moses was angry with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, who came from the battle. 15 And Moses said to them, "Have you saved all the women alive? 16 See, these caused the children of Israel, through the advice of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord. 17 Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that has known man by lying with him. 18 But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves. 19 And stay outside the camp seven days, whoever has killed any person, and whoever has touched any dead, purify both yourselves and your captives on the third day, and on the seventh day. 20 And purify all your clothing, and all that is made of skins, and all work of goat's hair, and all things made of wood." 21 And Eleazar the priest said to the men of war that went to the battle, "This is the ordinance of the law that the Lord commanded Moses, 22 Only the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead, 23 Everything that will survive the fire, you shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean, but it shall be purified with the water of separation, and all that won't survive the fire you shall make go through the water. 24 And you shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and you shall be clean, and afterward you shall come into the camp." 25 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 26 "Take the sum of the prey that was taken, both of man and of beast, you, and Eleazar the priest, and the chief fathers of the congregation, 27 And divide the prey into two parts, between those who took the war on them, who went out to battle, and between all the congregation, 28 And levy a tribute to the Lord of the men of war who went out to battle, one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep, 29 Take it from their half, and give it to Eleazar the priest, for a heave offering of the Lord. 30 And of the children of Israel's half, you shall take one portion of fifty, of the persons, of the beeves, of the donkeys, and of the flocks, of all kinds of animals, and give them to the Levites, who keep the charge of the tabernacle of the Lord." 31 And Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the Lord commanded Moses. 32 And the booty, being the rest of the prey that the men of war had caught, was six hundred seventy thousand five thousand sheep, 33 And seventy two thousand beeves, 34 And sixty one thousand donkeys, 35 And thirty two thousand persons in all, of women that had not known man by lying with him. 36 And the half that was the portion of those who went out to war, was in number three hundred thirty seven thousand five hundred sheep, 37 And the Lord's tribute of the sheep was six hundred seventy five. 38 And the beeves were thirty six thousand, of which the Lord's tribute was seventy two. 39 And the asses were thirty thousand five hundred, of which the Lord's tribute was sixty one. 40 And the persons were sixteen thousand, of which the Lord's tribute was thirty two persons. 41 And Moses gave the tribute, which was the Lord's heave offering, to Eleazar the priest, as the Lord commanded Moses. 42 And of the children of Israel's half, which Moses divided from the men that fought in the war, 43 (Now the half that pertained to the congregation was three hundred thirty seven thousand five hundred sheep, 44 And thirty six thousand beeves, 45 And thirty thousand five hundred donkeys, 46 And sixteen thousand persons,) 47 Of the children of Israel's half, Moses took one portion of fifty, both of man and of beast, and gave them to the Levites, who kept the charge of the tabernacle of the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses. 48 And the officers who were over thousands of the host, the captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, came near Moses, 49 And they said to Moses, "Your servants have taken the sum of the men of war who are under our charge, and not one man of us is lacking. 50 We have therefore brought an offering for the Lord, what every man has gotten, of jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and tablets, to make an atonement for our souls before the Lord. 51 And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them, all wrought jewels. 52 And all the gold of the offering that they offered up to the Lord, of the captains of thousands, and of the captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred fifty shekels. 53 (For the men of war had taken spoil, every man for himself.) 54 And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tabernacle of the congregation, for a memorial for the children of Israel before the Lord. ___Numbers chapter 32 1 Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle, and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, see, the place was a place for cattle, 2 The children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spoke to Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and to the princes of the congregation, saying, 3 "Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon, 4 The country that the Lord struck before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and your servants have cattle," 5 So they said, "If we have found grace in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession, and don't take us over Jordan." 6 And Moses said to the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, "Shall your brothers go to war, and shall you sit here? 7 And why do you discourage the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land that the Lord has given them? 8 That's what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadeshbarnea to see the land. 9 For when they went up to the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, so that they wouldn't go into the land that the Lord had given them. 10 And the Lord's anger was kindled at the same time, and he swore, saying, 11 Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and older, shall see the land that I promised to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, because they have not completely followed me, 12 Except Caleb, the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have completely followed the Lord. 13 And the Lord's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the Lord, was consumed. 14 And see, you have risen up instead of your fathers, an increase of sinful men, to sharpen even more the fierce anger of the Lord toward Israel. 15 For if you turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness, and you'll destroy all these people." 16 And they came near him, and said, "We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones, 17 But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them to their place, and our little ones shall live in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land. 18 We will not return to our houses, until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance. 19 For we will not inherit with them on the other side of Jordan, or forward, because our inheritance has fallen to us on this side of Jordan, eastward." 20 And Moses said to them, "If you'll do this thing, if you'll go armed before the Lord to war, 21 And will go all of you armed over Jordan before the Lord, until he has driven out his enemies from before him, 22 And the land is subdued before the Lord, then afterward you shall return, and be guiltless before the Lord, and before Israel, and this land shall be your possession before the Lord. 23 But if you won't do so, see, you've sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out. 24 Build cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep, and do that which has proceeded out of your mouth." 25 And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spoke to Moses, saying, "Your servants will do as our lord commands. 26 Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our cattle, shall be there in the cities of Gilead, 27 But your servants will pass over, every man armed for war, before the Lord to battle, as our lord said. 28 So concerning them, Moses commanded Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the chief fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, 29 And Moses said to them, "If the children of Gad and the children of Reuben will pass with you over Jordan, every man armed to battle, before the Lord, and the land shall be subdued before you, then you shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession, 30 But if they will not pass over with you armed, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan." 31 And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben answered, saying, "As the Lord has said to your servants, that's what we'll do. 32 We will pass over armed before the Lord into the land of Canaan, so that the possession of our inheritance on this side of Jordan will be ours." 33 And Moses gave them, to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land, with the cities of it in the coasts, the cities of the country around there. 34 And the children of Gad built Dibon, and Ataroth, and Aroer, 35 And Atroth, Shophan, and Jaazer, and Jogbehah, 36 And Bethnimrah, and Bethharan, fenced cities, and folds for sheep. 37 And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kirjathaim, 38 And Nebo, and Baalmeon, (their names being changed,) and Shibmah, and gave other names to the cities that they built. 39 And the children of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead, and took it, and dispossessed the Amorites that were in it. 40 And Moses gave Gilead to Machir the son of Manasseh, and he lived in it. 41 And Jair, the son of Manasseh, went and took the small towns of it, and called them Havothjair. 42 And Nobah went and took Kenath, and the villages of it, and called it Nobah, after his own name. ___Numbers chapter 33 1 These are the journeys of the children of Israel, who went out of the land of Egypt with their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. 2 And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of the Lord, and these are their journeys according to their goings out. 3 And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month, on the next day after the passover, the children of Israel went out with a high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians. 4 For the Egyptians buried all their firstborn, that the Lord had struck among them, the Lord also executed judgments on their gods. 5 And the children of Israel moved from Rameses, and pitched in Succoth. 6 And they departed from Succoth, and pitched in Etham, which is on the edge of the wilderness. 7 And they moved from Etham, and turned again to Pihahiroth, that is before Baalzephon, and they pitched before Migdol. 8 And they departed from before Pihahiroth, and passed through the middle of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham, and pitched in Marah. 9 And they moved from Marah, and came to Elim, and in Elim there were twelve fountains of water, and seventy palm trees, and they pitched there. 10 And they moved from Elim, and encamped by the Red sea. 11 And they moved from the Red sea, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin. 12 And they took their journey out of the wilderness of Sin, and encamped in Dophkah. 13 And they departed from Dophkah, and encamped in Alush. 14 And they moved from Alush, and encamped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink. 15 And they departed from Rephidim, and pitched in the wilderness of Sinai. 16 And they moved from the desert of Sinai, and pitched at Kibrothhattaavah. 17 And they departed from Kibrothhattaavah, and encamped at Hazeroth. 18 And they departed from Hazeroth, and pitched in Rithmah. 19 And they departed from Rithmah, and pitched at Rimmonparez. 20 And they departed from Rimmonparez, and pitched in Libnah. 21 And they moved from Libnah, and pitched at Rissah. 22 And they journeyed from Rissah, and pitched in Kehelathah. 23 And they went from Kehelathah, and pitched in Mount Shapher. 24 And they moved from Mount Shapher, and encamped in Haradah. 25 And they moved from Haradah, and pitched in Makheloth. 26 And they moved from Makheloth, and encamped at Tahath. 27 And they departed from Tahath, and pitched at Tarah. 28 And they moved from Tarah, and pitched in Mithcah. 29 And they went from Mithcah, and pitched in Hashmonah. 30 And they departed from Hashmonah, and encamped at Moseroth. 31 And they departed from Moseroth, and pitched in Benejaakan. 32 And they moved from Benejaakan, and encamped at Horhagidgad. 33 And they went from Horhagidgad, and pitched in Jotbathah. 34 And they moved from Jotbathah, and encamped at Ebronah. 35 And they departed from Ebronah, and encamped at Eziongaber. 36 And they moved from Eziongaber, and pitched in the wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh. 37 And they moved from Kadesh, and pitched in Mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom. 38 And Aaron the priest went up into Mount Hor at the commandment of the Lord, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the first day of the fifth month. 39 And Aaron was one hundred twenty three years old when he died in Mount Hor. 40 And king Arad, the Canaanite, who lived in the south in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel. 41 And they departed from Mount Hor, and pitched in Zalmonah. 42 And they departed from Zalmonah, and pitched in Punon. 43 And they departed from Punon, and pitched in Oboth. 44 And they departed from Oboth, and pitched in Ijeabarim, in the border of Moab. 45 And they departed from Iim, and pitched in Dibongad. 46 And they moved from Dibongad, and encamped in Almondiblathaim. 47 And they moved from Almondiblathaim, and pitched in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo. 48 And they departed from the mountains of Abarim, and pitched in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. 49 And they pitched by Jordan, from Bethjesimoth even to Abelshittim in the plains of Moab. 50 And the Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, 51 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, When you've passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan, 52 Then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their images, and destroy all their images made by foundry work, and quite pluck down all their high places, 53 And you shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and live in it, for I have given you the land to possess it. 54 And you shall divide the land by drawing straws for an inheritance among your families, and to the more you shall give the larger inheritance, and to the fewer you shall give the smaller inheritance, every man's inheritance shall be in the place where his lot falls, according to the tribes of your fathers you shall inherit. 55 But if you won't drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those that you let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land in which you live. 56 Also, I shall do to you, as I thought to do to them." ___Numbers chapter 34 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Command the children of Israel, and say to them, When you come into the land of Canaan, (this is the land that shall fall to you for an inheritance, the land of Canaan with the coasts of it,) 3 Then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the coast of Edom, and your south border shall be the outmost coast of the salt sea eastward, 4 And your border shall turn from the south to the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass on to Zin, and the going forth of it shall be from the south to Kadeshbarnea, and shall go on to Hazaraddar, and pass on to Azmon, 5 And the border shall circle from Azmon to the river of Egypt, and the goings out of it shall be at the sea. 6 And as for the western border, you shall have the Mediterranean sea for a border, this shall be your west border. 7 And this shall be your north border, from the Mediterranean sea you shall point out for yourselves Mount Hor, 8 From Mount Hor you shall point out your border to the entrance of Hamath, and the goings forth of the border shall be to Zedad, 9 And the border shall go on to Ziphron, and the goings out of it shall be at Hazarenan, this shall be your north border. 10 And you shall point out your east border from Hazarenan to Shepham, 11 And the coast shall go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain, and the border shall descend, and shall reach to the side of the sea of Chinnereth eastward, 12 And the border shall go down to Jordan, and the goings out of it shall be at the salt sea, this shall be your land with the borders of it around there." 13 And Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, "This is the land that you shall inherit by lot, that the Lord commanded to give to the nine tribes, and to the half tribe, 14 For the tribe of the children of Reuben according to the house of their fathers, and the tribe of the children of Gad according to the house of their fathers, have received their inheritance, and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance, 15 The two tribes and the half tribe have received their inheritance on this side of Jordan near Jericho eastward, toward the sun rising." 16 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 17 "These are the names of the men that shall divide the land to you, Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun. 18 And you shall take one prince from every tribe, to divide the land by inheritance. 19 And the names of the men are these, Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh. 20 And of the tribe of the children of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud. 21 Of the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon. 22 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Dan, Bukki the son of Jogli. 23 The prince of the children of Joseph, for the tribe of the children of Manasseh, Hanniel the son of Ephod. 24 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Ephraim, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan. 25 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Zebulun, Elizaphan the son of Parnach. 26 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Issachar, Paltiel the son of Azzan. 27 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Asher, Ahihud the son of Shelomi. 28 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Naphtali, Pedahel the son of Ammihud." 29 These are those whom the Lord commanded to divide the inheritance to the children of Israel in the land of Canaan. ___Numbers chapter 35 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, 2 "Command the children of Israel, that they give to the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to live in, and you shall give also to the Levites suburbs for the cities around them. 3 And they shall have the cities to live in, and the suburbs of them shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts. 4 And the suburbs of the cities, that you shall give to the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city and outward five hundred yards all around. 5 And you shall measure from outside the city on the east side one thousand yards, and on the south side one thousand yards, and on the west side one thousand yards, and on the north side one thousand yards, and the city shall be in the middle, this shall be to them the suburbs of the cities. 6 And among the cities that you shall give to the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, that you shall appoint for the manslayer, so he can flee there, and to them you shall add forty two cities. 7 So all the cities that you shall give to the Levites shall be forty eight cities, you shall give them with their suburbs. 8 And the cities that you shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel, from those who have many you shall give many, but from those who have few you shall give few, everyone shall give of his cities to the Levites according to his inheritance that he inherits." 9 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 10 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, When you've come over Jordan into the land of Canaan, 11 Then you shall appoint cities to be cities of refuge for you, so the slayer can flee there, who kills any person unintentionally. 12 And they shall be to you cities for refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer doesn't die, until he stands before the congregation in judgment. 13 And of these cities that you shall give, you shall have six cities for refuge. 14 You shall give three cities on this side of Jordan, and you shall give three cities in the land of Canaan, that shall be cities of refuge. 15 These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the visitor among them, so that everyone that kills any person unintentionally can flee there. 16 And if he strikes him with an instrument of iron, so that he dies, he is a murderer, the murderer shall surely be put to death. 17 And if he strikes him by throwing a stone with which he could die, and he dies, he is a murderer, the murderer shall surely be put to death. 18 Or if he strikes him with a hand weapon of wood, with which he could die, and he dies, he is a murderer, the murderer shall surely be put to death. 19 The revenger of blood himself shall kill the murderer, when he meets him, he shall kill him. 20 But if he thrusts him of hatred, or hurls at him by laying of wait, so that he dies, 21 Or in enmity smites him with his hand, so that he dies, he that struck him shall surely be put to death, for he is a murderer, the revenger of blood shall kill the murderer, when he meets him. 22 But if he thrusts him suddenly without hatred, or has thrown at him anything without laying of wait, 23 Or with any stone, with which a man could die, not seeing him, and throws it at him, so that he dies, and was not his enemy, and didn't seek his harm, 24 Then the congregation shall judge between the killer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments, 25 And the congregation shall deliver the killer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, where he had fled, and he shall stay in it until the death of the high priest, that was anointed with the holy oil. 26 But if the killer shall at any time come outside the border of the city of his refuge, where he has fled to, 27 And the revenger of blood finds him outside the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kills the slayer, he shall not be guilty of blood, 28 Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest, but after the death of the high priest the killer shall return to the land of his possession. 29 So these things shall be for a statute of judgment to you throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 30 Whoever kills any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses, but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die. 31 Also you shall take no fine for the life of a murderer, that is guilty of death, but he shall be surely put to death. 32 And you shall take no fine for him that has fled to the city of his refuge, so that he should come again to live in the land, until the death of the priest. 33 So you shall not pollute the land in which you are, for blood defiles the land, and the land can't be cleansed from the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of him that shed it. 34 Therefore don't defile the land that you'll inhabit, in which I live, for I the Lord live among the children of Israel." ___Numbers chapter 36 1 And the chief fathers of the families of the children of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of the sons of Joseph, came near, and spoke before Moses, and before the princes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel, 2 And they said, "The Lord commanded my lord to give the land for an inheritance by lot to the children of Israel, and my lord was commanded by the Lord to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother to his daughters. 3 And if they are married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Israel, then their inheritance shall be taken from the inheritance of our fathers, and shall be put to the inheritance of the tribe to which they are received, so shall it be taken from the lot of our inheritance. 4 And when the jubilee of the children of Israel shall be, then their inheritance shall be put to the inheritance of the tribe to which they are received, so shall their inheritance be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers." 5 And Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the word of the Lord, saying, "The tribe of the sons of Joseph has spoken well. 6 This is the thing that the Lord commands concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, Let them marry to whom they think best, only to the family of the tribe of their father shall they marry. 7 So the inheritance of the children of Israel won't remove from tribe to tribe, for everyone of the children of Israel shall keep himself to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. 8 And every daughter, that possesses an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel, shall be wife to one of the family of the tribe of her father, so that the children of Israel will enjoy every man the inheritance of his fathers. 9 Nor shall the inheritance move from one tribe to another tribe, but every one of the tribes of the children of Israel shall keep himself to his own inheritance. 10 As the Lord commanded Moses, so did the daughters of Zelophehad, 11 For Mahlah, Tirzah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married to their father's brothers' sons, 12 And they were married into the families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of the family of their father. 13 These are the commandments and the judgments, that the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses to the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. ___Deuteronomy chapter 1 1 These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel on this side of Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain opposite the Red sea, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab. 2 (There are eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadeshbarnea.) 3 And in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, Moses spoke to the children of Israel, according to all that the Lord had given him in commandment to them, 4 After he had killed Sihon the king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, who lived at Astaroth in Edrei, 5 On this side of Jordan, in the land of Moab, Moses began to declare this law, saying, 6 "The Lord our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying, You have lived long enough in this mountain, 7 Turn and take your journey, and go to the mountain of the Amorites, and to all the places near there, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and to Lebanon, to the great river, the river Euphrates. 8 See, I have set the land before you, go in and possess the land that the Lord promised to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give to them and to their descendants after them. 9 And I spoke to you at that time, saying, I am not able to carry you myself alone, 10 The Lord your God has multiplied you, and see, you are this day like the stars of heaven for multitude. 11 (The Lord God of your fathers make you a thousand times as many more as you are, and bless you, as he has promised you!) 12 How can I myself alone bear your trouble, and your burden, and your strife? 13 Take wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you. 14 And you answered me, and said, The thing that you've spoken is good for us to do. 15 So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes. 16 And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brothers, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. 17 You shall not respect persons in judgment, but you shall hear the small as well as the great, you shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God's, and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it to me, and I will hear it. 18 And I commanded you at that time all the things that you should do. 19 And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, that you saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, like the Lord our God commanded us, and we came to Kadeshbarnea. 20 And I said to you, You've come to the mountain of the Amorites that the Lord our God gives to us. 21 See, the Lord your God has set the land before you, go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has said to you, don't be afraid, nor be discouraged. 22 And you came near me everyone of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search out the land, and bring us word again by what way we must go up, and into what cities we shall come. 23 And the saying pleased me well, and I took twelve men of you, one per tribe, 24 And they turned and went up into the mountain, and came to the valley of Eshcol, and searched it out. 25 And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought it down to us, and brought us word again, and said, It is a good land that the Lord our God gives us. 26 But you wouldn't go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the Lord your God, 27 And you murmured in your tents, and said, Because the Lord hated us, he has brought us out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. 28 Where shall we go up? Our brothers have discouraged our heart, saying, The people are greater and taller than we are, the cities are great and walled up to heaven, and also we have seen the sons of the Anakims there. 29 Then I said to you, Don't dread, nor be afraid of them. 30 The Lord your God who goes before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, 31 And in the wilderness, where you've seen how the Lord your God carries you, like a man carries his son, in all the way that you went, until you came into this place. 32 Yet in this thing you didn't believe the Lord your God, 33 Who went in the way before you, to search out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to show you which way you should go, and in a cloud by day. 34 And the Lord heard the voice of your words, and was angry, and swore, saying, 35 Surely not one of these men of this evil generation shall see that good land, that I promised to give to your fathers, 36 Except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, he shall see it, and to him I will give the land that he has walked on, and to his children, because he has completely followed the Lord. 37 Also the Lord was angry with me for your sakes, saying, You also shall not go in there. 38 But Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall go in there, encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. 39 Also your little ones, that you said would be a prey, and your children, who in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in there, and to them I will give it, and they shall possess it. 40 But as for you, turn and take your journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea. 41 Then you answered me, We have sinned against the Lord, we will go up and fight, according to all that the Lord our God commanded us. And when you had girded on every man his weapons of war, you were ready to go up into the hill. 42 And the Lord said to me, Say to them, Don't go up, nor fight, for I am not among you, so that you won't be struck before your enemies. 43 So I spoke to you, and you wouldn't listen, but rebelled against the commandment of the Lord, and went presumptuously up into the hill. 44 And the Amorites, who lived in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, like bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, as far as Hormah. 45 And you returned and wept before the Lord, but the Lord wouldn't listen to your voice, nor give ear to you. 46 So you lived in Kadesh many days, according to the days that you lived there." ___Deuteronomy chapter 2 1 "Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, like the Lord said to me, and we circled Mount Seir many days. 2 And the Lord spoke to me, saying, 3 You've circled this mountain long enough, turn northward. 4 And command the people, saying, You are to pass through the coast of your brothers the children of Esau, who live in Seir, and they shall be afraid of you, take good heed to yourselves therefore, 5 Don't mess with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as a foot width, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau for a possession. 6 You shall buy food from them for money, so you can eat, and you shall also buy water from them for money, so you can drink. 7 For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the works of your hand, he knows about your walking through this great wilderness, these forty years the Lord your God has been with you, you've lacked nothing. 8 And when we passed by from our brothers the children of Esau, who lived in Seir, through the way of the plain from Elath, and from Eziongaber, we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab. 9 And the Lord said to me, Don't distress the Moabites, nor contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land for a possession, because I have given Ar to the children of Lot for a possession. 10 The Emims lived in it in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, like the Anakims, 11 Who were also considered to be giants, like the Anakims, but the Moabites call them Emims. 12 The Horims also lived in Seir before, but the children of Esau succeeded them, when they had destroyed them from before them, and lived instead of them, like Israel did to the land of his possession, that the Lord gave them. 13 Now rise up, I said, and get over the brook Zered. And we went over the brook Zered. 14 And the length of time during which we came from Kadeshbarnea, until we had come over the brook Zered, was thirty eight years, until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among the host, like the Lord swore to them. 15 For indeed the hand of the Lord was against them, to destroy them from among the host, until they were consumed. 16 So when all the men of war were consumed and dead from among the people, 17 The Lord spoke to me, saying, 18 You are to pass over through Ar, the coast of Moab, today, 19 And when you come near, opposite the children of Ammon, don't distress them, nor mess with them, for I will not give you any of the land of the children of Ammon any possession, because I've given it to the children of Lot for a possession. 20 (That also was seen as a land of giants, giants lived in it in old time, and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims, 21 A people great, and many, and tall, like the Anakims, but the Lord destroyed them before them, and they succeeded them, and lived instead of them, 22 Like he did to the children of Esau, who live in Seir, when he destroyed the Horims from before them, and they succeeded them, and lived instead of them until this day, 23 And the Avims who live in Hazerim, as far as Azzah, the Caphtorims, who came out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and lived instead of them.) 24 Rise up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon, see, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land, begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle. 25 This day I will begin to put the dread of you and the fear of you on the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report about you, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of you. 26 And I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying, 27 Let me pass through your land, I will go along by the high way, I will neither turn to the right hand nor to the left. 28 You shall sell me food for money, so I can eat, and give me water for money, so I can drink, only I will pass through on my feet, 29 (Like the children of Esau who live in Seir, and the Moabites who live in Ar, did to me,) until I pass over Jordan into the land that the Lord our God gives us. 30 But Sihon, king of Heshbon, wouldn't let us pass by him, for the Lord your God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, so that He would deliver him into your hand, as we see this day. 31 And the Lord said to me, See, I have begun to give Sihon and his land before you, begin to possess, so that you can inherit his land. 32 Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz. 33 And the Lord our God delivered him before us, and we struck him, and his sons, and all his people. 34 And we took all his cities at that time, and completely destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones, of every city, we left no one remaining, 35 We took only the cattle for a prey for ourselves, and the spoil of the cities that we took. 36 From Aroer, that is by the brink of the river of Arnon, and from the city that is by the river, as far as Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us, the Lord our God delivered all to us, 37 Only you didn't come to the land of the children of Ammon, nor to any place of the river Jabbok, nor to the cities in the mountains, nor to whatever the Lord our God said not to go to." ___Deuteronomy chapter 3 1 "Then we turned, and went up the way to Bashan, and Og, the king of Bashan, came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. 2 And the Lord said to me, Don't be afraid of him, for I will deliver him and all his people, and his land, into your hand, and you shall do to him like you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon. 3 So the Lord our God delivered into our hands Og, the king of Bashan, and also all his people, and we struck him until no one remained to him. 4 And we took all his cities at that time, there was not a city that we didn't take from them, sixty cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og, in Bashan. 5 All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and bars, beside unwalled towns, a great many. 6 And we completely destroyed them, like we did to Sihon king of Heshbon, completely destroying the men, women, and children, of every city. 7 But all the cattle, and the spoil of the cities, we took for a prey for ourselves. 8 And we took at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites the land that was on this side of Jordan, from the river of Arnon as far as Mount Hermon, 9 (Which Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion, and the Amorites call it Shenir,) 10 All the cities of the plain, and all Gilead, and all Bashan, as far as Salchah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan. 11 For only Og, king of Bashan, remained of the remnant of giants, see, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron, is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? The length of it was thirteen and one half feet, and the width of it was six feet. 12 And this land, that we took at that time, from Aroer, which is by the river Arnon, and half Mount Gilead, and the cities of it, I gave to the Reubenites and to the Gadites. 13 And the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, being the kingdom of Og, I gave to the half tribe of Manasseh, all the region of Argob, with all Bashan, that was called the land of giants. 14 Jair the son of Manasseh took all the country of Argob to the coasts of Geshuri and Maachathi, and called them by his own name, Bashanhavothjair, until this day. 15 And I gave Gilead to Machir. 16 And to the Reubenites and to the Gadites, I gave from Gilead to the river Arnon half the valley, and the border to the river Jabbok, that is the border of the children of Ammon, 17 The plain also, and Jordan, and the coast of it, from Chinnereth as far as the sea of the plain, the salt sea, under Ashdothpisgah eastward. 18 And I commanded you at that time, saying, The Lord your God has given you this land to possess it, you shall pass over armed before your brothers the children of Israel, all that can fight in the war. 19 But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle, (for I know that you have much cattle,) shall live in your cities that I've given to you, 20 Until the Lord has given rest to your brothers, as well as to you, and until they also possess the land that the Lord your God has given to them beyond Jordan, and then you shall return every man to his possession, that I have given you. 21 And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, Your eyes have seen all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings, so shall the Lord do to all the kingdoms where you pass. 22 You shall not fear them, for the Lord your God shall fight for you. 23 And I besought the Lord at that time, saying, 24 O Lord God, you've begun to show your servant your greatness, and your mighty hand, for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to your works, and according to your might? 25 Please let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that good mountain, and Lebanon. 26 But the Lord was angry with me for your sakes, and wouldn't listen to me, and the Lord said to me, Let it be sufficient for you, don't talk to me anymore about this matter. 27 Get up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up your eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and see it with your eyes, for you won't go over this Jordan. 28 But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him, for he shall go over before these people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land that you shall see. 29 So we lived in the valley opposite Bethpeor." ___Deuteronomy chapter 4 1 "Now therefore listen, O Israel, to the statutes and to the judgments, that I teach you, to do them, so that you'll live, and go in and possess the land that the Lord God of your fathers gives you. 2 You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor shall you diminish anything from it, so that you'll keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you. 3 Your eyes have seen what the Lord did because of Baalpeor, for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the Lord your God has destroyed them from among you. 4 But you that stuck with the Lord your God are alive every one of you this day. 5 See, I have taught you statutes and judgments, as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you should do so in the land where you go to possess it. 6 Therefore keep and do them, for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, that shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. 7 For what nation is there so great, who has God so near them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call on him for? 8 And what nation is there so great, that has statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, that I set before you this day? 9 Only take heed to yourselves, and keep your soul diligently, so that you don't forget the things that your eyes have seen, and so that they don't depart from your heart all the days of your life, but teach them to your sons, and your grandsons, 10 Especially, the day that you stood before the Lord your God in Horeb, when the Lord said to me, Gather the people together for me, and I will make them hear my words, so that they will learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and so that they will teach their children. 11 And you came near and stood under the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire to the middle of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness. 12 And the Lord spoke to you out of the middle of the fire, you heard the voice of the words, but saw no shape, you only heard a voice. 13 And he declared to you his covenant, that he commanded you to perform, ten commandments, and he wrote them on two tables of stone. 14 And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, so that you would do them in the land where you go over to possess it. 15 Therefore take good heed to yourselves, for you saw no kind of shape on the day that the Lord spoke to you in Horeb out of the middle of the fire, 16 So that you don't corrupt yourselves, and make youselves a graven image, the likeness of any figure, the likeness of male or female, 17 The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flies in the air, 18 The likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth, 19 And so that you don't lift up your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and all the host of heaven, should be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the Lord your God has divided to all nations under the whole heaven. 20 But the Lord has taken you, and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be to him a people of inheritance, as you are this day. 21 Furthermore the Lord was angry with me for your sakes, and swore that I would not go over Jordan, and that I would not go in to that good land, that the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance, 22 But I must die in this land, I must not go over Jordan, but you'll go over, and possess that good land. 23 Take heed to yourselves, so you don't forget the covenant of the Lord your God that he made with you, and make yourselves a graven image, or the likeness of anything, that the Lord your God has forbidden you. 24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. 25 When you shall beget children, and grandchildren, and you shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of anything, and shall do evil in the sight of the Lord your God, to provoke him to anger, 26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you shall soon completely perish from off the land where you're going over Jordan to possess it, you shall not prolong your days on it, but shall completely be destroyed. 27 And the Lord shall scatter you among the nations, and you shall be left few in number among the heathen, where the Lord shall lead you. 28 And there, you shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, that can neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. 29 But if from there you'll seek the Lord your God, you'll find him, if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you're in tribulation, and all these things have come on you, in the latter days, if you turn to the Lord your God, and shall be obedient to his voice, 31 (For the Lord your God is a merciful God,) he will not forsake you, nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers that he swore to them. 32 For ask now about the days that are past, that were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven to the other, whether there has been any such thing as this great thing is, or has been heard like it? 33 Did people ever hear the voice of God speaking out of the middle of the fire, like you've heard, and live? 34 Or has God assayed to go and take for himself a nation out from among another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? 35 To you it was shown, so you would know that the Lord he is God, there is no one else beside him. 36 Out of heaven he made you to hear his voice, so he would instruct you, and on earth he showed you his great fire, and you heard his words out of the middle of the fire. 37 And because he loved your fathers, therefore he chose their descendants after them, and brought you out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt, 38 To drive out nations from before you greater and mightier than you are, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as it is this day. 39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in your heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and on the earth beneath, there is no one else. 40 You shall therefore keep his statutes, and his commandments, that I command you this day, so that it will go well with you, and with your children after you, and so that you will prolong your days on the earth, that the Lord your God gives you, forever. 41 Then Moses separated three cities on this side of Jordan toward the sunrising, 42 So that the killer could flee there, who killed his neighbor unintentionally, and didn't hate him in the past, and so that fleeing to one of those cities he would live, 43 Namely, Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, of the Reubenites, and Ramoth in Gilead, of the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan, of the Manassites. 44 And this is the law that Moses set before the children of Israel, 45 These are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments that Moses spoke to the children of Israel, after they came out of Egypt, 46 On this side of Jordan, in the valley opposite Bethpeor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon, whom Moses and the children of Israel struck, after they had come out of Egypt, 47 And they possessed his land, and the land of Og king of Bashan, two kings of the Amorites, that were on this side of Jordan toward the sunrising, 48 From Aroer, that is by the bank of the river Arnon, to Mount Sion, which is Hermon, 49 And all the plain on this side of Jordan eastward,to the sea of the plain, under the springs of Pisgah." ___Deuteronomy chapter 5 1 And Moses called all Israel, and said to them, "Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments that I speak in your ears today, so that you'll learn them, and keep, and do them. 2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3 The Lord didn't make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, who are all of us alive here today. 4 The Lord talked with you face to face in the mountain out of the middle of the fire, 5 (I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to show you the word of the Lord, for you were afraid because of the fire, and didn't go up into the mountain,) saying, 6 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 7 You shall have no other gods before me. 8 You shall not make for yourselves any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters lower than the earth, 9 You shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the sins of the fathers on the children up to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 10 And showing mercy to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. 11 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain. 12 Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, like the Lord your God has commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 14 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord your God, in it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your ox, nor your ass, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger that is inside your gates, so that your manservant and your maidservant can rest as well as you. 15 And remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm, therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the sabbath day. 16 Honor your father and your mother, like the Lord your God has commanded you, so that your days will be prolonged, and so that it will go well with you, in the land that the Lord your God gives you. 17 You shall not kill. 18 Nor shall you commit adultery. 19 Nor shall you steal. 20 Nor shall you give false testimony against your neighbor. 21 Nor shall you desire your neighbor's wife, nor shall you covet your neighbor's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or anything that is your neighbor's. 22 The Lord spoke these words to all your assembly in the mountain out of the middle of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a large voice, and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them to me. 23 And when you heard the voice out of the middle of the darkness, (for the mountain burned with fire,) you came near me, all the heads of your tribes, and your elders, 24 And you said, See, the Lord our God has shown us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the middle of the fire, we have seen this day that God talks with man, and he lives. 25 Now therefore why should we die? For this great fire will consume us, if we hear the voice of the Lord our God anymore, then we shall die. 26 For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the middle of the fire, as we have, and lived? 27 Go near, and hear all that the Lord our God shall say, and speak to us all that the Lord our God shall speak to you, and we will hear it, and do it. 28 And the Lord heard the voice of your words, when you spoke to me, and the Lord said to me, I have heard the voice of the words of these people, that they have spoken to you, they have well said all that they have spoken. 29 O that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, so that it would be well with them, and with their children forever! 30 Go and say to them, Get back into your tents. 31 But as for you, stand here by me, and I will speak to you all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, that you shall teach them, so that they can do them in the land that I give them to possess it. 32 You shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God has commanded you, you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 33 You shall walk in all the ways that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you'll live, and so that it will be well with you, and so that you'll prolong your days in the land that you'll possess." ___Deuteronomy chapter 6 1 "Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, that the Lord your God commanded to teach you, so that you'll do them in the land where you go to possess it, 2 So that you'll fear the Lord your God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments that I command you, you, and your son, and your grandson, all the days of your life, and so that your days will be prolonged. 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it, so that it will be well with you, and so that you'll increase mightily, like the Lord God of your fathers has promised you, in the land that flows with milk and honey. 4 Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord, 5 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. 6 And these words, that I command you this day, shall be in your heart, 7 And you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk about them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 And you shall tie them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be like frontlets between your eyes. 9 And you shall write them on the posts of your house, and on your gates. 10 And it shall be, when the Lord your God shall have brought you into the land that he promised to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you great and good cities, that you didn't build, 11 And houses full of all good things, that you didn't fill, and wells dug that you didn't dig, vineyards and olive trees that you didn't plant, when you shall have eaten and are full, 12 Then beware, so that you don't forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 13 You shall fear the Lord your God, and serve him, and shall swear by his name. 14 You shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people that are around you, 15 (For the Lord your God is a jealous God among you) so the anger of the Lord your God isn't kindled against you, and doesn't destroy you from off the face of the earth. 16 You shall not tempt the Lord your God, as you tempted him in Massah. 17 You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, that he has commanded you. 18 And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, so that it will be well with you, and so that you'll go in and possess the good land that the Lord swore to your fathers, 19 To throw out all your enemies from before you, like the Lord has said. 20 And when your son asks you in time to come, saying, What do the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments mean, that the Lord our God has commanded you? 21 Then you shall say to your son, We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt, and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand, 22 And the Lord showed signs and wonders, great and severe, on Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his household, before our eyes, 23 And he brought us out from there, so that he would bring us in, to give us the land that he promised to our fathers. 24 And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, so that he would preserve us alive, as it is this day. 25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us." ___Deuteronomy chapter 7 1 "When the Lord your God shall bring you into the land where you go to possess it, and has thrown out many nations before you, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than you, 2 And when the Lord your God shall deliver them before you, you shall strike them, and completely destroy them, you shall make no covenant with them, nor show mercy to them, 3 Nor shall you make marriages with them, you shall not give your daughter to his son, nor shall you take his daughter for your son. 4 For they will turn away your son from following me, so that they will serve other gods, so that the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and destroy you suddenly. 5 But here's how you'll deal with them, you shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their engraved images with fire. 6 For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, the Lord your God has chosen you to be a special people to himself, above all people that are on the face of the earth. 7 The Lord did not set his love on you, nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people, for you were the fewest of all people, 8 But because the Lord loved you, and because he wanted to keep the oath that he had promised to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that the Lord your God, he is God, the faithful God, who keeps covenant and mercy with those who love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations, 10 And repays those who hate him to their face, to destroy them, he will not be slack to him that hates him, he will repay him to his face. 11 You shall therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, that I command you this day, to do them. 12 So if you listen to these judgments, and keep and do them, the Lord your God shall keep with you the covenant and the mercy that he promised to your fathers, 13 And 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 corn, and your wine, and your oil, the increase of your kine, and the flocks of your sheep, in the land that he promised to your fathers to give you. 14 You shal be blessed above all people, there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle. 15 And the Lord will take away from you all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, that you know, on you, but will lay them on all those who hate you. 16 And you shall consume all the people that the Lord your God shall deliver to you, your eye shall have no pity on them, nor shall you serve their gods, for that would be a trap for you. 17 If you shall say in your heart, These nations are more than I, how can I dispossess them? 18 You shall not be afraid of them, but shall well remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh, and to all Egypt, 19 The great temptations that your eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the stretched out arm, by which the Lord your God brought you out, so shall the Lord your God do to all the people of whom you are afraid. 20 Also the Lord your God will send the hornet among them, until those who are left, and hide themselves from you, are destroyed. 21 You shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is among you, a mighty God and terrible. 22 And the Lord your God will put out those nations before you by little and little, you can't consume them at once, so the beasts of the field don't multiply against you. 23 But the Lord your God shall deliver them to you, and shall destroy them with a mighty destruction, until they are destroyed. 24 And he shall deliver their kings into your hand, and you shall destroy their name from under heaven, no man shall be able to stand before you, until you have destroyed them. 25 You shall burn with fire the engraved images of their gods, you shall not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it to yourself, so you're not snared in it, for it is an abomination to the Lord your God. 26 Nor shall you bring an abomination into your house, so you don't become a cursed thing like it, but you shall completely detest it, and you shall completely hate it, for it is a cursed thing." ___Deuteronomy chapter 8 1 "All the commandments that I command you this day, you shall observe to do, so that you'll live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the Lord promised to your fathers. 2 And you shall remember all the way that the Lord your God led you these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you, and to prove you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments, or not. 3 And he humbled you, and allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna, that you didn't know, nor did your fathers know, so that he would make you know that man doesn't live by bread only, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord does man live. 4 Your clothes didn't grow old on you, nor did your foot swell, these forty years. 5 You shall also consider in your heart, that, like a man spanks his son, so the Lord your God spanks you. 6 Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. 7 For the Lord your God brings you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills, 8 A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates, a land of olive oil, and honey, 9 A land in which you shall eat bread without scarceness, you shall not lack anything in it, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig brass. 10 When you've eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land that he has given you. 11 Beware that you don't forget the Lord your God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, that I command you this day, 12 So that when you've eaten and are full, and have built good houses, and lived in them, 13 And when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold has multiplied, and all that you have has multiplied, 14 Then your heart won't be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, 15 Who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water, who brought water out of the rock of flint for you, 16 Who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers didn't know, so that he could humble you, and so that he could test you, to do you good at your end, 17 And you don't say in your heart, My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth. 18 But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he that gives you power to get wealth, so he can establish his covenant that he promised to your fathers, as it is this day. 19 And it shall be, if you at all forget the Lord your God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that you'll surely perish. 20 Like the nations that the Lord destroys before your face, so you'll perish, because you wouldn't be obedient to the voice of the Lord your God." ___Deuteronomy chapter 9 1 "Hear, O Israel, You are to pass over Jordan this day, to go in to possess nations greater and mightier than yourself, cities great and fenced up to heaven, 2 A people great and tall, the children of the Anakims, whom you know, and about whom you've heard, Who can stand before the children of Anak! 3 Understand therefore this day, that the Lord your God is he that goes over before you, like a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before your face, so shall you drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the Lord has said to you. 4 Don't speak in your heart, after the Lord your God has cast them out from before you, saying, For my righteousness the Lord has brought me in to possess this land, but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord drives them out from before you. 5 Not for your righteousness, or for the uprightness of your heart, do you go to possess their land, but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord your God drives them out from before you, and so that he can perform the word that the Lord promised to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 6 Understand therefore, that the Lord your God doesn't give you this good land to possess it for your righteousness, for you are a stiffnecked people. 7 Remember, and don't forget, how you provoked the Lord your God to anger in the wilderness, from the day that you departed out of the land of Egypt, until you came to this place, you've been rebellious against the Lord. 8 Also in Horeb you provoked the Lord to anger, so that the Lord was angry with you and came close to destroying you. 9 When I had gone up into the mountain to receive the stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant that the Lord made with you, then I stayed in the mountain forty days and forty nights, I didn't eat bread nor drank water, 10 And the Lord delivered to me two tablets of stone written by the finger of God, and on them was written according to all the words that the Lord spoke with you in the mountain out of the fire in the day of the assembly. 11 And at the end of forty days and forty nights, the Lord gave me the two tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant. 12 And the Lord said to me, Get up, get down quickly from here, for your people that you've brought out of Egypt have corrupted themselves, they've quickly turned aside out of the way that I commanded them, they have made them a metal image cast in foundry. 13 Furthermore the Lord spoke to me, saying, I have seen these people, and see, they are a stiffnecked people, 14 Let me alone, so I can destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven, and I will make out of you a nation mightier and greater than them. 15 So I turned and came down from the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire, and the two tablets of the covenant were in my two hands. 16 And I looked, and see, you had sinned against the Lord your God, and had made for yourselves a cast in foundry metal calf, you had turned aside quickly out of the way that the Lord had commanded you. 17 And I took the two tables, and threw them out of my two hands, and broke them before your eyes. 18 And I fell down before the Lord, like at the first, forty days and forty nights, I neither ate bread, nor drank water, because of all your sins that you sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. 19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, with which the Lord was angry against you to destroy you. But the Lord listened to me at that time also. 20 And the Lord was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him, and I prayed for Aaron also at the same time. 21 And I took your sin, the calf that you had made, and burnt it with fire, and stomped on it, and ground it very small, until it was as small as dust, and I threw the dust of it into the brook that descended out of the mountain. 22 And at Taberah, and at Massah, and at Kibrothhattaavah, you provoked the Lord to anger. 23 Likewise when the Lord sent you from Kadeshbarnea, saying, Go up and possess the land that I've given you, then you rebelled against the commandment of the Lord your God, and you didn't believe him, and didn't listen to his voice. 24 You've been rebellious against the Lord from the day that I knew you. 25 Thus I fell down before the Lord forty days and forty nights, like I fell down at the first, because the Lord had said he would destroy you. 26 I prayed therefore to the Lord, and said, O Lord God, don't destroy your people and your inheritance, that you've redeemed through your greatness, that you've brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 27 Remember your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, don't look at the stubbornness of these people, nor at their wickedness, nor at their sin, 28 So that the land that you brought us out of doesn't say, Because the Lord was not able to bring them into the land that he promised them, and because he hated them, he has brought them out to kill them in the wilderness. 29 Yet they are your people and your inheritance, that you brought out by your mighty power and by your stretched out arm." ___Deuteronomy chapter 10 1 "At that time the Lord said to me, Cut for yourself two tables of stone like the first, and come up to me into the mountain, and make for yourself an ark of wood. 2 And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables that you broke, and you shall put them in the ark. 3 And I made an ark of shittim wood, and cut two tables of stone like the first, and went up into the mountain, having the two tables in my hand. 4 And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, that the Lord spoke to you in the mountain out of the fire on the day of the assembly, and the Lord gave them to me. 5 And I turned around and came down from the mountain, and put the tables in the ark that I had made, and there they are, like the Lord commanded me. 6 And the children of Israel took their journey from Beeroth of the children of Jaakan to Mosera, there Aaron died, and there he was buried, and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest's office instead of him. 7 From there, they journeyed to Gudgodah, and from Gudgodah to Jotbath, a land of rivers of waters. 8 At that time, the Lord separated the tribe of Levi, to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister to him, and to bless in his name, until this day. 9 So Levi has no part nor inheritance with his brothers, the Lord is his inheritance, as the Lord your God promised him. 10 And I stayed in the mountain, according to the first time, forty days and forty nights, and the Lord listened to me at that time also, and the Lord wouldn't destroy you. 11 And the Lord said to me, Get up, take your journey before the people, so that they will go in and possess the land that I promised to their fathers to give to them. 12 And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord your God with all the heart and with all the soul, 13 To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, that I command you this day for your good? 14 See, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord's your God, the earth also, with all that is in it. 15 Only the Lord took delight in your fathers to love them, and he chose their descendants after them, you above all people, as it is this day. 16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and don't be stubborn any longer. 17 For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, who doesn't regard persons, and doesn't take bribes, 18 He executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and loves the stranger, in giving him food and clothes. 19 Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 20 You shall fear the Lord your God, him shall you serve, and you shall stick to him, and swear by his name. 21 He is your praise, and he is your God, who has done for you these great and terrible things that your eyes have seen. 22 Your fathers went down into Egypt with seventy persons, and now the Lord your God has made you like the stars of heaven for multitude." ___Deuteronomy chapter 11 1 "Therefore you shall love the Lord your God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, always. 2 And know this day, for I speak not with your children who have not known, and who have not seen the chastisement of the Lord your God, his greatness, his mighty hand, and his stretched out arm, 3 And his miracles, and his acts that he did in Egypt to Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and to all his land, 4 And what he did to the army of Egypt, to their horses, and to their chariots, how he made the water of the Red sea overflow them as they pursued after you, and how the Lord has destroyed them until this day, 5 And what he did to you in the wilderness, until you came into this place, 6 And what he did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben, how the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and their tents, and all the substance that was in their possession, among all of Israel, 7 But your eyes have seen all the great acts of the Lord that he did. 8 Therefore you shall keep all the commandments that I command you this day, so that you'll be strong, and go in and possess the land, where you go to possess it, 9 And so that you'll prolong your days in the land that the Lord promised to your fathers to give to them and to their descendants, a land that flows with milk and honey. 10 For the land, where you go in to possess it, is not like the land of Egypt, that you came out of, where you planted your seed, and watered it with your foot, like a garden of herbs, 11 But the land, where you go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinks water from the rain of heaven, 12 A land that the Lord your God cares for, the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year until the end of the year. 13 And if you listen diligently to my commandments that I command you today, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, 14 I will give you the rain of your land in due season, the first rain and the latter rain, so that you can gather in your corn, and your wine, and your oil. 15 And I will send grass in your fields for your cattle, so that you can eat and be full. 16 Watch yourselves, so that your heart isn't deceived, and you turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them, 17 And then the Lord's anger is kindled against you, and he shuts up the heaven, so that there's no rain, and so that the land doesn't yield its fruit, and so you don't perish quickly from off the good land that the Lord gives you. 18 Therefore you shall store these words that I speak in your heart and in your soul, and tie them for a sign on your hand, so they'll be like frontlets between your eyes. 19 And you shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 20 And you shall write them on the door posts of your house, and on your gates, 21 So that your days will be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land that the Lord promised to your fathers to give them, like the days of heaven on the earth. 22 For if you'll diligently keep all these commandments that I command you, to do them, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, and to stick to him, 23 Then the Lord will drive out all these nations from before you, and you'll possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves. 24 Every place on which the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours, from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even to the farthest sea shall your coast be. 25 No man shall be able to stand before you, for the Lord your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you on all the land that you tread on, as he has said to you. 26 See, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse, 27 A blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, that I command you this day, 28 And a curse, if you won't obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way that I command you today, to go after other gods, that you haven't known. 29 And when the Lord your God has brought you into the land where you go to possess it, you shall put the blessing on Mount Gerizim, and the curse on Mount Ebal. 30 Aren't they on the other side Jordan, by the way where the sun goes down, in the land of the Canaanites, who live in the champaign over against Gilgal, beside the plains of Moreh? 31 For you'll pass over Jordan to go in to possess the land that the Lord your God gives you, and you'll possess it, and live in it. 32 And you shall observe to do all the statutes and judgments that I set before you today." ___Deuteronomy chapter 12 1 "These are the statutes and judgments, that you shall observe to do in the land that the Lord God of your fathers gives you to possess, all the days that you live on the earth. 2 You shall utterly destroy all the places in which the nations that you shall possess served their gods, on the high mountains, and on the hills, and under every green tree, 3 And you shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire, and you shall cut down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. 4 You shall not do so to the Lord your God. 5 But you shall seek to the place that the Lord your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even to his habitation, and there you shall go, 6 And there you shall take your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings from your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks, 7 And you shall eat before the Lord your God there, and you shall rejoice in all that you put your hand to, you and your households, in which the Lord your God has blessed you. 8 You shall not do according to all the things that we do here this day, every man whatever is right in his own eyes. 9 For you haven't yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, that the Lord your God gives you. 10 But when you go over Jordan, and live in the land that the Lord your God gives you to inherit, and when he gives you rest from all your enemies all around, so that you live in safety, 11 Then there shall be a place that the Lord your God shall choose to cause his name to live there, and there you shall bring all that I command you, your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows that you vow to the Lord, 12 And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you, and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is inside your gates, since he has no part nor inheritance with you. 13 Watch yourselves so that you don't offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see, 14 But in the place that the Lord shall choose in one of your tribes, you shall offer your burnt offerings there, and there you shall do all that I command you. 15 But you can kill and eat flesh in all your gates, whatever your soul lusts for, according to the blessing of the Lord your God that he has given you, the unclean and the clean may eat of it, like of the roebuck, and of the hart. 16 Only you shall not eat the blood, you shall pour it on the ground like water. 17 You may not eat inside your gates the tithe of your corn, or of your wine, or of your oil, or the firstlings of your herds or of your flock, nor any of your vows that you vow, nor your freewill offerings, or heave offering of your hand, 18 But you must eat them before the Lord your God in the place that the Lord your God shall choose, you, and your son, and your daughter, and your manservant, and your maidservant, and the Levite that is inside your gates, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God in all that you put your hands to. 19 Watch yourself so that you don't forsake the Levite as long as you live on the earth. 20 When the Lord your God shall enlarge your border, as he has promised you, and you say, I will eat flesh, because your soul longs to eat flesh, you can eat flesh, whatever your soul lusts for. 21 If the place that the Lord your God has chosen to put his name there is too far from you, then you shall kill of your herd and of your flock, which the Lord has given you, as I have commanded you, and you shall eat in your gates whatever your soul lusts for. 22 Like the roebuck and the hart is eaten, so you shall eat them, the unclean and the clean alike shall eat of them. 23 Only be sure that you don't eat the blood, for the blood is the life, and you may not eat the life with the flesh. 24 You shall not eat it, you shall pour it on the earth like water. 25 You shall not eat it, so it will go well with you, and with your children after you, when you do what is right in the sight of the Lord. 26 Only your holy things that you have, and your vows, you shall take, and go to the place that the Lord shall choose, 27 And you shall offer your burnt offerings, the flesh 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 flesh. 28 Observe and hear all these words that I command you, so it will go well with you, and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God. 29 When the Lord your God shall cut off the nations from before you, where you go to possess them, and you replace them, and live in their land, 30 Watch yourself so you're not snared by following them, after they are destroyed from before you, and so you don't inquire after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise. 31 You shall not do so to the Lord your God, for they have done to their gods everything that is dirty to the Lord, that he hates, for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. 32 Whatever things I command you, observe to do them, you shall not add to them, nor take away from them." ___Deuteronomy chapter 13 1 "If a prophet arises among you, or a dreamer of dreams, and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 And the sign or the wonder occurs, about which he spoke to you, saying, Let us go after other gods, which you've not known, and let us serve them, 3 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 with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and you shall serve him, and stick to him. 5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death, because he has spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to put you out of the way that the Lord your God commanded you to walk in. So you shall put the evil away from among you. 6 If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or the wife of your bosom, or your friend, who is like your own soul, entices you secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, that you haven't known, you, nor your fathers, 7 Namely, of the gods of the people that are around you, near you, or far off from you, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth, 8 You shall not agree with him, nor listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare, nor shall you conceal him, 9 But you shall surely kill him, your hand shall be first on him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. 10 And you shall stone him with stones, so that he dies, because he has sought to push you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 11 And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you. 12 If you shall hear that in one of your cities, that the Lord your God has given you to live there, saying, 13 Certain men, the children of Belial, have gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, that you haven't known, 14 Then you shall inquire, and make search, and ask diligently, and see, if it's true, and the thing is certain, that such abomination has been done among you, 15 You shall surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it completely, and all that is in it, and the cattle of it, with the edge of the sword. 16 And you shall gather all the spoil of it into the middle of the street of it, and shall burn the city with fire, and all the spoil of it, every bit, for the Lord your God, and it shall be a heap forever, it shall not be built again. 17 And nothing of the cursed thing shall stick to your hand, so that the Lord will turn from the fierceness of his anger, and show you mercy, and have compassion on you, and multiply you, as he has sworn to your fathers, 18 When you shall listen to the voice of the Lord your God, to keep all his commandments that I command you this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the Lord your God." ___Deuteronomy chapter 14 1 "You are the children of the Lord your God, you shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead. 2 For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a peculiar people to himself, above all the nations that are on the earth. 3 You shall not eat any dirty thing. 4 These are the animals that you shall eat, the ox, the sheep, and the goat, 5 The hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois. 6 And every beast that has a split hoof, and divides the cleft into two claws, and chews the cud among the beasts, you shall eat that. 7 But these you shall not eat of those that chew the cud, or of those that divide the split hoof, like the camel, and the hare, and the coney, for they chew the cud, but don't divide the hoof, therefore they are unclean to you. 8 And the pig, because it divides the hoof, yet doesn't chew the cud, it is unclean to you, you shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase. 9 These you shall eat of all that are in the waters, all that have fins and scales you shall eat, 10 And whatever doesn't have fins and scales you may not eat, it is unclean to you. 11 Of all clean birds you shall eat. 12 But these are those of which you shall not eat, the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, 13 And the glede, and the kite, and the vulture after its kind, 14 And every raven after his kind, 15 And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after its kind, 16 The little owl, and the great owl, and the swan, 17 And the pelican, and the gier eagle, and the cormorant, 18 And the stork, and the heron after its kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. 19 And every creeping thing that flies is unclean to you, they shall not be eaten. 20 But of all clean fowls you may eat. 21 You shall not eat of anything that dies of itself, you shall give it to the stranger that is in your gates, so he can eat it, or you can sell it to an alien, for you are a holy people to the Lord your God. You shall not seethe a kid in its mother's milk. 22 You shall truly tithe all the increase of your seed, that the field produces year by year. 23 And you shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place that he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of your corn, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks, so that you will learn to fear the Lord your God always. 24 And if the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry it, or if the place is too far from you, which the Lord your God shall choose to set his name there, when the Lord your God has blessed you, 25 Then you shall turn it into money, and tie up the money in your hand, and shall go to the place that the Lord your God shall choose, 26 And you shall pay that money for whatever your soul lusts for, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatever your soul desires, and you shall eat there before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you, and your household, 27 And the Levite that is within your gates, you shall not forsake him, for he has no part nor inheritance with you. 28 At the end of three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your increase the same year, and shall store it up inside your gates, 29 And the Levite, (because he has no part nor inheritance with you,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within your gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied, so that the Lord your God will bless you in all the work of your hand that you do." ___Deuteronomy chapter 15 1 "At the end of every seven years you shall make a release. 2 And this is the manner of the release, every creditor that lends anything to his neighbor shall release it, he shall not require it from his neighbor, or from his brother, because it is called the Lord's release. 3 From a foreigner, you can require it again, but that which is yours with your brother your hand shall release, 4 Except when there shall be no poor among you, for the Lord shall greatly bless you in the land that the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance to possess it, 5 Only if you carefully listen to the voice of the Lord your God, to observe to do all these commandments that I command you this day. 6 For the Lord your God blesses you, as he promised you, and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow, and you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you. 7 If there is a poor man among you of one of your brothers within any of your gates in your land that the Lord your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother, 8 But you shall open your hand wide to him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wants. 9 Beware that there's not a thought in your wicked heart, saying, "The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand," and your eye be evil against your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cries to the Lord against you, and it be sin to you. 10 You shall surely give him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God shall bless you in all your works, and in all that you put your hand to. 11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land, therefore I command you, saying, You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor, and to your needy, in your land. 12 And if your brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you, and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you shalt let him go free from you. 13 And when you send him out free from you, you shall not let him go away empty, 14 You shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, and out of your field, and out of your winepress, of that with which the Lord your God has blessed you, you shall give to him. 15 And you shall remember that you were a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you, therefore I command you this thing today. 16 And it shall be, if he says to you, I will not go away from you, because he loves you and your house, because he is well off with you, 17 Then you shall take an aul, and thrust it through his ear to the door, and he shall be your servant forever. And also to your maidservant you shall do likewise. 18 It shall not seem hard to you, when you send him away free from you, for he has been worth a double hired servant to you, in serving you six years, and the Lord your God shall bless you in all that thou do. 19 All the firstling males that come from your herd and from your flock, you shall sanctify to the Lord your God, you shall do no work with the firstling of your bullock, nor shear the firstling of your sheep. 20 You shall eat it before the Lord your God year by year in the place that the Lord shall choose, you and your household. 21 And if there's any blemish in it, like if it is lame, or blind, or has any ill blemish, you shall not sacrifice it to the Lord your God. 22 You shall eat it inside your gates, the unclean and the clean person shall eat it alike, like the roebuck, and like the hart. 23 Only you shall not eat the blood of it, you shall pour it on the ground like water." ___Deuteronomy chapter 16 1 "Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover to the Lord your God, for in the month of Abib the Lord your God brought you out of Egypt by night. 2 You shall therefore sacrifice the passover to the Lord your God, from the flock and the herd, in the place that the Lord shall choose to place his name there. 3 You shall eat no leavened bread with it, seven days you shall eat unleavened bread with it, the bread of affliction, for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste, so that you will remember the day when you came out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life. 4 And no leavened bread shall be seen with you in all your borders seven days, nor shall anything of the flesh, that you sacrificed the first day at evening, remain all night until the morning. 5 You may not sacrifice the passover inside any of your gates that the Lord your God gives you, 6 But at the place which the Lord your God shall choose to place his name in, there you shall sacrifice the passover at evening, at the going down of the sun, at the season that you came out of Egypt. 7 And you shall roast and eat it in the place that the Lord your God shall choose, and you shall turn in the morning, and go to your tents. 8 Six days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the Lord your God, you shall do no work in it. 9 Seven weeks you shall number to yourselves, begin to number the seven weeks from the time that you begin to put the sickle to the corn. 10 And you shall keep the feast of weeks to the Lord your God with a tribute of a freewill offering of your hand, that you shall give to the Lord your God, according as the Lord your God has blessed you, 11 And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you, and your son, and your daughter, and your manservant, and your maidservant, and the Levite that is within your gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow that are among you, in the place which the Lord your God has chosen to place his name there. 12 And you shall remember that you were a bondman in Egypt, and you shall observe and do these statutes. 13 You shall observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after you've gathered in your corn and your wine, 14 And you shall rejoice in your feast, you, and your son, and your daughter, and your manservant, and your maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within your gates. 15 You shall keep a solemn feast to the Lord your God seven days in the place that the Lord shall choose, because the Lord your God shall bless you in all your increase, and in all the works of your hands, therefore you shall surely rejoice. 16 All your males shall appear three times a year before the Lord your God in the place that he shall choose, in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles, and they shall not appear before the Lord empty, 17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God that he has given you. 18 You shall make judges and officers for yourselves in all your gates, that the Lord your God gives you, throughout your tribes, and they shall judge the people with fair judgment. 19 You shall not pervert judgment, you shall not respect persons, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise, and perverts the words of the righteous. 20 That which is completely fair you shall follow, so that you'll live, and inherit the land that the Lord your God gives you. 21 You shall not plant a grove of any trees for yourself near the altar of the Lord your God, that you shall make for yourselves. 22 Nor shall you set up any image, that the Lord your God hates." ___Deuteronomy chapter 17 1 "You shall not sacrifice to the Lord your God any bullock, or sheep, in which is a blemish, or any bad part, for that is a dirty thing to the Lord your God. 2 If there is found among you, within any of your gates that the Lord your God gives you, man or woman, that has done wickedness in the sight of the Lord your God, in transgressing his covenant, 3 And has gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, that I have not commanded, 4 And it is told to you, and you've heard of it, and inquired diligently, and see, it is true, and the thing certain, that such abomination has been done in Israel, 5 Then you shall bring out that man or that woman, who has committed that wicked thing, to your gates, even that man or that woman, and shall stone them with stones, until they die. 6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death, but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. 7 The hands of the witnesses shall be first on him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So you shall put the evil away from among you. 8 If a matter arises too hard for you in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within your gates, then you shall arise, and get up into the place that the Lord your God shall choose, 9 And you shall come to the priests the Levites, and to the judge that shall be in those days, and inquire, and they shall show you the sentence of judgment, 10 And you shall do according to the sentence, which those of that place which the Lord shall choose shall show you, and you shall observe to do according to all that they inform you, 11 According to the sentence of the law that they shall teach you, and you shall do according to the judgment that they shall tell you, you shall not decline from the sentence that they shall show you, to the right hand, nor to the left. 12 And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not listen to the priest that stands to minister there before the Lord your God, or to the judge, that man shall die, and you shall put away the evil from Israel. 13 And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously. 14 When you've come to the land that the Lord your God gives you, and shall possess it, and shall live in it, and shall say, I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me, 15 You shall be careful to set him king over you, whom the Lord your God shall choose, one from among your brothers shall you set king over you, you may not set a stranger over you, who is not your brother. 16 But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses, since the Lord has said to you, from now on, you shall return no more that way. 17 Nor shall he multiply wives to himself, so that his heart doesn't turn away, nor shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. 18 And it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites, 19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, so that he will learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them, 20 So that his heart is not lifted up above his brothers, and so that he doesn't turn aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left, so that he will prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, among Israel." ___Deuteronomy chapter 18 1 "The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel, they shall eat the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and his inheritance. 2 Therefore they shall have no inheritance among their brothers, the Lord is their inheritance, as he has said to them. 3 And this shall be the priest's due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, whether it is ox or sheep, and they shall give to the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw. 4 The firstfruit also of your corn, of your wine, and of your oil, and the first of the fleece of your sheep, you shall give him. 5 For the Lord your God has chosen him out of all your tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the Lord, him and his sons forever. 6 And if a Levite comes from any of your gates out of all Israel, where he was staying, and comes with all the desire of his mind to the place that the Lord shall choose, 7 Then he shall minister in the name of the Lord his God, like all his brothers the Levites do, who stand there before the Lord. 8 They shall have like portions to eat, beside that which comes from the sale of his patrimony. 9 When you've come into the land that the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you anyone that makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or someone that does inappropriate things with dead bodies. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you. 13 You shall be perfect with the Lord your God. 14 For these nations, that you shall possess, listened to observers of times, and to diviners, but as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do so. 15 The Lord your God will raise up to you a Prophet from among you, of your brothers, like me, you shall listen to him, 16 According to all that you desired from the Lord your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, "Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, so I don't die." 17 And the Lord said to me, "They have well spoken that which they have spoken. 18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like you, and will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall occur, that whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I will require it from him. 20 But the prophet who shall presume to speak a word in my name that I haven't commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die. 21 And if you say in your heart, How shall we know the word that the Lord hasn't spoken? 22 When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing doesn't follow, nor occurs, that is the thing that the Lord has not spoken, but the prophet has spoken it presumptuously, you shall not be afraid of him." ___Deuteronomy chapter 19 1 "When the Lord your God has cut off the nations, whose land the Lord your God gives you, and you replace them, and live in their cities, and in their houses, 2 You shall separate three cities for yourselves in the middle of your land that the Lord your God gives you to possess it. 3 You shall prepare a way, and divide the coasts of your land that the Lord your God gives you to inherit, into three parts, so that every slayer can flee there. 4 And this is the case of the slayer, who shall flee there, so that he can live, Whoever kills his neighbor ignorantly, whom he didn't hate in the past, 5 Like when a man goes into the woods with his neighbor to cut wood, and his hand makes a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slips from the helve, and lands on his neighbor, so that he dies, he shall flee to one of those cities, and live, 6 So that the avenger of the blood doesn't pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and kill him, because he was not worthy of death, since he didn't hate him previously. 7 So I command you, saying, "You shall separate three cities for yourselves. 8 And if the Lord your God enlarges your coast, as he has sworn to your fathers, and gives you all the land that he promised to give to your fathers, 9 If you'll keep all these commandments to do them, that I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to walk always in his ways, then you shall add three cities more for yourselves, beside these three, 10 So that innocent blood is not shed in your land that the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance, and so blood be on you. 11 But if any man hates his neighbor, and lies in wait for him, and rises up against him, and smites him mortally so that he dies, and flees into one of these cities, 12 Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him from there, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, so that he'll die. 13 Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, so that it will go well with you. 14 You shall not remove your neighbor's landmark, that those of old time have set in your inheritance, that you shall inherit in the land that the Lord your God gives you to possess it. 15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sins, at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. 16 If a false witness rises up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong, 17 Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges, that shall be in those days, 18 And the judges shall make diligent inquisition, and see, if the witness is a false witness, and has testified falsely against his brother, 19 Then you shall do to him like he had thought to have done to his brother, so you shall put the evil away from among you. 20 And those who remain shall hear, and fear, and shall from then on commit no more any such evil among you. 21 And your eye shall not pity, but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot." ___Deuteronomy chapter 20 1 "When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses, and chariots, and a people more than you, don't be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. 2 And it shall be, when you've come near the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people, 3 And shall say to them, Hear, O Israel, you approach this day to battle against your enemies, don't let your hearts faint, don't be afraid, and do not tremble, and don't be terrified because of them, 4 For the Lord your God is he that goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. 5 And the officers shall speak to the people, saying, What man is there that has built a new house, and has not dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, so he doesn't die in the battle, and another man dedicate it. 6 And what man is he that has planted a vineyard, and has not yet eaten of it? Let him also go and return to his house, so he doesn't die in the battle, and another man eat of it. 7 And what man is there that has betrothed a wife, and has not taken her? Let him go and return to his house, so he doesn't die in the battle, and another man take her. 8 And the officers shall speak further to the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return to his house, so his brothers' hearts don't faint like his heart. 9 And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking to the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to lead the people. 10 When you come near a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace to it. 11 And it shall be, if it gives you an answer of peace, and opens to you, then it shall be, that all the people that are found in it shall be tributaries to you, and they shall serve you. 12 And if it will make no peace with you, but will make war against you, then you shall lay seige against it, 13 And when the Lord your God has delivered it into your hands, you shall smite every male of it with the edge of the sword, 14 But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, all the spoil of it, you shall take to yourself, and you shall eat the spoil of your enemies, that the Lord your God has given you. 15 Thus shall you do to all the cities that are very far off from you, which are not of the cities of these nations. 16 But of the cities of these people, that the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance, you shall save nothing alive that breathes, 17 But you shall completely destroy them, namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, as the Lord your God has commanded you, 18 So that they don't teach you to do after all their abominations that they've done to their gods, so you would sin against the Lord your God. 19 When you besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, you shall not destroy the trees of it by forcing an axe against them, for you can eat from them, and you shall not cut them down (for the tree of the field is man's life) to employ them in the siege, 20 Only the trees that you know are not trees for food, you shall destroy and cut them down, and you shall build bulwarks against the city that makes war with you, until it's subdued." ___Deuteronomy chapter 21 1 "If someone is found killed in the land that the Lord your God gives you to possess it, lying in the field, and it is not known who has killed him, 2 Then your elders and your judges shall come out, and they shall measure to the cities that are around him that has been killed, 3 And it shall be, that the city that is next to the slain man, the elders of that city shall take a heifer, that hasn't been worked with, and that hasn't pulled in the yoke, 4 And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer to a rough valley, that is neither eared nor planted, and shall strike off the heifer's neck there in the valley, 5 And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near, for the Lord your God has chosen them to minister to him, and to bless in the name of the Lord, and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried, 6 And all the elders of that city, that are next to the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer that has been beheaded in the valley, 7 And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, nor have our eyes seen it. 8 Be merciful, O Lord, to your people Israel, whom you've redeemed, and don't lay innocent blood to the charge of your people of Israel. And the blood shall be forgiven them. 9 So shall you put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when you shall do that which is right in the sight of the Lord. 10 When you go out to war against your enemies, and the Lord your God has delivered them into your hands, and you've taken them captive, 11 And see among the captives a beautiful woman, and have a desire toward her, so that you would have her as your wife, 12 Then you shall bring her home to your house, and she shall shave her head, and pare her nails, 13 And she shall put the clothes of her captivity off of her, and shall remain in your house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month, and after that you shall go in to her, and be her husband, and she shall be your wife. 14 And it shall be, if you have no delight in her, then you shall let her go where she wants, but you shall not sell her at all for money, you shall not make merchandise of her, because you've humbled her. 15 If a man has two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated, and if the firstborn son is hers that was hated, 16 Then it shall be, when he makes his sons to inherit that which he has, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, who is indeed the firstborn, 17 But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated as the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength, the right of the firstborn is his. 18 If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son, who will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have spanked him, won't listen to them, 19 Then his father and his mother shall take hold of him, and bring him out to the elders of his city, and to the gate of his place, 20 And they shall say to the elders of his city, This, our son, is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice, he is a glutton, and a drunkard. 21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, so that he dies, so shall you put evil away from among you, and all Israel shall hear, and fear. 22 And if a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he is to be put to death, and you hang him on a tree, 23 His body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him that day, (for he that has been hanged is accursed by God,) so that your land is not defiled, that the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance." ___Deuteronomy chapter 22 1 "You shall not see your brother's ox or his sheep go astray, and hide yourself from them, you shall always bring them back to your brother. 2 And if your brother is not near you, or if you don't know him , then you shall bring it to your own house, and it shall be with you until your brother seeks for it, and you shall restore it to him. 3 In like manner shall you do with his ass, and so shall you do with his clothes, and with all lost things of your brother's, that he has lost, and you've found, shall you do likewise, you may not hide yourself. 4 You shall not see your brother's ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide yourself from them, you shall help him to lift them up again. 5 The woman shall not wear that which pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman's garment, for all that do so are detestable to the Lord your God. 6 If a bird's nest happens to be before you on the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they are young ones, or eggs, and the adult sitting on the young, or on the eggs, you shall not take the adult with the young, 7 But you shall let the adult go, and take the young for yourself, so that it will be well with you, and so that you will prolong your days. 8 When you build a new house, then you shall make a battlement for your roof, so that you don't bring blood on your house, if any man falls from there. 9 You shall not plant your vineyard with different seeds, so that the fruit of your seed that you've planted, and the fruit of your vineyard, are not defiled. 10 You shall not plow with an ox and an ass together. 11 You shall not wear a garment of different materials, like of wool and linen together. 12 You shall make for yourselves fringes on the four quarters of your vesture with which you cover yourself. 13 If any man takes a wife, and goes in to her, and hates her, 14 And gives occasions of speech against her, and brings up an evil name on her, and says, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found that she was not a virgin, 15 Then the father of the damsel, and her mother, shall take and bring out the tokens of the damsel's virginity to the elders of the city in the gate, 16 And the damsel's father shall say to the elders, I gave my daughter to this man as wife, and he hates her, 17 And see, he has given occasions of speech against her, saying, "I found your daughter not a virgin, and yet these are the tokens of my daughter's virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city. 18 And the elders of that city shall take that man and chastise him, 19 And they shall fine him in a hundred shekels of silver, and give them to the father of the damsel, because he has brought up an evil name on a virgin of Israel, and she shall be his wife, he may not put her away all his days. 20 But if this thing is true, and the tokens of virginity are not found for the damsel, 21 Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones so that she dies, because she has done foolishness in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house, so you shall put evil away from among you. 22 If a man is found lying with a woman married to a husband, then they shall both die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman, so shall you put away evil from Israel. 23 If a damsel that is a virgin is engaged to a man, and a man finds her in the city, and lies with her, 24 Then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them with stones so that they die, the damsel, because she didn't scream, being in the city, and the man, because he has humbled his neighbor's wife, so you shall put away evil from among you. 25 But if a man finds an engaged damsel in the field, and the man forces her, and lies with her, then the man only that lay with her shall die, 26 But to the damsel you shall do nothing, there no sin worthy of death in the damsel, for as when a man rises against his neighbor, and kills him, even so is this matter, 27 For he found her in the field, and the engaged damsel screamed, and there was no one to save her. 28 If a man finds a damsel that is a virgin, who is not engaged, and lays hold on her, and lies with her, and they are found, 29 Then the man that lay with her shall give to the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife, because he has humbled her, he may not put her away all his days. 30 A man shall not take his father's wife, nor uncover his father's skirt." ___Deuteronomy chapter 23 1 "He that is wounded in the testicles, or has his sex organ cut off shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord. 2 A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord, to his tenth generation he shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord. 3 An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord, to their tenth generation they shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord forever, 4 Because they didn't meet you with bread and with water on the way, when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you. 5 But the Lord your God wouldn't listen to Balaam, but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing to you, because the Lord your God loved you. 6 You shall not seek their peace nor their prosperity all your days forever. 7 You shall not hate an Edomite, for he is your brother, you shall not hate an Egyptian, because you were a stranger in his land. 8 The children that are descended from them shall enter into the congregation of the Lord in their third generation. 9 When the army goes out against your enemies, then keep from every wicked thing. 10 If there is among you any man that is not clean because of uncleanness that chances him at night, then he shall go outside of the camp, he shall not come inside the camp, 11 But it shall be, when evening comes on, he shall wash himself with water, and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp again. 12 You shall also have a place outside the camp, where you shall go out to, 13 And you shall have a paddle on your weapon, and it shall be, when you ease yourself outside, you shall dig with it, and shall turn back and cover what comes out of you, 14 For the Lord your God walks around in your camp, to deliver you, and to surrender your enemies before you, therefore your camp shall be holy, so that he doesn't see any unclean thing in you, and turns away from you. 15 You shall not deliver to his master the servant that has escaped from his master to you, 16 He shall live with you, among you, in that place that he shall choose in one of your gates, where he likes it best, you shall not oppress him. 17 There shall be no prostitute of the daughters of Israel, nor a homosexual of the sons of Israel. 18 You shall not bring the hire of a prostitute, or the price of a dog, into the house of the Lord your God for any vow, for both of these are hated by the Lord your God. 19 You shall not lend at interest to your brother, interest of money, interest of food, interest of anything that is lent at interest, 20 To a stranger you may lend at interest, but to your brother you shall not lend at interest, so that the Lord your God will bless you in all that you set your hand to in the land where you go to possess it. 21 When you vow a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not fail to pay it, for the Lord your God will surely require it from you, and it would be sin in you. 22 But if you refrain from vowing, it shall be no sin in you. 23 You shall keep and perform that which has gone out of your lips, even a freewill offering, according as you've vowed to the Lord your God, which you've promised with your mouth. 24 When you come into your neighbor's vineyard, then you can eat grapes 'til you're full, at your own pleasure, but you shall not put any in your container. 25 When you come into the standing corn of your neighbor, then you can pluck the ears with your hand, but you shall not use a cutting tool on your neighbor's standing corn." ___Deuteronomy chapter 24 1 "When a man has taken a wife, and married her, and if she finds no favor in his eyes, because he has found some uncleanness in her, then let him write her a bill of divorce, and give it into her hand, and send her out of his house. 2 And when she has departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife. 3 And if the latter husband hates her, and writes her a bill of divorce, and gives it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, or if the latter husband dies, who took her to be his wife, 4 Her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she has been defiled, for that is hated by the Lord, and you shall not cause the land to sin, that the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance. 5 When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, nor shall he be given any responsibilities, but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife that he has taken. 6 No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone as pledge, for he would be taking a man's life as pledge. 7 If a man is found stealing any of his brothers of the children of Israel, and makes merchandise of him, or sells him, then that thief shall die, and you shall put evil away from among you. 8 Be careful in the plague of leprosy, that you observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests, the Levites, shall teach you, as I commanded them, so shall you observe to do. 9 Remember what the Lord your God did to Miriam on the way, after you came out of Egypt. 10 When you lend your brother anything, you shall not go into his house to get his pledge. 11 You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you lend shall bring out the pledge outside to you. 12 And if the man is poor, you shall not sleep with his pledge, 13 In any case you shall deliver him the pledge again when the sun goes down, so he can sleep in his own clothes, and bless you, and it shall be righteousness to you before the Lord your God. 14 You shall not oppress a hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he is of your brothers, or of your strangers that are in your land within your gates, 15 At his day you shall give him his wages, nor shall the sun go down on it, for he is poor, and sets his heart on it, so he doesn't cry against you to the Lord, and it be sin to you. 16 The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor shall the children be put to death for the fathers, every man shall be put to death for his own sin. 17 You shall not pervert the justice of the stranger, nor of the fatherless, nor take a widow's clothes as deposit, 18 But you shall remember that you were a bondman in Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you from there, therefore I command you to do this thing. 19 When you cut down your harvest in your field, and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it, it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow, so that the Lord your God will bless you in all the work of your hands. 20 When you beat your olive tree, you shall not go over the boughs again, it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. 21 When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not glean it afterward, it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. 22 And you shall remember that you were a bondman in the land of Egypt, therefore I command you to do this thing." ___Deuteronomy chapter 25 1 "If there is a controversy between men, and they come to judgment, so that the judges will judge them, then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked. 2 And it shall be, if the wicked man is worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number. 3 He may give him forty stripes and not exceed, so that your brother won't seem contemptible to you if he exceeds, and beats him above forty, with many stripes. 4 You shall not muzzle the ox when he treads out the corn. 5 If brothers live together, and one of them dies, and has no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry outside to a stranger, her husband's brother shall go in to her, and take her to him as wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her. 6 And it shall be, that the firstborn that she bears shall succeed in the name of his brother who is dead, so that his name is not put out of Israel. 7 And if the man doesn't want to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the gate to the elders, and say, My husband's brother refuses to raise up to his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother. 8 Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak to him, and if he stands to it, and says, I like not to take her, 9 Then his brother's wife shall come to him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done to the man that will not build up his brother's house. 10 And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that has his shoe loosed. 11 When men strive together with each other, and the wife of the one goes near to deliver her husband out of the hand of him that strikes him, and puts out her hand, and takes him by the secrets, 12 Then you shall cut off her hand, your eye shall not pity her. 13 You shall not have in your bag different weights, a large and a small. 14 You shall not have in your house different measures, a large and a small. 15 But you shall have a perfect and just weight, you shall have a perfect and just measure, so that your days will be lengthened in the land that the Lord your God gives you. 16 For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are a dirty thing to the Lord your God. 17 Remember what Amalek did to you on the way, when you came out of Egypt, 18 How he met you on the way, and struck the hindmost of you, all that were feeble behind you, when you were faint and weary, and he didn't fear God. 19 Therefore it shall be, when the Lord your God has given you rest from all your enemies all around, in the land that the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance to possess it, that you shall blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven, you shall not forget it." ___Deuteronomy chapter 26 1 "And it shall be, when you've come in to the land that the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance, and you possess it, and live in it, 2 That you shall take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, that you shall bring of your land that the Lord your God gives you, and shall put it in a basket, and shall go to the place that the Lord your God shall choose to place his name there. 3 And you shall go to the priest that shall be in those days, and say to him, I profess this day to the Lord your God, that I've come to the country that the Lord promised to our fathers to give us. 4 And the priest shall take the basket out of your hand, and set it down before the altar of the Lord your God. 5 And you shall speak and say before the Lord your God, My father was a Syrian ready to perish, and he went down into Egypt, and stayed there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous, 6 And the Egyptians treated us badly, and afflicted us, and laid on us hard bondage, 7 And when we cried to the Lord God of our fathers, the Lord heard our voice, and looked at our affliction, and our labor, and our oppression, 8 And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders, 9 And he has brought us into this place, and has given us this land, a land that flows with milk and honey. 10 And now, see, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which you, O Lord, have given me. And you shall set it before the Lord your God, and worship before the Lord your God, 11 And you shall rejoice in every good thing that the Lord your God has given to you, and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you. 12 When you've made an end of tithing all the tithes of your increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they can eat within your gates, and be filled, 13 Then you shall say before the Lord your God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of my house, and also have given them to the Levite, and to the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all your commandments that you've commanded me, I haven't transgressed your commandments, nor have I forgotten them, 14 I have not eaten of it in my mourning, nor have I taken away anything of it for any unclean use, nor given anything of it for the dead, but I have listened to the voice of the Lord my God, and have done according to all that you've commanded me. 15 Look down from your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless your people Israel, and the land that you've given us, as you promised our fathers, a land that flows with milk and honey. 16 This day, the Lord your God has commanded you to do these statutes and judgments, you shall therefore keep and do them with all your heart, and with all your soul. 17 You have avouched the Lord this day to be your God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to listen to his voice, 18 And the Lord has avouched you this day to be his peculiar people, as he has promised you, and that you should keep all his commandments, 19 And to make you high above all nations that he has made, in praise, and in name, and in honor, and so that you'll be a holy people to the Lord your God, as he has spoken." ___Deuteronomy chapter 27 1 And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, "Keep all the commandments that I command you this day. 2 And it shall be on the day when you shall pass over Jordan to the land that the Lord your God gives you, that you shall set up large stones, and plaster them with plaster, 3 And you shall write on them all the words of this law, when you've passed over, so that you can go in to the land that the Lord your God gives you, a land that flows with milk and honey, as the Lord God of your fathers has promised you. 4 Therefore it shall be when you've gone over Jordan, that you shall set up these stones, that I command you this day, in Mount Ebal, and you shall plaster them with plaster. 5 And you shall build an altar to the Lord your God there, an altar of stones, you shall not lift up any iron tool on them. 6 You shall build the altar of the Lord your God with whole stones, and you shall offer burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God, 7 And you shall offer peace offerings, and shall eat there, and rejoice before the Lord your God. 8 And you shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly." 9 And Moses and the priests the Levites spoke to all Israel, saying, "Take heed, and listen, O Israel, this day you've become the people of the Lord your God. 10 You shall therefore obey the voice of the Lord your God, and do his commandments and his statutes, that I command you this day." 11 And Moses charged the people the same day, saying, 12 "These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you've come over Jordan, Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin, 13 And these shall stand on Mount Ebal to curse, Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. 14 And the Levites shall speak, and say to all the men of Israel with a loud voice, 15 Cursed be the man that makes any graven image or image from melted metal, an abomination to the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and puts it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen. 16 Cursed be he that sets light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. 17 Cursed be he that removes his neighbor's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen. 18 Cursed be he that makes the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen. 19 Cursed be he that perverts the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen. 20 Cursed be he that lies with his father's wife, because he uncovers his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen. 21 Cursed be he that lies with any kind of animal. And all the people shall say, Amen. 22 Cursed be he that lies with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. 23 Cursed be he that lies with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen. 24 Cursed be he that smites his neighbor secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen. 25 Cursed be he that takes a bribe to kill an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen. 26 Cursed be he that doesn't confirm all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen." ___Deuteronomy chapter 28 1 "And it shall occur, if you'll listen diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, to observe and to do all his commandments that I command you this day, that the Lord your God will set you on high above all nations of the earth, 2 And all these blessings shall come on you, and overtake you, if you'll listen to the voice of the Lord your God. 3 Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. 4 Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, and the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your kine, and the flocks of your sheep. 5 Blessed shall be your basket and your store. 6 Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. 7 The Lord shall cause your enemies that rise up against you to be smitten before your face, they shall come out against you one way, and flee before you seven ways. 8 The Lord shall command the blessing on you in your storehouses, and in all that you set your hand to, and he shall bless you in the land that the Lord your God gives you. 9 The Lord shall establish you as a holy people to himself, as he has promised you, if you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and walk in his ways. 10 And all people of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. 11 And the Lord shall make you plenteous in goods, in the fruit of your body, and in the fruit of your cattle, and in the fruit of your ground, in the land that the Lord promised to your fathers to give you. 12 The Lord shall open to you his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand, and you shall lend to many nations, and you shall not borrow. 13 And the Lord shall make you the head, and not the tail, and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath, if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, that I command you this day, to observe and to do them, 14 And you shall not go aside from any of the words that I command you this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them. 15 But it shall occur, if you won't listen to the voice of the Lord your God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you this day, that all these curses shall come on you, and overtake you, 16 Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the field. 17 Cursed shall be your basket and your store. 18 Cursed shall be the fruit of your body, and the fruit of your land, the increase of your kine, and the flocks of your sheep. 19 Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out. 20 The Lord shall send on you cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that you set your hand to do, until you're destroyed, and until you perish quickly, because of the wickedness of your doings, by which you've forsaken me. 21 The Lord shall make the pestilence stick to you, until he has consumed you from off the land, where you go to possess it. 22 The Lord shall smite you with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew, and they'll pursue you until you're destroyed. 23 And your heaven that is over your head shall be brass, and the earth that is under you shall be iron. 24 The Lord shall make the rain of your land powder and dust, from heaven it shall come down on you, until you're destroyed. 25 The Lord shall cause you to be struck before your enemies, you'll go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them, and shall be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth. 26 And your dead body shall be food to all birds of the air, and to the animals of the earth, and no man shall chase them away. 27 The Lord will smite you with the botch of Egypt, and with the hemorrhoids, and with the scab, and with the itch, from which you can't be healed. 28 The Lord shall smite you with insanity, and blindness, and astonishment of heart, 29 And you'll grope at noonday, like the blind gropes in darkness, and you won't prosper in your ways, and you'll be only oppressed and spoiled always, and no man will save you. 30 You'll get engaged to be married, and another man shall lie with the woman, you'll build a house, and you won't live in it, you'll plant a vineyard, and won't gather the grapes of it. 31 Your ox shall be killed before your eyes, and you won't eat any of it, your ass shall be violently taken away from before your face, and shall not be restored to you, your sheep shall be given to your enemies, and you'll have no one to rescue them. 32 Your sons and your daughters shall be given to another people, and your eyes shall look, and fail with longing for them all the day long, and there shall be no might in your hand. 33 The fruit of your land, and all your labors, shall a nation that you don't know eat up, and you'll be only oppressed and crushed always, 34 So that you'll be crazy for what you see with your eyes. 35 The Lord shall strike you in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore botch that can't be healed, from the sole of your foot to the top of your head. 36 The Lord shall bring you, and your king that you'll set over you, to a nation that neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you'll serve other gods, wood and stone. 37 And you'll become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations where the Lord shall lead you. 38 You'll carry much seed out into the field, and shall gather but little in, for the locust shall consume it. 39 You'll plant vineyards, and dress them, but shall neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes, for the worms shall eat them. 40 You'll have olive trees throughout all your coasts, but you won't anoint yourself with the oil, for your olive tree shall cast its fruit. 41 You'll father sons and daughters, but you won't enjoy them, for they shall go into captivity. 42 The locust shall consume all your trees and fruit of your land. 43 The stranger that is within you shall get up above you very high, and you'll come down very low. 44 He shall lend to you, and you won't lend to him, he shall be the head, and you'll be the tail. 45 Also all these curses shall come on you, and shall pursue you, and overtake you, 'til you're destroyed, because you didn't listen to the voice of the Lord your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that he commanded you, 46 And they shall be on you for a sign and for a wonder, and on your descendants forever. 47 Because you didn't serve the Lord your God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things, 48 Therefore you'll serve your enemies that the Lord shall send against you, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in lack of all things, and he shall put a yoke of iron on your neck, until he has destroyed you. 49 The Lord shall bring a nation against you from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you won't understand, 50 A nation of fierce facial expression, that won't regard the person of the old, nor show favor to the young, 51 And he shall eat the fruit of your cattle, and the fruit of your land, until you're destroyed, who also won't leave you either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of your kine, or flocks of your sheep, until he has destroyed you. 52 And he shall besiege you in all your gates, until your high and fenced walls come down, in which you trusted, throughout all your land, and he shall besiege you in all your gates throughout all your land, that the Lord your God has given you. 53 And you'll eat the fruit of your own body, the flesh of your sons and of your daughters, that the Lord your God has given you, in the siege, and in the restriction, with which your enemies shall distress you, 54 So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remainder of his children that he shall leave, 55 So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat, because he has nothing left him in the siege, and in the restriction, with which your enemies shall distress you in all your gates. 56 The tender and delicate woman among you, who wouldn't adventure to set the sole of her foot on the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter, 57 And toward her young one that comes out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear, for she shall eat them for lack of all things, secretly, in the siege and restriction with which your enemy shall distress you in your gates. 58 If you won't observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, so that you'll fear this glorious and fearful name, The Lord Your God, 59 Then the Lord will make your plagues wonderful, and the plagues of your descendants, strong plagues, and of long continuance, and severe sicknesses, and of long continuance. 60 Also he will bring on you all the diseases of Egypt, that you were afraid of, and they shall stick to you. 61 Also every sickness, and every plague, that is not written in the book of this law, the Lord will bring those on you, until you're destroyed. 62 And you'll be left few in number, although you were like the stars of heaven for multitude, because you wouldn't obey the voice of the Lord your God. 63 And it shall occur, that as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you, so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nothing, and you'll be plucked from off the land where you go to possess it. 64 And the Lord shall scatter you among all people, from the one end of the earth to the other, and you'll serve other gods there, that neither you nor your fathers have known, wood and stone. 65 And among these nations you'll find no rest, nor shall the sole of your foot have rest, but the Lord shall give you there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind, 66 And your life shall hang in doubt before you, and you'll be afraid day and night, and shall have no assurance of your life, 67 In the morning you'll say, Would God it were evening! And at evening you'll say, Would God it were morning! For the fear of your heart with which you'll fear, and for the sight of your eyes that you'll see. 68 And the Lord shall bring you into Egypt again by ships, by the way by which I spoke to you, You shall see it again no more, and there you'll be sold to your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you." ___Deuteronomy chapter 29 1 These are the words of the covenant, that the Lord commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, beside the covenant that he made with them in Horeb. 2 And Moses called to all Israel, and said to them, "You've seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, 3 The great temptations that your eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles, 4 Yet the Lord hasn't given you a heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, until this day. 5 And I've led you forty years in the wilderness, your clothes have not grown old on you, and your shoes haven't grown old on your feet. 6 You haven't eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or strong drink, so that you would know that I am the Lord your God. 7 And when you came to this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, came out against us to battle, and we struck them, 8 And we took their land, and gave it for an inheritance to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half of the tribe of Manasseh. 9 Therefore keep the words of this covenant, and do them, so that you'll prosper in all that you do. 10 You stand this day, all of you, before the Lord your God, your captains of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, with all the men of Israel, 11 Your little ones, your wives, and your stranger that is in your camp, from the cutter of your wood to the drawer of your water, 12 So that you would enter into covenant with the Lord your God, and into his oath, that the Lord your God makes with you this day, 13 So that he will establish you today for a people for himself, and so that he will be to you a God, as he has said to you, and as he has sworn to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 14 And not with you only do I make this covenant and this oath, 15 But with him that stands here with us this day before the Lord our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day, 16 (For you know how we have lived in the land of Egypt, and how we came through the nations that you passed by, 17 And you've seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, that were among them,) 18 So there won't be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turns away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations, so there won't be among you a root that produces gall and wormwood, 19 And it happens, when he hears the words of this curse, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of my heart, to add drunkenness to thirst, 20 The Lord will not spare him, but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie on him, and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven. 21 And the Lord shall separate him for evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this book of the law, 22 So that the generation to come of your children that shall rise up after you, and the stranger that shall come from a far land shall say, when they see the plagues of that land, and the sicknesses that the Lord has laid on it, 23 And that the whole land of it is sulphur, and salt, and burning, that it is not planted, nor yields fruit, nor does any grass grow in it, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, that the Lord overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath, 24 All nations shall say, Why has the Lord done this to this land? What does the heat of this great anger mean? 25 Then men shall say, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord God of their fathers, that he made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt, 26 For they went and served other gods, and worshipped them, gods whom they didn't know, and whom he had not given to them, 27 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against this land, to bring on it all the curses that are written in this book, 28 And the Lord uprooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and threw them into another land, as it is this day. 29 The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we can do all the words of this law." ___Deuteronomy chapter 30 1 "And it shall occur, when all these things have come on you, the blessing and the curse that I've set before you, and you shall remember them among all the nations, where the Lord your God has driven you, 2 And shall return to the Lord your God, and shall obey his voice according to all that I command you this day, you and your children, with all your heart, and with all you soul, 3 That then the Lord your God will undo your captivity, and have compassion on you, and will return and gather you from all the nations, where the Lord your God has scattered you. 4 If any of yours have been driven out to the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there he will fetch you, 5 And the Lord your God will bring you into the land that your fathers possessed, and you'll possess it, and he will do you good, and multiply you more than your fathers. 6 And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart, and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, so that you'll live. 7 And the Lord your God will put all these curses on your enemies, and on those who hate you, who persecuted you. 8 And you'll return and obey the voice of the Lord, and do all his commandments that I command you this day. 9 And the Lord your God will make you plenteous in every work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, and in the fruit of your cattle, and in the fruit of your land, for good, for the Lord will again rejoice over you for good, like he rejoiced over your fathers, 10 If you'll listen to the voice of the Lord your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that 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. 11 For this commandment that I command you this day, is not hidden from you, nor is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, so that you should say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it to us, so that we can hear it, and do it? 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you should say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it to us, so we can hear it, and do it? 14 But the word is very near you, in your mouth, and in your heart, so that you can do it. 15 See, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil, 16 In that I command you this day to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, so that you can live and multiply, and the Lord your God shall bless you in the land where you go to possess it. 17 But if your heart turns away, so that you won't hear, but shall be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them, 18 I denounce to you this day, that you'll surely perish, and that you won't prolong your days on the land, that you pass over Jordan to go to possess it. 19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing, therefore choose life, so that both you and your descendants will live, 20 So that you will love the Lord your God, and so that you'll obey his voice, and so you'll stick to him, for he is your life, and the length of your days, so that you'll live in the land that the Lord promised to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them." ___Deuteronomy chapter 31 1 And Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. 2 And he said to them, "I am one hundred twenty years old this day, I can no more go out and come in, also the Lord has said to me, You shall not go over this Jordan. 3 The Lord your God, he will go over before you, and he will destroy these nations from before you, and you'll possess them, and Joshua, he shall go over before you, as the Lord has said. 4 And the Lord shall do to them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and to the land of them, whom he destroyed. 5 And the Lord shall give them up before your face, so that you can do to them according to all the commandments that I've commanded you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, don't be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is he that goes with you, he will not fail you, nor forsake you. 7 And Moses called to Joshua, and said to him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage, for you must go with these people to the land that the Lord has promised to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. 8 And the Lord is he that goes before you, he will be with you, he will not fail you, nor forsake you, don't fear, nor be dismayed." 9 And 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. 10 And Moses commanded them, saying, "At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles, 11 When all Israel has come to appear before the Lord your God in the place that he shall choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 12 Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and your stranger that is within your gates, so that they'll hear, and so that they'll learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law, 13 And so that their children, that haven't known anything, will hear, and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in the land where you go over Jordan to possess it." 14 And the Lord said to Moses, "See, your days approach that you must die, call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, so that I can give him a command." And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation. 15 And the Lord appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud, and the pillar of the cloud stood over the door of the tabernacle. 16 And the Lord said to Moses, "See, you'll sleep with your fathers, and these people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, where they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant that I've made with them. 17 Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall happen to them, so that they will say in that day, Haven't these evils come on us, because our God is not among us? 18 And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils that they shall have done, in that they have turned to other gods. 19 Now therefore write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Israel, put it in their mouths, so that this song will be a witness for me against the children of Israel. 20 For when I shall have brought them into the land that I promised to their fathers, that flows with milk and honey, and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and grown fat, then they'll turn to other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant. 21 And it shall occur, when many evils and troubles have happened to them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness, for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their descendants, for I know their imaginations that they have, even now, before I have brought them into the land that I promised." 22 Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it to the children of Israel. 23 And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a command, and said, "Be strong and of good courage, for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land that I promised them, and I will be with you." 24 And when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished, 25 Moses commanded the Levites, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying, 26 "Take this book of the law, and put it inside of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, so it will be there for a witness against you. 27 For I know your rebellion, and you stiff neck, see, while I am yet alive with you this day, you've been rebellious against the Lord, and how much more after my death? 28 Gather to me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, so I can speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to witness against them. 29 For I know that after my death you'll completely corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way that I've commanded you, and evil will happen to you in the latter days, because you'll do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands." 30 And Moses spoke in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended. ___Deuteronomy chapter 32 1 "Give ear, O you heavens, and I will speak, and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. 2 My doctrine shall drop like the rain, my speech shall distill like the dew, like the small rain on the tender herb, and like the showers on the grass, 3 Because I will publish the name of the Lord, ascribe greatness to our God. 4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice, a God of truth and without sin, just and right is he. 5 They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children, they are a perverse and crooked generation. 6 Do you thus repay the Lord, O foolish people and unwise? Is not he your father that has bought you? Hasn't he made you, and established you? 7 Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations, ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you. 8 When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. 9 For the Lord's portion is his people, Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. 10 He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness, he led him around, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. 11 Like an eagle stirs up her nest, flutters over her young, spreads out her wings, takes them, carries them on her wings, 12 So the Lord alone led him, and there was no strange god with him. 13 He made him ride on the high places of the earth, so that he could eat the increase of the fields, and he made him suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock, 14 Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat, and you drank the pure blood of the grape. 15 But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked, you've become fat, you've grown thick, you're covered with fatness, then he forsook God who made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. 16 They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, they provoked him to anger with abominations. 17 They sacrificed to devils, not to God, to gods whom they didn't know, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers didn't fear. 18 You are unmindful of the Rock that begat you, and have forgotten God that formed you. 19 And when the Lord saw it, he hated them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters. 20 And he said, "I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be, for they are a very perverse generation, children in whom is no faith. 21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God, they have provoked me to anger with their vanities, and I will move them to jealousy with those who are not a people, I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. 22 For a fire is kindled in my anger, and shall burn to the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with its increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains. 23 I will heap mischiefs on them, I will use up my arrows on them. 24 They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction, I will also send the teeth of beasts on them, with the poison of serpents of the dust. 25 The sword outside, and terror inside, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs. 26 I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to stop from among men, 27 Were it not that I feared the anger of the enemy, so their adversaries won't behave themselves strangely, and so they won't say, Our hand is high, and the Lord hasn't done all this. 28 For they are a nation void of advice, nor is there any understanding in them. 29 O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end! 30 How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, and the Lord had shut them up? 31 For their rock is not like our Rock, our enemies themselves being judges. 32 For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah, their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter, 33 Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps. 34 Isn't this laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures? 35 To me belongs vengeance, and recompence, their foot shall slide in due time, for the day of their calamity is near, and the things that shall come on them are hurrying. 36 For the Lord shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he sees that their power is gone, and there is no one shut up, or left. 37 And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted, 38 That ate the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise up and help you, and be your protection. 39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me, I kill, and I make alive, I wound, and I heal, nor is there any that can deliver out of my hand. 40 For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live forever. 41 If I whet my glittering sword, and my hand takes hold on judgment, I will render vengeance to my enemies, and will reward those who hate me. 42 I will make my arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh, and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges on the enemy. 43 Rejoice, O you nations, with his people, for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will repay vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful to his land, and to his people." 44 And Moses came and spoke all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea the son of Nun. 45 And Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel, 46 And he said to them, "Set your hearts to all the words that I testify among you this day, that you shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. 47 For it is not a vain thing for you, because it is your life, and through this thing you shall prolong your days in the land, where you go over Jordan to possess it." 48 And the Lord spoke to Moses that same day, saying, 49 "Get up into this mountain Abarim, to Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is opposite Jericho, and look at the land of Canaan, that I give to the children of Israel for a possession, 50 And die in the mountain where you go up, and be gathered to your people, like Aaron your brother died in Mount Hor, and was gathered to his people, 51 Because you trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, because you didn't sanctify me among the children of Israel. 52 Yet you shall see the land before you, but you shall not go there to the land that I give the children of Israel." ___Deuteronomy chapter 33 1 And this is the blessing, with which Moses, the man of God, blessed the children of Israel before his death. 2 And he said, "The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir to them, he shined out from Mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints, a fiery law went from his right hand for them. 3 Yes, he loved the people, all his saints are in your hand, and they sat down at your feet, everyone shall receive of your words. 4 Moses commanded us a law, the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob. 5 And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together. 6 Let Reuben live, and not die, and let his men not be few. 7 And this is the blessing of Judah, and he said, Hear, Lord, the voice of Judah, and bring him to his people, let his hands be sufficient for him, and be a help to him from his enemies. 8 And of Levi he said, Let your Thummim and your Urim be with your holy one, whom you proved at Massah, and with whom you strove at the waters of Meribah, 9 Who said to his father and to his mother, I have not seen him, nor did he acknowledge his brothers, nor did he know his own children, for they have observed your word, and kept your covenant. 10 They shall teach Jacob your judgments, and Israel your law, they shall put incense before you, and whole burnt sacrifice on your altar. 11 Bless his substance, Lord, and accept the work of his hands, strike through the loins of those who rise against him, and of those who hate him, so that they don't rise again. 12 And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the Lord shall live in safety by him, and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall live between his shoulders. 13 And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the Lord be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that couches beneath, 14 And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon, 15 And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills, 16 And for the precious things of the earth and fulness of it, and for the good will of him that lived in the bush, let the blessing come on the head of Joseph, and on the top of the head of him that was separated from his brothers. 17 His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like horns of the rhinoceros, with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth, and they are the tens of thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh. 18 And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and, Issachar, in your tents. 19 They shall call the people to the mountain, they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness there, for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hidden in the sand. 20 And of Gad he said, Blessed be he that enlarges Gad, he lives like a lion, and tears the arm with the crown of the head. 21 And he provided the first part for himself, because there, in a portion of the lawgiver, he was seated, and he came with the heads of the people, he executed the justice of the Lord, and his judgments with Israel. 22 And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp, he shall leap from Bashan. 23 And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full with the blessing of the Lord, possess the west and the south. 24 And of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed with children, let him be acceptable to his brothers, and let him dip his foot in oil. 25 Your shoes shall be iron and brass, and as your days, so shall your strength be. 26 There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides on the heaven in your help, and in his excellency on the sky. 27 The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms, and he shall thrust out the enemy from before you, and shall say, Destroy them. 28 Israel then shall live in safety alone, the fountain of Jacob shall be on a land of corn and wine, also his heavens shall drop down dew. 29 Happy are you, O Israel, who is like you, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of your help, and who is the sword of your excellency! And your enemies shall be found liars to you, and you shall tread on their high places." ___Deuteronomy chapter 34 1 And Moses went up from the plains of Moab to the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is opposite Jericho. And the Lord showed him all the land of Gilead, as far as Dan, 2 And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, as far as the farthest sea, 3 And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, to Zoar. 4 And the Lord said to him, "This is the land that I promised to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, I will give it to your descendants, I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there." 5 So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. 6 And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Bethpeor, but no man knows about his tomb to this day. 7 And Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died, his eye was not dim, nor his natural force decreased. 8 And the children of Israel cried for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, so the days of crying and mourning for Moses were ended. 9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him, and the children of Israel listened to him, and did as the Lord commanded Moses. 10 And a prophet didn't arise since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 11 In all the signs and the wonders, that the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, 12 And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror that Moses showed in the sight of all Israel. ___Joshua chapter 1 1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, 2 "Moses my servant is dead, now therefore get up, go over this Jordan, you, and all these people, to the land that I give to them, to the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread on, I have given that to you, as I said to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon to the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. 5 No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you, I will not fail you, nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, for to these people you'll divide the land for an inheritance that I promised to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, so that you will observe to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you, don't turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you'll prosper wherever you go. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, so that you'll observe to do according to all that is written in it, for then you'll make your way prosperous, and then you'll have good success. 9 Haven't I commanded you? Be strong and of good courage, don't be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." 10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11 "Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare food, for within three days you'll pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land that the Lord your God gives you to possess." 12 And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, Joshua spoke, saying, 13 "Remember the word that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, The Lord your God has given you rest, and has given you this land. 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land that Moses gave you on this side of Jordan, but you shall pass armed before your brothers, all the mighty men of valor, and help them, 15 Until the Lord has given your brothers rest, like he's given you, and they've also possessed the land that the Lord your God gives them, then you shall return and enjoy the land of your possession, that Moses the Lord's servant gave you on this side of Jordan toward the sunrising." 16 And they answered Joshua, saying, "All that you command us we will do, and wherever you send us, we will go. 17 Like we listened to Moses in all things, so we will listen to you, only the Lord your God be with you, like he was with Moses. 18 Whoever he is that rebels against your commandment, and won't listen to your words in all that you command him, he shall be put to death, only be strong and of good courage." ___Joshua chapter 2 1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, "Go view the land, Jericho." And they went, and came into a prostitute's house, named Rahab, and lodged there. 2 And the king of Jericho was told, "See, men came in here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country." 3 And the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, "Bring out the men that have come to you, that have entered into your house, for they've come to search out all the country." 4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said, "Men came to me, but I didn't know where they were from, 5 And at about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, the men went out, I don't know where they went, pursue after them quickly, for you'll overtake them." 6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hidden them with the stalks of flax, that she had laid in order on the roof. 7 And the men pursued after them on the way to Jordan up to the fords, and as soon as those who pursued after them had gone out, they shut the gate. 8 And before they had laid down, she came up to them on the roof, 9 And she said to the men, "I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that your terror has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. 10 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, that were on the other side of Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you completely destroyed. 11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts melted, nor did any courage remain in any man because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. 12 Now therefore, please, promise me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you'll also show kindness to my father's house, and give me a true token, 13 And that you'll save my father alive, and my mother, and my brothers, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death." 14 And the men answered her, "Our life for yours, if don't tell this, our business. And it shall be, when the Lord has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you." 15 Then she let them down by a cord through the window, for her house was on the town wall, and she lived on the wall. 16 And she said to them, "Get to the mountain, so the pursuers won't find you, and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers have returned, and afterward you can be on your way." 17 And the men said to her, "We will be blameless of your oath that you've made us swear. 18 See, when we come into the land, you shall tie this line of red thread in the window that you let us down by, and you shall bring your father, and your mother, and your brothers, and all your father's household, home to you. 19 And it shall be, that whoever shall go out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his head, and we will be guiltless, and whoever shall be with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand is on him. 20 And if you tell this business of ours, then there's no deal regarding your oath that you've made us swear." 21 And she said, "According to your words, so be it." And she sent them away, and they departed, and she tied the red line in the window. 22 And they went, and came to the mountain, and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had returned, and the pursuers looked for them throughout all the way, but didn't find them. 23 So the two men returned, and went down from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that happened with them, 24 And they said to Joshua, "Truly the Lord has delivered into our hands all the land, for all the inhabitants of the country faint because of us." ___Joshua chapter 3 1 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and they moved from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. 2 And after three days, the officers went through the host, 3 And they commanded the people, "When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites carrying it, then you shall remove from your place, and go after it. 4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about one thousand yards by measure, don't come near it, so that you'll know the way by which you must go, for you haven't passed this way before." 5 And Joshua said to the people, "Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you." 6 And Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people." And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people. 7 And the Lord said to Joshua, "This day I'll begin to magnify you in the sight of all Israel, so that they will know that as I was with Moses, so I'll be with you. 8 And you shall command the priests that carry the ark of the covenant, saying, When you've come to the bank of the water of Jordan, you shall stand still in Jordan." 9 And Joshua said to the children of Israel, "Come here, and hear the words of the Lord your God." 10 And Joshua said, "Hereby you'll know that the living God is among you, and that he will, without fail, drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites. 11 See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passes over before you into Jordan. 12 Now therefore take twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man. 13 And it shall occur, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that carry the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from upstream, and they'll be heaped up." 14 And it occurred, when the people went from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests carrying the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 And when those who carried the ark had come to Jordan, and the feet of the priests that carried the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overflows all its banks all the time of harvest,) 16 That the waters that came down from above stood and rose up on a heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan, and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, the salt sea failed, and were cut off, and the people passed over opposite Jericho. 17 And the priests that carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people had finished passing over Jordan. ___Joshua chapter 4 1 And when all the people had finished passing over Jordan, the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 "Take twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, 3 And command them, saying, Take from here out of the middle of Jordan, out of the place where the priests feet stood firm, twelve stones, and you shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where you'll lodge this night." 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man, 5 And Joshua said to them, "Pass over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of Jordan, and every man of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, 6 So that this will be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in the future, saying, What do you mean by these stones? 7 Then you shall answer them that the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off, and these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever." 8 And the children of Israel did like Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the middle of Jordan, like the Lord said to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. 9 And Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests that carried the ark of the covenant stood, and they are there until this day. 10 For the priests that carried the ark stood in the middle of Jordan, until everything was finished that the Lord commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua, and the people hurried and passed over. 11 And when all the people had finished passing over, the ark of the Lord passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people. 12 And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, like Moses spoke to them, 13 About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the Lord to battle, to the plains of Jericho. 14 On that day the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they feared him, like they feared Moses, all the days of his life. 15 And the Lord said to Joshua, 16 "Command the priests that carry the ark of the testimony, to come up out of Jordan." 17 Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, "Come up out of Jordan." 18 And when the priests that carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord had come up out of the middle of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up to the dry land, the waters of Jordan returned to their place, and flowed over all its banks, like they did before. 19 And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho. 20 And Joshua tossed those twelve stones that they took out of Jordan in Gilgal. 21 And he spoke to the children of Israel, saying, "When your children shall ask their fathers in the future, What do these stones mean? 22 Then you shall let your children know, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. 23 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until you had passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we had gone over, 24 So that all the people of the earth would know the hand of the Lord is mighty, so that you'll fear the Lord your God forever." ___Joshua chapter 5 1 And when all the kings of the Amorites, that were on the west side of Jordan, and all the kings of the Canaanites, that were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we had passed over, their hearts melted, nor was there spirit in them anymore, because of the children of Israel. 2 At that time, the Lord said to Joshua, "Make for yourselves sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. 3 And Joshua made sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. 4 And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised. All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, all the men of war, died in the wilderness on the way, after they came out of Egypt. 5 Now all the people that came out were circumcised, but all the people that were born in the wilderness on the way as they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised. 6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, 'til all the people that were men of war, who came out of Egypt, had died, because they didn't obey the voice of the Lord, to whom the Lord swore that he wouldn't show them the land that the Lord promised to their fathers that he would give us, a land that flows with milk and honey. 7 And their children, whom he raised up instead of them, Joshua circumcised, for they were uncircumcised, because they hadn't circumcised them on the way. 8 And when they had finished circumcising all the people, they stayed in their places in the camp, 'til they were healed. 9 And the Lord said to Joshua, "This day I've rolled away the reproach of Egypt off of you. So the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day. 10 And the children of Israel camped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at evening in the plains of Jericho. 11 And they ate of the old corn of the land on the next day after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn on the same day. 12 And the manna stopped on the next day after they had eaten of the old corn of the land, nor did the children of Israel have manna anymore, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year. 13 And when Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and see, a man stood opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him, and said to him, "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?" 14 And he said, "No, but as captain of the host of the Lord I've now come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and worshipped, and said to him, "What does my lord say to his servant?" 15 And the captain of the Lord's host said to Joshua, "Take off your shoes, for the place on which you're standing is holy." And Joshua did. ___Joshua chapter 6 1 Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the children of Israel, no one went out, and no one came in. 2 And the Lord said to Joshua, "See, I've given into your hand Jericho, and its king, and the mighty men of valor. 3 And you shall circle the city, all you men of war, and go around the city once. You shall do that six days. 4 And seven priests shall carry before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns, and the seventh day you shall circle the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. 5 And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him." 6 And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests carry seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord." 7 And he said to the people, "Pass on, and circle the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the Lord. 8 And when Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the Lord, and blew with the trumpets, and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them. 9 And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. 10 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, "You shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, nor shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I tell you shout, then you shall shout." 11 So the ark of the Lord circled the city, going around it once, and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp. 12 And Joshua got up early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. 13 And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually, and blew with the trumpets, and the armed men went before them, but the rear guard came after the ark of the Lord, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. 14 And the second day they circled the city once, and returned to the camp, they did that six days. 15 And on the seventh day, they got up early at about the dawning of the day, and circled the city, in the same way, seven times, only on that day did they circle the city seven times. 16 And at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, "Shout, for the Lord has given you the city. 17 And the city shall be accursed, it, and all that are in it, to the Lord, only Rahab the prostitute shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. 18 And you, be sure to keep yourselves from the accursed thing, so you don't make yourselves accursed, when you take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 19 But all the silver, and gold, and brass and iron pots, are consecrated to the Lord, they shall come into the treasury of the Lord." 20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets, and when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man directly before him, and they took the city. 21 And they completely destroyed everything that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword. 22 But Joshua had said to the two men that had spied out the country, "Go into the prostitute's house, and bring out the woman from there, and all that she has, like you swore to her." 23 And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brothers, and all that she had, and they brought out all her family, and left them outside the camp of Israel. 24 And they burned the city with fire, and all that was in it, only the silver, and the gold, and the brass and iron pots, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord. 25 And Joshua saved Rahab the prostitute alive, and her father's household, and all that she had, and she lives in Israel until this day, because she hid the messengers that Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. 26 And Joshua warned them at that time, saying, "Cursed be the man before the Lord, that rises up and builds this city Jericho, he shall lay the foundation of it in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it." 27 So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame was spoken of throughout all the country. ___Joshua chapter 7 1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing, for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things, and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel. 2 And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, that is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, "Go up and view the country." And the men went up and viewed Ai. 3 And they returned to Joshua, and said to him, "Don't send all the people to go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and strike Ai, and don't make all the people labor there, for they are but few. 4 So about three thousand men of the people went up there, and they fled before the men of Ai. 5 And the men of Ai struck of them about thirty six men, for they chased them from before the gate to Shebarim, and struck them in the going down, so the hearts of the people melted, and became like water. 6 And Joshua tore his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, "Alas, O Lord God, why have you at all brought these people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would to God we had been content, and lived on the other side of Jordan! 8 O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turns their backs before their enemies! 9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall surround us, and cut off our name from the earth, and what will you do to your great name?" 10 And the Lord said to Joshua, "Get up, why are you lying on your face like this? 11 Israel has sinned, and they've also transgressed my covenant that I commanded them, for they've taken of the accursed things, and have also stolen, and pretended also, and they've put it among their own stuff. 12 Therefore the children of Israel couldn't stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed, nor will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you. 13 Get up, sanctify the people, and say, Purify yourselves against tomorrow, for thus says the Lord God of Israel, There is an accursed thing among you, O Israel, you can't stand before your enemies, until you take away the accursed thing from among you. 14 In the morning therefore you'll be brought according to your tribes, and it shall be, that the tribe that the Lord takes shall come according to the families of it, and the family that the Lord shall take shall come by households, and the household that the Lord takes shall come man by man. 15 And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and because he has done foolishness in Israel." 16 So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes, and the tribe of Judah was taken, 17 And he brought the family of Judah, and he took the family of the Zarhites, and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man, and Zabdi was taken, 18 And he brought his household man by man, and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. 19 And Joshua said to Achan, "My son, please give glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession to him, and tell me now what you've done, don't hide it from me." 20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, "Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus I have done, 21 When I saw among the spoils a good Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them, and see, they're hidden in the earth in the middle of my tent, and the silver under it." 22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and see, it was hidden in his tent, and the silver under it. 23 And they took them out of the middle of the tent, and brought them to Joshua, and to all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the Lord. 24 And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had, and they brought them to the valley of Achor. 25 And Joshua said, "Why have you troubled us? The Lord shall trouble you this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. 26 And they raised over him a large heap of stones until this day. So the Lord turned from the fierceness of his anger. So the name of that place was called, "The valley of Achor," until this day. ___Joshua chapter 8 1 And the Lord said to Joshua, "Don't be afraid, nor be dismayed, take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai, see, I've given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land, 2 And you'll do to Ai and her king like you did to Jericho and her king, only the spoil of it, and the cattle of it, you shall take for a prey to yourselves, lay an ambush for the city behind it." 3 So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai, and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valor, and sent them away by night. 4 And he commanded them, "See, you shall lie in wait against the city, behind the city, don't go very far from the city, but all of you be ready, 5 And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach the city, and it shall occur, when they come out against us, like before, that we will run away from them, 6 (For they will come out after us) 'til we have drawn them from the city, for they will say, They flee before us, like at the first, therefore we will flee before them. 7 Then you shall rise up from the ambush, and seize the city, for the Lord your God will deliver it into your hand. 8 And it shall be, when you've taken the city, that you shall set the city on fire, according to the commandment of the Lord shall you do. See, I have commanded you." 9 Joshua therefore sent them out, and they went to lie in ambush, and stayed between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai, but Joshua lodged that night among the people. 10 And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and numbered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai. 11 And all the people, the people of war that were with him, went up, and went near, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai, now there was a valley between them and Ai. 12 And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. 13 And when they had set the people, all the host that was on the north of the city, and their liers in wait on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the middle of the valley. 14 And when the king of Ai saw it, they hurried and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain, but he didn't know that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city. 15 And Joshua and all Israel made like they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness. 16 And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them, and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city. 17 And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, that didn't go out after Israel, and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel. 18 And the Lord said to Joshua, "Stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand." And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city. 19 And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand, and they entered into the city, and took it, and hurried and set the city on fire. 20 And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and see, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way, and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back on the pursuers. 21 And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and killed the men of Ai. 22 And the others came out of the city against them, so they were in the middle of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side, and they struck them, so that they let none of them remain or escape. 23 And they took alive the king of Ai, and brought him to Joshua. 24 And when Israel had made an end of killing all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness in which they chased them, and when they had all fallen on the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, all the Israelites returned to Ai, and struck it with the edge of the sword. 25 And so it was, that all that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, all the men of Ai. 26 For Joshua didn't pull his hand back, with which he stretched out the spear, until he had completely destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai. 27 Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey for themselves, according to the word of the Lord that he commanded Joshua. 28 And Joshua burned Ai, and made it a heap forever, a desolation until this day. 29 And the king of Ai he hung on a tree until evening, and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and throw it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise on it a large heap of stones, that remains until this day. 30 Then Joshua built an altar to the Lord God of Israel in Mount Ebal, 31 As Moses, the servant of the Lord, commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man had lifted up any iron, and they offered on it burnt offerings to the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings. 32 And he wrote there, on the stones, a copy of the law of Moses, that he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel. 33 And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side of the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them, half of them over against Mount Gerizim, and half of them over against Mount Ebal, like Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded before, so that they should bless the people of Israel. 34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. 35 There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, that Joshua didn't read before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them. ___Joshua chapter 9 1 And when all the kings that were on this side of Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea opposite Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard about it, 2 They gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, all of them together. 3 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, 4 They worked wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks on their asses, and wine bottles, old, and torn, and mended up, 5 And old shoes and clouted on their feet, and old garments on them, and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. 6 And they went to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him, and to the men of Israel, "We've come from a far country, now therefore make a league with us." 7 And the men of Israel said to the Hivites, "Perhaps you live among us, and how shall we make a league with you?" 8 And they said to Joshua, "We are your servants." And Joshua said to them, "Who are you? And where do you come from?" 9 And they said to him, "From a very far country your servants have come because of the name of the Lord your God, for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, 10 And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth. 11 So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, Take food with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them, We are your servants, therefore now make a league with us. 12 This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came out to go to you, but now, see, it is dry, and it is moldy, 13 And these bottles of wine, that we filled, were new, and see, they're torn, and our garments and our shoes have become old because of the very long journey. 14 And the men took of their food, and didn't ask advice from the mouth of the Lord. 15 And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live, and the princes of the congregation swore to them. 16 And at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they lived among them. 17 And the children of Israel journeyed, and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim. 18 And the children of Israel didn't strike them, because the princes of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes. 19 But all the princes said to all the congregation, "We have sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel, now therefore we may not touch them. 20 Here's what we'll do to them, we'll let them live, so that wrath won't be on us, because of the oath that we swore to them." 21 And the princes said to them, "Let them live, but let them be cutters of wood and drawers of water to all the congregation, as the princes had promised them." 22 And Joshua called for them, and he said to them, "Why have you beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you, when you live among us? 23 Now therefore you are cursed, and none of you shall be free from being bondmen, and cutters of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God. 24 And they answered Joshua, "Because it was certainly told your servants, how the Lord your God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were very afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing. 25 And now, see, we are in your hand, do to us what seems good and right to you to. 26 And that's what he did to them, and gave them deliverance from the hand of the children of Israel, so that they didn't kill them. 27 And Joshua made them that day cutters of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the Lord, until this day, in the place that he would choose. ___Joshua chapter 10 1 Now when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had completely destroyed it, like he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king, and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them, 2 They feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men of it were mighty. 3 So Adonizedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, and to Piram king of Jarmuth, and to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying, 4 "Come up unto me, and help me, so we can strike Gibeon, for it has made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel." 5 Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, and all their armies, and camped before Gibeon, and made war against it. 6 And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, "Don't hold back your hand from your servants, come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites that live in the mountains have gathered together against us." 7 So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. 8 And the Lord said to Joshua, "Don't be afraid of them, for I have delivered them into your hand, not a man of them shall stand before you." 9 Joshua therefore came to them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night. 10 And the Lord discomfited them before Israel, and killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goes up to Bethhoron, and struck them to Azekah, and to Makkedah. 11 And as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, the Lord threw down great stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died, there were more who died by hail stones than those whom the children of Israel killed with the sword. 12 Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, "Sun, stand still on Gibeon, and you, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon." 13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves on their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the middle of heaven, and didn't go down for about a whole day. 14 And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord listened to the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel. 15 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp to Gilgal. 16 But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah. 17 And Joshua was told , "The five kings have been found hidden in a cave at Makkedah." 18 And Joshua said, "Roll large stones on the mouth of the cave, and set men by it to keep them, 19 And don't stay, but pursue after your enemies, and strike the tail end of them, don't allow them to enter into their cities, for the Lord your God has delivered them into your hand." 20 And when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of killing them with a very great slaughter, 'til they were consumed, the rest that remained of them entered into fenced cities. 21 And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace, no one moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel. 22 Then Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings to me out of the cave." 23 And they did so, and brought out those five kings to him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. 24 And when they brought out those kings to Joshua, Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the captains of the men of war that went with him, "Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings." And they came near, and put their feet on the necks of them. 25 And Joshua said to them, "Don't be afraid, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage, for this is what the Lord shall do to all your enemies against whom you fight." 26 And afterward Joshua struck them, and killed them, and hung them on five trees, and they were hanging on the trees until the evening. 27 And at the time of the going down of the sun, Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and threw them into the cave in which they had been hiding, and laid large stones in the cave's mouth, that remain until this very day. 28 And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and he completely destroyed its king, them, and all the souls that were in it, he let none remain, and he did to the king of Makkedah like he did to the king of Jericho. 29 Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, to Libnah, and fought against Libnah, 30 And the Lord delivered it also, and its king, into the hand of Israel, and he struck it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were in it, he let no one remain in it, but did to the king of it like he did to the king of Jericho. 31 And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, to Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it, 32 And the Lord delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, who took it on the second day, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were in it, according to all that he had done to Libnah. 33 Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish, and Joshua struck him and his people, until he had left him no one remaining. 34 And from Lachish, Joshua passed to Eglon, and all Israel with him, and they encamped against it, and fought against it, 35 And they took it on that day, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were in it he completely destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish. 36 And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, to Hebron, and they fought against it, 37 And they took it, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and the king of it, and all the cities of it, and all the souls that were in it, he left no one remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon, but destroyed it completely, and all the souls that were in it. 38 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir, and fought against it, 39 And he took it, and the king of it, and all the cities of it, and they struck them with the edge of the sword, and completely destroyed all the souls that were in it, he left no one remaining, as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king of it, as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king. 40 So Joshua struck all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings, he left no one remaining, but completely destroyed all that breathed, as the Lord God of Israel commanded. 41 And Joshua struck them from Kadeshbarnea to Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, to Gibeon. 42 And Joshua took all these kings and their land at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel. 43 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp to Gilgal. ___Joshua chapter 11 1 And when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph, 2 And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west, 3 And to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh. 4 And they went out, they and all their armies with them, many people, like the sand that is at the sea shore in multitude, with very many horses and chariots. 5 And when all these kings had gotten together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel. 6 And the Lord said to Joshua, "Don't be afraid because of them, for tomorrow about this time I'll deliver them up all killed before Israel, you shall slash their horses, and burn their chariots with fire." 7 So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly, and they fell on them. 8 And the Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel, who struck them, and chased them to great Zidon, and to Misrephothmaim, and to the valley of Mizpeh eastward, and they struck them, until no one remained. 9 And Joshua did to them as the Lord told him, he slashed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire. 10 And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and struck its king with the sword, for Hazor previously was the head of all those kingdoms. 11 And they struck all the souls that were in it with the edge of the sword, completely destroying them, there was no one left breathing, and he burnt Hazor with fire. 12 And Joshua took all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, and struck them with the edge of the sword, and he completely destroyed them, like Moses the servant of the Lord commanded. 13 But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, except Hazor only, Joshua burned that. 14 And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey for themselves, but they struck every man with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, and they didn't leave anyone breathing. 15 As the Lord commanded Moses, his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and Joshua did it, he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses. 16 So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same, 17 Even from the Mount Halak, that goes up to Seir, even to Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon under Mount Hermon, and all their kings he took, and struck them, and killed them. 18 Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. 19 There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, except the Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon, all others they took in battle. 20 For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, so that they would come against Israel in battle, so that he would destroy them completely, and that they would have no favor, but so that he would destroy them, as the Lord commanded Moses. 21 And Joshua came at that time, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel, Joshua destroyed them completely with their cities. 22 There were none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel, only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, some remained. 23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord said to Moses, and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war. ___Joshua chapter 12 1 Now these are the kings of the land, that the children of Israel struck, and possessed their land on the other side of Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the river Arnon to Mount Hermon, and all the plain on the east, 2 Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the bank of the river Arnon, and from the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, to the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon, 3 And from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and to the sea of the plain, the salt sea on the east, the way to Bethjeshimoth, and from the south, under Ashdothpisgah, 4 And the coast of Og king of Bashan, that was of the remnant of the giants, that lived at Ashtaroth and at Edrei, 5 And ruled in Mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, to the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon. 6 Moses the servant of the Lord and the children of Israel struck them, and Moses the servant of the Lord gave it for a possession to the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and one half of the tribe of Manasseh. 7 And these are the kings of the country that Joshua and the children of Israel struck on this side of Jordan on the west, from Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon to the Mount Halak, that goes up to Seir, which Joshua gave to the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions, 8 In the mountains, and in the valleys, and in the plains, and in the springs, and in the wilderness, and in the south country, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, 9 The king of Jericho, one, the king of Ai, that is beside Bethel, one, 10 The king of Jerusalem, one, the king of Hebron, one, 11 The king of Jarmuth, one, the king of Lachish, one, 12 The king of Eglon, one, the king of Gezer, one, 13 The king of Debir, one, the king of Geder, one, 14 The king of Hormah, one, the king of Arad, one, 15 The king of Libnah, one, the king of Adullam, one, 16 The king of Makkedah, one, the king of Bethel, one, 17 The king of Tappuah, one, the king of Hepher, one, 18 The king of Aphek, one, the king of Lasharon, one, 19 The king of Madon, one, the king of Hazor, one, 20 The king of Shimronmeron, one, the king of Achshaph, one, 21 The king of Taanach, one, the king of Megiddo, one, 22 The king of Kedesh, one, the king of Jokneam of Carmel, one, 23 The king of Dor in the coast of Dor, one, the king of the nations of Gilgal, one, 24 The king of Tirzah, one, all the kings, thirty one. ___Joshua chapter 13 1 Now Joshua was old and stricken in years, and the Lord said to him, "You're old and stricken in years, and there still remains very much land to be possessed. 2 This is the land that still remains, all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri, 3 From Sihor, that is before Egypt, to the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite, five lords of the Philistines, the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites, also the Avites, 4 From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians, to Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites, 5 And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under Mount Hermon to the entrance of Hamath. 6 All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians, I will drive them out from before the children of Israel, only divide it by drawing straws to the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded you. 7 Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes, and the one half tribe of Manasseh, 8 With whom the Reubenites and the Gadites have received their inheritance that Moses gave them, beyond Jordan eastward, as Moses the servant of the Lord gave them, 9 From Aroer, that is on the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the river, and all the plain of Medeba to Dibon, 10 And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, that ruled in Heshbon, to the border of the children of Ammon, 11 And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Salcah, 12 All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, that ruled in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants, for Moses struck those, and threw them out. 13 But the children of Israel didn't expel the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites, but the Geshurites and the Maachathites live among the Israelites until this day. 14 Only to the tribe of Levi he didn't give any inheritance, the sacrifices of the Lord God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said to them. 15 And Moses gave to the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families. 16 And their coast was from Aroer, that is on the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the river, and all the plain by Medeba, 17 Heshbon, and all her cities that are in the plain, Dibon, and Bamothbaal, and Bethbaalmeon, 18 And Jahazah, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath, 19 And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zarethshahar in the mount of the valley, 20 And Bethpeor, and Ashdothpisgah, and Bethjeshimoth, 21 And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, whom Moses struck with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, who were dukes of Sihon, living in the country. 22 The children of Israel also killed Balaam the son of Beor, the sort-of-prophet, with the sword among those who were killed by them. 23 And the border of the children of Reuben was Jordan, and the border of it. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben after their families, the cities and the villages of it. 24 And Moses gave inheritance to the tribe of Gad, to the children of Gad according to their families. 25 And their coast was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, to Aroer that is before Rabbah, 26 And from Heshbon to Ramathmizpeh, and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the border of Debir, 27 And in the valley, Betharam, and Bethnimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, Jordan and his border, to the edge of the sea of Chinnereth on the other side of Jordan eastward. 28 This is the inheritance of the children of Gad after their families, the cities, and their villages. 29 And Moses gave inheritance to the one half tribe of Manasseh, and this was the possession of the half tribe of the children of Manasseh by their families. 30 And their coast was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og, king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair that are in Bashan, sixty cities, 31 And half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were pertaining to the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, to the one half of the children of Machir by their families. 32 These are the countries that Moses distributed for inheritance in the plains of Moab, on the other side of Jordan, by Jericho, eastward. 33 But Moses didn't give any inheritance to the tribe of Levi, the Lord God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said to them. ___Joshua chapter 14 1 And these are the countries that the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, that Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance to them. 2 Their inheritance was by drawing straws, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe. 3 For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and a half tribe on the other side of Jordan, but to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them. 4 For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim, therefore they gave no part to the Levites in the land, except cities to live in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance. 5 The children of Israel did as the Lord commanded Moses, and they divided the land. 6 Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said to him, "You know the thing that the Lord said to Moses the man of God concerning me and you in Kadeshbarnea. 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadeshbarnea to spy out the land, and I brought him back word as it was in my heart. 8 But my brothers that went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I completely followed the Lord my God. 9 And Moses swore on that day, saying, Surely the land on which your feet have walked shall be your inheritance, and your children's forever, because you've completely followed the Lord my God. 10 And now, see, the Lord has kept me alive, as he said, these forty five years, since the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness, and now, see, today I'm eighty five years old. 11 As I am still as strong today as I was on the day that Moses sent me, my strength now is like my strength was then, for war, both to go out, and to come in. 12 Now therefore give me this mountain, about which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced, if the Lord will be with me, then I'll be able to drive them out, like the Lord said. 13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, Hebron for an inheritance. 14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite to this day, because he completely followed the Lord God of Israel. 15 And the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba, which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war. ___Joshua chapter 15 1 This then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah by their families, to the border of Edom the wilderness of Zin southward was the farthest part of the south coast. 2 And their south border was from the shore of the Dead Sea, from the bay that looks southward, 3 And it went out to the south side to Maalehacrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side to Kadeshbarnea, and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and circled to Karkaa, 4 From there it passed toward Azmon, and went out to the river of Egypt, and the goings out of that coast were at the sea, this shall be your south coast. 5 And the east border was the Dead Sea, to the end of Jordan. And their border in the north quarter was from the bay of the sea at the farthest part of Jordan, 6 And the border went up to Bethhogla, and passed along by the north of Betharabah, and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben, 7 And the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is before the going up to Adummim, that is on the south side of the river, and the border passed toward the waters of Enshemesh, and the goings out of it were at Enrogel, 8 And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom to the south side of the Jebusite, which is Jerusalem, and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lies before the valley of Hinnom westward, that is at the end of the valley of the giants northward, 9 And the border was drawn from the top of the hill to the fountain of the water of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of Mount Ephron, and the border was drawn to Baalah, that is Kirjathjearim, 10 And the border circled from Baalah westward to mount Seir, and passed along to the side of Mount Jearim, which is Chesalon, on the north side, and went down to Bethshemesh, and passed on to Timnah, 11 And the border went out to the side of Ekron northward, and the border was drawn to Shicron, and passed along to Mount Baalah, and went out to Jabneel, and the goings out of the border were at the sea. 12 And the west border was to the Mediterranean sea, and the coast of it. This is the coast of the children of Judah around according to their families. 13 And to Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the Lord to Joshua, even the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron. 14 And Caleb drove from there the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak. 15 And he went up from there to the inhabitants of Debir, and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher. 16 And Caleb said, "He that smites Kirjathsepher, and takes it, I'll give him Achsah, my daughter, as wife." 17 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it, and he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife. 18 And as she came to him, she moved him to ask from her father a field, and she dismounted from her animal, and Caleb said to her, "What do you want?" 19 Who answered, "Give me a blessing, for you've given me a south land, give me also springs of water." And he gave her the upper springs, and the lowermost springs. 20 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families. 21 And the farthest cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur, 22 And Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah, 23 And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan, 24 Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth, 25 And Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor, 26 Amam, and Shema, and Moladah, 27 And Hazargaddah, and Heshmon, and Bethpalet, 28 And Hazarshual, and Beersheba, and Bizjothjah, 29 Baalah, and Iim, and Azem, 30 And Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah, 31 And Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah, 32 And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon, all the cities are twenty nine, with their villages, 33 And in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah, 34 And Zanoah, and Engannim, Tappuah, and Enam, 35 Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah, 36 And Sharaim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim, fourteen cities with their villages, 37 Zenan, and Hadashah, and Migdalgad, 38 And Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel, 39 Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon, 40 And Cabbon, and Lahmam, and Kithlish, 41 And Gederoth, Bethdagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah, sixteen cities with their villages, 42 Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan, 43 And Jiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib, 44 And Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah, nine cities with their villages, 45 Ekron, with her towns and her villages, 46 From Ekron to the sea, all that were close to Ashdod, with their villages, 47 Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, to the river of Egypt, and the Mediterranean sea, and the border of it, 48 And in the mountains, Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh, 49 And Dannah, and Kirjathsannah, which is Debir, 50 And Anab, and Eshtemoh, and Anim, 51 And Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh, eleven cities with their villages, 52 Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean, 53 And Janum, and Bethtappuah, and Aphekah, 54 And Humtah, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, and Zior, nine cities with their villages, 55 Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah, 56 And Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah, 57 Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah, ten cities with their villages, 58 Halhul, Bethzur, and Gedor, 59 And Maarath, and Bethanoth, and Eltekon, six cities with their villages, 60 Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, and Rabbah, two cities with their villages, 61 In the wilderness, Betharabah, Middin, and Secacah, 62 And Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and Engedi, six cities with their villages. 63 As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah couldn't drive them out, but the Jebusites live with the children of Judah at Jerusalem until this day. ___Joshua chapter 16 1 And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, to the water of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goes up from Jericho throughout Mount Bethel, 2 And goes out from Bethel to Luz, and passes along to the borders of Archi to Ataroth, 3 And goes down westward to the coast of Japhleti, to the coast of Bethhoron, the lowermost, and to Gezer, and the goings out of it are at the sea. 4 So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance. 5 And the border of the children of Ephraim according to their families was thus, the border of their inheritance on the east side was Atarothaddar, to Bethhoron the upper, 6 And the border went out toward the sea to Michmethah on the north side, and the border went about eastward to Taanathshiloh, and passed by it on the east to Janohah, 7 And it went down from Janohah to Ataroth, and to Naarath, and came to Jericho, and went out at Jordan. 8 The border went out from Tappuah westward to the river Kanah, and the goings out of it were at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim by their families. 9 And the separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages. 10 And they didn't drive out the Canaanites that lived in Gezer, but the Canaanites live among the Ephraimites until this day, and serve under tribute. ___Joshua chapter 17 1 There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh, for he was the firstborn of Joseph, specifically, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan. 2 There was also a lot for the rest of the children of Manasseh by their families, for the children of Abiezer, and for the children of Helek, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children of Shechem, and for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida, these were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph by their families. 3 But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters, and these are the names of his daughters, Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 4 And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua, the son of Nun, and before the princes and said, "The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers." Therefore according to the commandment of the Lord he gave them an inheritance among the brothers of their father. 5 And ten portions fell to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, that were on the other side of Jordan, 6 Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons, and the rest of Manasseh's sons had the land of Gilead. 7 And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah, that lies before Shechem, and the border went along on the right hand to the inhabitants of Entappuah. 8 Now Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim, 9 And the coast descended to the river Kanah, southward of the river, these cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh, the coast of Manasseh also was on the north side of the river, and the outgoings of it were at the sea, 10 Southward it was Ephraim's, and northward it was Manasseh's, and the sea is its border, and they met together in Asher on the north, and in Issachar on the east. 11 And in Issachar and in Asher, Manasseh had Bethshean and her towns, and Ibleam and her towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Endor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and her towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns, three countries. 12 Yet the children of Manasseh couldn't drive out the inhabitants of those cities, but the Canaanites would live in that land. 13 Yet when the children of Israel had become strong, they put the Canaanites to tribute, but didn't completely drive them out. 14 And the children of Joseph said to Joshua, "Why have you given me only one lot and one portion to inherit, since we are a great people, since the Lord has blessed me until now?" 15 And Joshua answered them, "If you're a great people, then get up to the wood country, and cut down for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if Mount Ephraim is too narrow for you." 16 And the children of Joseph said, "The hill isn't enough for us, and all the Canaanites that live in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both those who are of Bethshean and her towns, and those who are of the valley of Jezreel." 17 And Joshua said to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and to Manasseh, "You are a great people, and have great power, you won't have just one lot, 18 But the mountain shall be yours, for it is a forest, and you'll cut it down, and the outgoings of it shall be yours, for you'll drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they're strong." ___Joshua chapter 18 1 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them. 2 And seven tribes remained among the children of Israel that hadn't yet received their inheritance. 3 And Joshua said to the children of Israel, "How long are you slack to go to possess the land that the Lord God of your fathers has given you? 4 Give out from among you three men for each tribe, and I will send them, and they shall rise, and go through the land, and describe it according to the inheritance of them, and they shall come back to me. 5 And they shall divide it into seven parts, Judah shall live in their coast on the south, and the house of Joseph shall live in their coasts on the north. 6 You shall therefore describe the land into seven parts, and bring the description here to me, so I can draw straws for you here before the Lord our God. 7 But the Levites have no part among you, for the priesthood of the Lord is their inheritance, and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh, have received their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east, that Moses the servant of the Lord gave them. 8 And the men got up, and went away, and Joshua charged them that went to describe the land, saying, "Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come back to me, so I can draw straws here for you before the Lord in Shiloh. 9 And the men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts in a book, and came back to Joshua to the host at Shiloh. 10 And Joshua drew straws for them in Shiloh before the Lord, and Joshua divided the land there for the children of Israel according to their divisions. 11 And the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families, and the coast of their lot came out between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph. 12 And their border on the north side was from Jordan, and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward, and the goings out of it were at the wilderness of Bethaven. 13 And the border went over from there toward Luz, to the side of Luz, that is Bethel, southward, and the border descended to Atarothadar, near the hill that lies on the south side of the lowermost Bethhoron. 14 And the border was drawn from there, and circled the corner of the sea southward, from the hill that lies before Bethhoron southward, and the goings out of it were at Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, a city of the children of Judah, this was the west quarter. 15 And the south quarter was from the end of Kirjathjearim, and the border went out on the west, and went out to the well of waters of Nephtoah, 16 And the border came down to the end of the mountain that lies before the valley of the son of Hinnom, and that is in the valley of the giants on the north, and descended to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of Jebusi on the south, and descended to Enrogel, 17 And was drawn from the north, and went out to Enshemesh, and went out toward Geliloth, that is opposite the going up of Adummim, and descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben, 18 And passed along toward the side opposite Arabah northward, and went down to Arabah, 19 And the border passed along to the side of Bethhoglah northward, and the outgoings of the border were at the north bay of the Dead Sea at the south end of Jordan, this was the south coast. 20 And Jordan was the border of it on the east side. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the coasts of it all around, according to their families. 21 Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Bethhoglah, and the valley of Keziz, 22 And Betharabah, and Zemaraim, and Bethel, 23 And Avim, and Parah, and Ophrah, 24 And Chepharhaammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba, twelve cities with their villages, 25 Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth, 26 And Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah, 27 And Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah, 28 And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kirjath, fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families. ___Joshua chapter 19 1 And the second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families, and their inheritance was inside the inheritance of the children of Judah. 2 And they had in their inheritance Beersheba, or Sheba, and Moladah, 3 And Hazarshual, and Balah, and Azem, 4 And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah, 5 And Ziklag, and Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusah, 6 And Bethlebaoth, and Sharuhen, thirteen cities and their villages, 7 Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan, four cities and their villages, 8 And all the villages that were around these cities to Baalathbeer, Ramath of the south. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families. 9 The inheritance of the children of Simeon was out of the portion of the children of Judah, for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them, therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance inside the inheritance of them. 10 And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families, and the border of their inheritance was to Sarid, 11 And their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam, 12 And turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising to the border of Chislothtabor, and then goes out to Daberath, and goes up to Japhia, 13 And from there, passes on along on the east to Gittahhepher, to Ittahkazin, and goes out to Remmonmethoar to Neah, 14 And the border circles it on the north side to Hannathon, and the outgoings of it are in the valley of Jiphthahel, 15 And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem, twelve cities with their villages. 16 This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages. 17 And the fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families. 18 And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem, 19 And Hapharaim, and Shion, and Anaharath, 20 And Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez, 21 And Remeth, and Engannim, and Enhaddah, and Bethpazzez, 22 And the coast reaches to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Bethshemesh, and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan, sixteen cities with their villages. 23 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages. 24 And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families. 25 And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph, 26 And Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal, and reaches to Carmel westward, and to Shihorlibnath, 27 And turns toward the sunrising to Bethdagon, and reaches to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthahel toward the north side of Bethemek, and Neiel, and goes out to Cabul on the left hand, 28 And Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, to great Zidon, 29 And then the coast turns to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre, and the coast turns to Hosah, and the outgoings of it are at the sea from the coast to Achzib, 30 Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob, twenty two cities with their villages. 31 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages. 32 The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, for the children of Naphtali according to their families. 33 And their coast was from Heleph, from Allon to Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, to Lakum, and the outgoings of it were at Jordan, 34 And then the coast turns westward to Aznothtabor, and goes out from there to Hukkok, and reaches to Zebulun on the south side, and reaches to Asher on the west side, and to Judah on Jordan toward the sunrising. 35 And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth, 36 And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor, 37 And Kedesh, and Edrei, and Enhazor, 38 And Iron, and Migdalel, Horem, and Bethanath, and Bethshemesh, nineteen cities with their villages. 39 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages. 40 And the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families. 41 And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Irshemesh, 42 And Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and Jethlah, 43 And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron, 44 And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath, 45 And Jehud, and Beneberak, and Gathrimmon, 46 And Mejarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho. 47 And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them, therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and lived in it, and they changed the name from Leshem to Dan, after the name of Dan their father. 48 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages. 49 When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua, the son of Nun, among them, 50 According to the word of the Lord, they gave him the city that he asked for, Timnathserah in Mount Ephraim, and he built the city, and lived there. 51 These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest, and Joshua, the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the Lord, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they made an end of dividing the country. ___Joshua chapter 20 1 The Lord also said to Joshua, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint for yourselves cities of refuge, about which I spoke to you by the hand of Moses, 3 So that the slayer that kills any person unintentionally and unknowingly can flee there, and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood. 4 And when he that flees to one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city to them, and give him a place, so that he can live among them. 5 And if the avenger of blood pursues after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand, because he struck his neighbor unknowingly, and didn't hate him previously. 6 And he shall live in that city, until he stands before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days, then the slayer shall return, and come to his own city, and to his own house, to the city that he fled from." 7 And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in Mount Naphtali, and Shechem in Mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah. 8 And on the other side of Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness on the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh. 9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that visits among them, so that whoever kills any person unintentionally could flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation. ___Joshua chapter 21 1 Then the heads of the fathers of the Levites came near Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, 2 And they spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, "The Lord commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to live in, with the suburbs of them for our cattle." 3 And the children of Israel gave to the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the Lord, these cities and their suburbs. 4 And the drawing of straws came out for the families of the Kohathites, and the children of Aaron the priest, that were of the Levites, had thirteen cities by drawing straws out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin. 5 And the rest of the children of Kohath had ten cities by drawing straws out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh. 6 And the children of Gershon had thirteen cities by drawing straws out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan. 7 The children of Merari by their families had twelve cities out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun. 8 And the children of Israel gave by drawing straws to the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses. 9 And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities that are mentioned here by name, 10 That the children of Aaron had, being of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi, for the first drawing of straws was theirs. 11 And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, that city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with its suburbs around it. 12 But the fields of the city, and the villages of it, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession. 13 Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest, Hebron with its suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer, and Libnah with its suburbs, 14 And Jattir with its suburbs, and Eshtemoa with its suburbs, 15 And Holon with its suburbs, and Debir with its suburbs, 16 And Ain with its suburbs, and Juttah with its suburbs, and Bethshemesh with its suburbs, nine cities out of those two tribes. 17 And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with its suburbs, Geba with its suburbs, 18 Anathoth with its suburbs, and Almon with its suburbs, four cities. 19 All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs. 20 And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites that remained of the children of Kohath, they had the cities of their drawing of straws out of the tribe of Ephraim. 21 For they gave them Shechem with its suburbs in Mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer, and Gezer with its suburbs, 22 And Kibzaim with its suburbs, and Bethhoron with its suburbs, four cities. 23 And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs, 24 Aijalon with her suburbs, Gathrimmon with her suburbs, four cities. 25 And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with its suburbs, and Gathrimmon with its suburbs, two cities. 26 There was a total of ten cities with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained. 27 And to the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the other half tribe of Manasseh, they gave Golan in Bashan with its suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer, and Beeshterah with its suburbs, two cities. 28 And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon with its suburbs, Dabareh with its suburbs, 29 Jarmuth with its suburbs, Engannim with its suburbs, four cities. 30 And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with its suburbs, Abdon with its suburbs, 31 Helkath with her suburbs, and Rehob with its suburbs, four cities. 32 And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer, and Hammothdor with its suburbs, and Kartan with its suburbs, three cities. 33 All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs. 34 And to the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its suburbs, and Kartah with its suburbs, 35 Dimnah with its suburbs, Nahalal with its suburbs, four cities. 36 And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with its suburbs, and Jahazah with its suburbs, 37 Kedemoth with its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs, four cities. 38 And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer, and Mahanaim with its suburbs, 39 Heshbon with its suburbs, Jazer with its suburbs, four cities in all. 40 So all the cities for the children of Merari by their families, that were remaining of the families of the Levites, by their drawing of straws were twelve cities. 41 All the cities of the Levites inside the possession of the children of Israel were forty eight cities with their suburbs. 42 These cities were each city plus their suburbs around them, for all these cities. 43 And the Lord gave Israel all the land that he promised to give to their fathers, and they possessed it, and lived there. 44 And the Lord gave them rest all around, according to all that he promised to their fathers, and not a man of all their enemies stood before them, the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. 45 No good thing failed to occur that the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel, all of it happened. ___Joshua chapter 22 1 Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, 2 And said to them, "You've kept all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you, 3 You haven't left your brothers these many days until this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the Lord your God. 4 And now, the Lord your God has given rest to your brothers, as he promised them, therefore now return, and get to your tents, and to the land of your possession, that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side of Jordan. 5 But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, that Moses the servant of the Lord charged you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to stick to him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul." 6 So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away, and they went to their tents. 7 Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh, Moses had given possession in Bashan, but to the other half of it Joshua gave among their brothers on this side of Jordan westward. And when Joshua sent them away also to their tents, then he blessed them, 8 And he said to them, "Return with much riches to your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much clothing, divide the spoil of your enemies with your brothers. 9 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, which they possessed, according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses. 10 And when they came to the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built an altar there by Jordan, a large altar to look at. 11 And the children of Israel heard, "See, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar opposite the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan, at the passage of the children of Israel." 12 And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them. 13 And the children of Israel sent to the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, 14 And with him ten princes, of each chief house a prince throughout all the tribes of Israel, and each one was a head of the house of their fathers among the thousands of Israel. 15 And they came to the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, to the land of Gilead, and they said to them, 16 "Thus says the whole congregation of the Lord, What trespass is this that you've committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the Lord, in that you've built yourselves an altar, so you can rebel this day against the Lord? 17 Is the sin of Peor too little for us, from which we're still not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the Lord, 18 But that you must turn away this day from following the Lord? And it will be, seeing that you rebel today against the Lord, that tomorrow he will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel. 19 But if the land of your possession is unclean, then pass over to the land of the possession of the Lord, where the Lord's tabernacle is, and take possession among us, but don't rebel against the Lord, nor rebel against us, in building yourselves an altar beside the altar of the Lord our God. 20 Didn't Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? And that man didn't perish alone in his sin." 21 Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said to the heads of the thousands of Israel, 22 "The Lord God of gods, the Lord God of gods, he knows, and Israel he shall know, if it is in rebellion, or if in transgression against the Lord, (don't save us this day,) 23 That we've built for ourselves an altar to turn from following the Lord, or if to offer on it burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings on it, let the Lord himself require it, 24 And if we haven't rather done it for fear of this thing, saying, In time to come, your children might speak to our children, saying, What have you to do with the Lord God of Israel? 25 For the Lord has made Jordan a border between us and you, you children of Reuben and children of Gad, you have no part in the Lord, so shall your children make our children stop fearing the Lord. 26 Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice, 27 But so that it will be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, so that we will do the service of the Lord before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings, so that your children won't say to our children in the future, You have no part in the Lord. 28 Therefore we said, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in the future, that we can answer, Look at the pattern of the altar of the Lord, that our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices, but it is a witness between us and you. 29 God forbid that we should rebel against the Lord, and turn this day from following the Lord, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the Lord our God that is before his tabernacle." 30 And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel that were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spoke, it pleased them. 31 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, "This day we perceive that the Lord is among us, because you haven't committed this trespass against the Lord, now you've delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the Lord. 32 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, to the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them back word. 33 And the thing pleased the children of Israel, and the children of Israel blessed God, and chose not to go up against them in battle, to destroy the land in which the children of Reuben and Gad lived. 34 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed, for it shall be a witness between us that the Lord is God. ___Joshua chapter 23 1 And a long time after the Lord had given rest to Israel from all their enemies all around, Joshua was old and stricken in age. 2 And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said to them, "I am old and stricken in age, 3 And you've seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations because of you, for the Lord your God is he that has fought for you. 4 See, I've divided to you by drawing straws these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I've cut off, to the Mediterranean sea westward. 5 And the Lord your God shall expel them from before you, and drive them out of your sight, and you shall possess their land, as the Lord your God has promised you. 6 Be therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, so that you don't turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, 7 So that you don't come among these nations, these that remain among you, nor make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, nor serve them, nor bow yourselves to them, 8 But stick to the Lord your God, as you've done until this day. 9 For the Lord has driven out from before you great nations and strong, but as for you, no man has been able to stand before you until this day. 10 One man of you shall chase a thousand, for the Lord your God is he that fights for you, like he has promised you. 11 Take good heed therefore to yourselves, that you love the Lord your God. 12 Otherwise, if you in any way go back, and stick to the remnant of these nations, these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in to them, and they to you, 13 Know for sure that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you, but they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land that the Lord your God has given you. 14 And see, this day I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God spoke concerning you, all have occurred for you, and not one thing has failed of them. 15 Therefore, as all good things have come on you, that the Lord your God promised you, so the Lord shall bring on you all evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land that the Lord your God has given you. 16 When you've transgressed the covenant of the Lord your God, that he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them, then the anger of the Lord shall be kindled against you, and you'll perish quickly from off the good land that he has given you. ___Joshua chapter 24 1 And 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, and they presented themselves before God. 2 And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel, Your fathers lived on the other side of the flood in old times, Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor, and they served other gods. 3 And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his descendants, and gave him Isaac. 4 And I gave Jacob and Esau to Isaac, and I gave to Esau Mount Seir, to possess it, but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt. 5 I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them, and afterward I brought you out. 6 And I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea, and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red sea. 7 And when they cried to the Lord, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and closed the sea on them, and covered them, and your eyes have seen what I've done in Egypt, and you lived in the wilderness a long time. 8 And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, who lived on the other side of Jordan, and they fought with you, and I gave them into your hand, so that you would possess their land, and I destroyed them from before you. 9 Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you, 10 But I wouldn't listen to Balaam, therefore he blessed you instead, so I delivered you out of his hand. 11 And you went over Jordan, and came to Jericho, and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, and I delivered them into your hand. 12 And I sent the hornet before you, that drove them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites, but not with your sword, nor with your bow. 13 And I've given you a land for which you didn't labor, and cities that you didn't build, and you live in them, you eat of the vineyards and oliveyards that you didn't plant. 14 Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods that your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you'll serve, whether the gods that your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." 16 And the people answered and said, "God forbid that we would forsake the Lord, to serve other gods, 17 For the Lord our God is he that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way in which we went, and among all the people through whom we passed, 18 And the Lord drove out from before us all the people, the Amorites who lived in the land, therefore we will also serve the Lord, for he is our God." 19 And Joshua said to the people, "You can't serve the Lord, for he is a holy God, he is a jealous God, he won't forgive your transgressions nor your sins. 20 If you forsake the Lord, and serve strange gods, then he'll turn and hurt you, and consume you, after he has done you good." 21 And the people said to Joshua, "No, but we will serve the Lord." 22 And Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you've chosen for yourselves the Lord, to serve him." And they said, "We are witnesses." 23 "Now therefore put away," he said, "the strange gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord God of Israel." 24 And the people said to Joshua, "We will serve the Lord our God, and we will obey his voice." 25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. 26 And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the Lord. 27 And Joshua said to all the people, "See, this stone shall be a witness to us, for it heard all the words of the Lord that he spoke to us, it shall therefore be a witness to you, so that you don't deny your God." 28 So Joshua let the people depart, every man to his inheritance. 29 And after these things, Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being one hundred ten years old. 30 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah, that is in Mount Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of Gaash. 31 And Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, and who had known all the works of the Lord, that he had done for Israel. 32 And the bones of Joseph, that the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, they buried in Shechem, in a parcel of ground that Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of silver, and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph. 33 And Eleazar the son of Aaron died, and they buried him in a hill that pertained to Phinehas his son, that was given to him in Mount Ephraim. ___Judges chapter 1 1 Now after the death of Joshua, the children of Israel asked the Lord, "Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?" 2 And the Lord said, "Judah shall go up, see, I've delivered the land into his hand." 3 And Judah said to Simeon his brother, "Come up with me into my situation, so that we can fight against the Canaanites, and I will also go with you into your situation." So Simeon went with him. 4 And Judah went up, and the Lord delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand, and they killed ten thousand men of them in Bezek. 5 And they found Adonibezek in Bezek, and they fought against him, and they killed the Canaanites and the Perizzites. 6 But Adonibezek fled, and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes. 7 And Adonibezek said, "Seventy kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their food under my table, God has repaid me like I have done." And they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there. 8 Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and had taken it, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire. 9 And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites, that lived in the mountain, and in the south, and in the valley. 10 And Judah went against the Canaanites that lived in Hebron, (now the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba,) and they killed Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai. 11 And from there, he went against the inhabitants of Debir, and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher, 12 And Caleb said, "He that smites Kirjathsepher and takes it, I will give Achsah my daughter to him to be his wife." 13 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it, and he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife. 14 And when she came to him, she moved him to ask from her father a field, and she dismounted from her animal, and Caleb said to her, "What do you want?" 15 And she said to him, "Give me a blessing, for you've given me a south land, give me also springs of water." And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lowermost springs. 16 And the children of the Kenite, Moses' father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, that lies in the south of Arad, and they went and lived among the people. 17 And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they killed the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and completely destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Hormah. 18 Also Judah took Gaza with the coast of it, and Askelon with the coast of it, and Ekron with the coast of it. 19 And the Lord was with Judah, and he drove out the inhabitants of the mountain, but couldn't drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron. 20 And they gave Hebron to Caleb, like Moses said, and he expelled from there the three sons of Anak. 21 And the children of Benjamin didn't drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem, but the Jebusites live with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem until this day. 22 And the house of Joseph also went up against Bethel, and the Lord was with them. 23 And the house of Joseph sent men to spy out Bethel. (Now previously, the name of the city had been Luz.) 24 And the spies saw a man come out of the city, and they said to him, "Please show us the entrance to the city, and we will show you mercy." 25 And when he showed them the entrance into the city, they struck the city with the edge of the sword, but they let the man and all his family go. 26 And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name of it Luz, which is the name of it until this day. 27 Nor did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and its towns, nor Taanach and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns, but the Canaanites would live in that land. 28 And when Israel was strong, they put the Canaanites to tribute, and didn't completely drive them out. 29 Nor did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that lived in Gezer, but the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them. 30 Nor did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol, but the Canaanites lived among them, and became tributaries. 31 Nor did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob, 32 But the Asherites lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land, for they didn't drive them out. 33 Nor did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath, but he lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land, but the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries to them. 34 And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain, for they wouldn't allow them to come down to the valley, 35 But the Amorites would live in Mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim, yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries. 36 And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward. ___Judges chapter 2 1 And an angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, "I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you to the land that I promised to your fathers, and I said, I'll never break my covenant with you. 2 And you shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land, you shall throw down their altars, but you haven't obeyed my voice, why have you done this? 3 So I also said, I won't drive them out from before you, but they'll be like thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a trap to you." 4 And when the angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the children of Israel, the people lifted up their voice, and wept. 5 And they called the name of that place Bochim, and they sacrificed there to the Lord. 6 And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel all went to their inheritances to possess the land. 7 And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the Lord that he did for Israel. 8 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being one hundred ten years old. 9 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the Mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash. 10 And also all of that generation were gathered to their fathers, and another generation arose after them that didn't know the Lord, nor the works that he had done for Israel. 11 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim, 12 And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were around them, and bowed themselves to them, and provoked the Lord to anger. 13 And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. 14 And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. 15 Wherever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn to them, and they were greatly distressed. 16 But the Lord raised up judges, who delivered them out of the hand of those who spoiled them. 17 And yet they wouldn't listen to their judges, but they went whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves to them, they turned quickly out of the way that their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the Lord, but they didn't do it. 18 And when the Lord raised them up judges, then the Lord was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge, for the Lord had some regret because of their groanings because of those who oppressed them and vexed them. 19 And when the judge was dead, they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down to them, they didn't stop from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way. 20 And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he said, "Because these people have transgressed my covenant that I commanded their fathers, and haven't listened to my voice, 21 I also, from now on, won't drive out any from before them of the nations that Joshua left when he died, 22 So that through them I can test Israel, whether they will keep the way of the Lord to walk in it, like their fathers kept it, or not. 23 Therefore the Lord left those nations, without driving them out hastily, nor did he deliver them into the hand of Joshua. ___Judges chapter 3 1 Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them, as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan, 2 Only so that the generations of the children of Israel would know, to teach them war, at the least those who previously knew nothing about it, 3 Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that lived in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baalhermon to the entrance of Hamath. 4 And they were to test Israel by them, to know whether they would listen to the commandments of the Lord, that he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. 5 And the children of Israel lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites, 6 And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods. 7 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and forgot the Lord their God, and served Baalim and the groves. 8 Therefore the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim, king of Mesopotamia, and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years. 9 And when the children of Israel cried to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, Othniel, the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. 10 And the Spirit of the Lord came on him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war, and the Lord delivered Chushanrishathaim, king of Mesopotamia, into his hand, and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim. 11 And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died. 12 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the Lord. 13 And he gathered to himself the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and struck Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees. 14 So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years. 15 But when the children of Israel cried to the Lord, the Lord raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a lefthanded man, and by him the children of Israel sent a present to Eglon the king of Moab. 16 But Ehud made himself a dagger that had two edges, eighteen inches long, and he positioned it under his clothes on his right thigh. 17 And he brought the present to Eglon king of Moab, and Eglon was a very fat man. 18 And when he had made an end of offering the present, he sent away the people that carried the present. 19 But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, "I have a secret errand to you, O king," who said, "Keep silence." And all that stood by him went out from him. 20 And Ehud came to him, and he was sitting in a summer parlor that he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, "I have a message from God to you." And he got up out of his seat. 21 And Ehud put out his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly, 22 And also the handle went in after the blade, and the fat closed on the blade, so that he couldn't pull the dagger out of his belly, and the dirt came out. 23 Then Ehud went out through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlor on him, and locked them. 24 When he had gone out, his servants came, and when they saw that, see, the doors of the parlor were locked, they said, "Surely he covers his feet in his summer room." 25 And they waited until they were ashamed, and see, he didn't open the doors of the parlor, so they took a key, and opened them, and see, their lord had fallen down dead on the floor. 26 And Ehud escaped while they waited, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped to Seirath. 27 And when he had come, he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mountain, and he went before them. 28 And he said to them, "Follow me, for the Lord has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and wouldn't allow anyone to pass over. 29 And they killed of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valor, and not a man escaped. 30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest eighty years. 31 And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed six hundred men of the Philistines with an ox goad, and he also gave deliverance to Israel. ___Judges chapter 4 1 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord, after Ehud was dead. 2 And the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that ruled in Hazor, the captain of whose host was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth of the Gentiles. 3 And the children of Israel cried to the Lord, for he had nine hundred chariots of iron, and he mightily oppressed the children of Israel for twenty years. 4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, judged Israel at that time. 5 And she lived under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in Mount Ephraim, and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. 6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said to him, "Hasn't the Lord God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? 7 And I will bring to you, to the river Kishon, Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude, and I will deliver him into your hand." 8 And Barak said to her, "If you'll go with me, then I'll go, but if you won't go with me, then I won't go." 9 And she said, "I will surely go with you, but the journey that you take won't be for your honor, for the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman." And Deborah got up, and went with Barak to Kedesh. 10 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh, and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet, and Deborah went up with him. 11 Now Heber, the Kenite, who was of the children of Hobab, the father in law of Moses, had separated himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent at the plain of Zaanaim that is by Kedesh. 12 And they showed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor. 13 And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles to the river of Kishon. 14 And Deborah said to Barak, "Get up, for this is the day that the Lord has delivered Sisera into your hand, hasn't the Lord gone out before you?" So Barak went down from Mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. 15 And the Lord struck Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his army, with the edge of the sword before Barak, so that Sisera got down off his chariot, and ran away on foot. 16 But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the army, to Harosheth of the Gentiles, and all the army of Sisera fell on the edge of the sword, and there was not a man left. 17 But Sisera ran away on foot to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 18 And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, "Turn in, my lord, turn in to me, don't be afraid." And when he had turned in to her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle. 19 And he said to her, "Give me, please, a little water to drink, for I am thirsty." And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him. 20 Again he said to her, "Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man comes and asks you, "Is there any man here?" That you shall say, "No." 21 Then Jael, Heber's wife, took a nail of the tent, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him, and struck the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground, for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. 22 And see, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said to him, "Come, and I will show you the man you're looking for." And when he came into her tent, see, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples. 23 So God subdued Jabin, the king of Canaan, before the children of Israel on that day. 24 And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan. ___Judges chapter 5 1 Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying, 2 "Praise the Lord for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves. 3 Hear, O you kings, give ear, O you princes, I, even I, will sing to the Lord, I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel. 4 Lord, when you went out of Seir, when you marched out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water. 5 The mountains melted from before the Lord, even that Sinai from before the Lord God of Israel. 6 In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travelers walked through byways. 7 The inhabitants of the villages stopped, they ceased in Israel, until I, Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel. 8 They chose new gods, then there was war in the gates, was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel? 9 My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless the Lord. 10 Speak, you that ride on white asses, you that sit in judgment, and walk on the road. 11 Those who are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, they shall tell the righteous acts of the Lord there, even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel, then the people of the Lord shall go down to the gates. 12 Awake, awake, Deborah, awake, awake, sing a song, arise, Barak, and lead your captivity captive, you son of Abinoam. 13 Then he made him that remained have dominion over the nobles among the people, the Lord made me have dominion over the mighty. 14 Out of Ephraim, there was a root of them against Amalek, after you, Benjamin, among your people, out of Machir, governors came down, and out of Zebulun, those who handle the pen of the writer. 15 And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah, even Issachar, and also Barak, he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben, there were great thoughts of heart. 16 Why did you live among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. 17 Gilead lived beyond Jordan, and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and lived in his holes. 18 Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that endangered their lives to the death in the high places of the field. 19 The kings came and fought, then the kings of Canaan fought in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, they took no gain of money. 20 They fought from heaven, the stars in their courses fought against Sisera. 21 The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, you've trodden down strength. 22 Then were the horse hoofs broken by the means of the prancings, the prancings of their mighty ones. 23 Curse Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, curse bitterly the inhabitants of it, because they didn't come to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty. 24 Blessed above women shall be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, she shall be blessed above women in the tent. 25 He asked water, and she gave him milk, she brought out butter in a lordly dish. 26 She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen's hammer, and she struck Sisera with the hammer, she struck off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples. 27 At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down, at her feet he bowed, he fell, where he bowed, there he fell down dead. 28 The mother of Sisera looked out of a window, and cried through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why are the wheels of his chariots taking so long? 29 Her wise ladies answered her, yes, she returned answer to herself, 30 Haven't they sped? Haven't they divided the prey, to every man a damsel or two, to Sisera a prey of various colors, a prey of various colors of needlework, of various colors of needlework on both sides, appropriate for the necks of those who take the spoil? 31 So let all your enemies perish, O Lord, but let those who love him be like the sun when it goes out in its might." And the land had rest forty years. ___Judges chapter 6 1 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian, seven years. 2 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel, and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made themselves the dens that are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds. 3 And so it was, that when Israel had planted, the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, they came up against them, 4 And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, 'til you come to Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. 5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came like grasshoppers for multitude, for both they and their camels were without number, and they entered into the land to destroy it. 6 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the children of Israel cried to the Lord. 7 And when the children of Israel cried to the Lord because of the Midianites, 8 The Lord sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you out of the house of bondage, 9 And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drove them out from before you, and gave you their land, 10 And I said to you, I am the Lord your God, don't be afraid of the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live, but you haven't obeyed my voice." 11 And an angel of the Lord came, and sat under an oak that was in Ophrah that pertained to Joash the Abiezrite, and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. 12 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor." 13 And Gideon said to him, "Oh my Lord, if the Lord is with us, then why has all of this happened to us? And where are all his miracles that our fathers told us about, saying, Didn't the Lord bring us up from Egypt? But now the Lord has forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites." 14 And the Lord looked at him, and said, "Go in this your might, and you'll save Israel from the hand of the Midianites, haven't I sent you?" 15 And he said to him, "Oh my Lord, how shall I save Israel? See, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." 16 And the Lord said to him, "Surely I will be with you, and you shall smite the Midianites as though they were one man." 17 And he said to him, "If now I have found grace in your sight, then show me a sign that you're talking with me. 18 Don't go from here, please, until I come to you, and bring out my present, and set it before you." And he said, "I'll wait 'til you return." 19 And Gideon went in, and prepared a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour, he put the flesh in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out to him under the oak, and presented it. 20 And the angel of God said to him, "Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth." And he did so. 21 Then the angel of the Lord put out the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and fire rose up out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the Lord departed out of his sight. 22 And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the Lord, Gideon said, "Alas, O Lord God! Because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face." 23 And the Lord said to him, "Peace be to you, don't be afraid, you won't die." 24 Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord, and called it Jehovahshalom, to this day, it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. 25 And the same night, the Lord said to him, "Take your father's young bullock, the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the grove that is by it, 26 And build an altar to the Lord your God on top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove that you'll cut down." 27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the Lord had said to him, and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he couldn't do it during the day, so he did it at night. 28 And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, see, the altar of Baal had been thrown down, and the grove that was by it had been cut down, and the second bullock had been offered on the altar that had been built. 29 And they said to each other, "Who has done this?" And when they inquired and asked, they said, "Gideon the son of Joash has done this." 30 Then the men of the city said to Joash, "Bring out your son to die, because he has thrown down the altar of Baal, and because he has cut down the grove that was by it." 31 And Joash said to all that stood against him, "Will you plead for Baal? Will you save him? He that will plead for him, let him be put to death while it is yet morning, if he's a god, let him plead for himself, because someone has thrown down his altar." 32 Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, "Let Baal plead against him, because he has thrown down his altar." 33 Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel. 34 But the Spirit of the Lord came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, and Abiezer was gathered after him. 35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, who also was gathered after him, and he sent messengers to Asher, and to Zebulun, and to Naphtali, and they came up to meet them. 36 And Gideon said to God, "If you'll save Israel by my hand, like you've said, 37 See, I'll put a fleece of wool on the ground, and if the dew is on the fleece only, and it's dry on all the earth beside, then I'll know that you'll save Israel by my hand, as you've said." 38 And it was so, for he rose up early on the next day, and pushed the fleece together, and wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. 39 And Gideon said to God, "Don't let your anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once, let me prove, please, just this once with the fleece, let it now be dry only on the fleece, and on all the ground let there be dew." 40 And God did so that night, for it was dry on the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground. ___Judges chapter 7 1 Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod, so that the army of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. 2 And the Lord said to Gideon, "The people that are with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, so Israel doesn't vaunt themselves against me, saying, My own hand has saved me. 3 Now therefore go and proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from Mount Gilead. And twenty two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained. 4 And the Lord said to Gideon, "The people are still too many, bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and it shall be, that about whom I say to you, This one shall go with you, the same shall go with you, and about whomever I say to you, This one shall not go with you, the same shall not go." 5 So he brought down the people to the water, and the Lord said to Gideon, "Everyone that laps from the water with his tongue, like a dog laps, him shall you set by himself, also everyone that bows down on his knees to drink." 6 And the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men, but all the rest of the people bowed down on their knees to drink water. 7 And the Lord said to Gideon, "I'll save you by the three hundred men that lapped, and deliver the Midianites into your hand, and let all the other people go every man to his place." 8 So the people took food in their hand, and their trumpets, and he sent all the rest of Israel every man to his tent, and kept those three hundred men, and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley. 9 And the same night, the Lord said to him, "Arise, get down to the host, for I've delivered it into your hand. 10 But if you're afraid to go down, go with Phurah your servant down to the host, 11 And you shall hear what they say, and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down to the host. Then he went down with Phurah his servant to the outside of the armed men that were in the host. 12 And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude, and their camels were uncountable, like the sand by the sea side for multitude. 13 And when Gideon had come, see, there was a man that told a dream to his companion, and said, "See, I dreamed a dream, and see, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came to a tent, and struck it so that it fell, and overturned it, so that the tent lay along." 14 And his fellow answered and said, "This is nothing else but the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel, for God has delivered Midian into his hand, and all the host." 15 And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation of it, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, "Arise, for the Lord has delivered into your hand the host of Midian." 16 And he divided the three hundred men into three groups, and he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps inside the pitchers. 17 And he said to them, "Look at me, and do likewise, and see, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that you shall do like I do." 18 When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then you blow the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, "The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon." 19 So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came to the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch, and they had just recently set the watch, and they blew the trumpets, and broke the pitchers that were in their hands. 20 And the three companies blew the trumpets, and broke the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow with, and they shouted, "The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon." 21 And every man stood in his place around the camp, and all the army ran, and shouted, and fled. 22 And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the Lord set every man's sword against his fellow soldier, throughout all the host, and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, to Tabbath. 23 And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites. 24 And Gideon sent messengers throughout all Mount Ephraim, saying, "Come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters to Bethbarah and Jordan." Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters to Bethbarah and Jordan. 25 And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb, and they killed Oreb on the rock Oreb, and they killed Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side of Jordan. ___Judges chapter 8 1 And the men of Ephraim said to him, "Why have you treated us this way, that you didn't call us, when you went to fight with the Midianites?" And they chided with him sharply. 2 And he said to them, "What have I done now in comparison to you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? 3 God has delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, and what was I able to do compared to you?" Then their anger was abated toward him, after he said that. 4 And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them. 5 And he said to the men of Succoth, "Please give loaves of bread to the people that follow me, for they're faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian." 6 And the princes of Succoth said, "Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, so that we should give bread to your army?" 7 And Gideon said, "Therefore when the Lord has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers. 8 And he went up from there to Penuel, and spoke to them likewise, and the men of Penuel answered him like the men of Succoth had answered him. 9 And he spoke also to the men of Penuel, saying, "When I come back in peace, I will break down this tower." 10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the armies of the children of the east, for one hundred twenty thousand men that drew sword fell. 11 And Gideon went up by the way of those who lived in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and struck the army, for the army was secure. 12 And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and ruined all the army. 13 And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up, 14 And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and inquired of him, and he described to him the princes of Succoth, and the elders of it, seventy seven men. 15 And he came to the men of Succoth, and said, "Look at Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom you scolded me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, so that we should give bread to your men that are weary?" 16 And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth. 17 And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and killed the men of the city. 18 Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, "What kind of men were those whom you killed at Tabor?" And they answered, "Like you are, so were they, each one looked like the children of a king." 19 And he said, "They were my brothers, the sons of my mother, as the Lord lives, if you had saved them alive, I wouldn't kill you." 20 And he said to Jether his firstborn, "Get up, and kill them." But the youth didn't draw his sword, for he was afraid, because he was still a youth. 21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, "You rise, and fall on us, for as the man is, so is his strength." And Gideon got up and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks. 22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, "You rule over us, both you, and your son, and your son's son also, for you've given us deliverance from the hand of Midian. 23 And Gideon said to them, "I won't rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you, the Lord shall rule over you." 24 And Gideon said to them, "I would desire a request of you, that you would each give me the earrings of his prey." (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) 25 And they answered, "We will willingly give them." And they spread a garment, and every man threw in it the earrings of his prey. 26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold, beside ornaments, and collars, and purple clothing that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were around their camels' necks. 27 And Gideon made an ephod of it, and put it in his city, in Ophrah, and all Israel went there a whoring after it, which thing became a trap to Gideon, and to his house. 28 Thus Midian was subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon. 29 And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and lived in his own house. 30 And Gideon had fathered seventy sons from his body, for he had many wives. 31 And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bore him a son, whose name he called Abimelech. 32 And Gideon, the son of Joash, died in a good old age, and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. 33 And as soon as Gideon was dead, the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god. 34 And the children of Israel didn't remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side, 35 Nor did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness that he had shown to Israel. ___Judges chapter 9 1 And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's brothers, and talked with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying, 2 "Please speak in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Which is better for you, that all the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy persons, rule over you, or that one rules over you? Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh." 3 And his mother's brothers spoke about him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words, and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, "He is our brother." 4 And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith, with which Abimelech hired vain and light persons, who followed him. 5 And he went to his father's house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one stone, but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself. 6 And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem. 7 And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and shouted, and said to them, "Listen to me, you men of Shechem, so that God will listen to you. 8 The trees went out one time to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, Rule over us. 9 But the olive tree said to them, Shall leave my fatness, with which they honor God and man by me, and go to be promoted over the trees? 10 And the trees said to the fig tree, Come and rule over us. 11 But the fig tree said to them, Shall I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? 12 Then the trees said to the vine, Come and rule over us. 13 And the vine said to them, Should I leave my wine, that cheers God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? 14 Then all the trees said to the bramble, Come and rule over us. 15 And the bramble said to the trees, If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow, and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon. 16 Now therefore, if you've done truly and sincerely, by making Abimelech king, and if you've dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him according to the deserving of his hands, 17 (For my father fought for you, and ventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian, 18 And you've risen up against my father's house this day, and have killed his sons, seventy persons, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother,) 19 If then you've dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you, 20 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo, and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech." 21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and lived there, for fear of Abimelech his brother. 22 When Abimelech had ruled three years over Israel, 23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem, and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, 24 So that the cruelty done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal would come, and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who aided him in the killing of his brothers. 25 And the men of Shechem set ambushers for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them, and it was told to Abimelech. 26 And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers, and went over to Shechem, and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him. 27 And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech. 28 And Gaal the son of Ebed said, "Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Isn't he the son of Jerubbaal? And Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for why should we serve him? 29 And would to God this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech." And he said to Abimelech, "Increase your army, and come out." 30 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled. 31 And he sent messengers to Abimelech privately, saying, "See, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem, and see, they fortify the city against you. 32 Now therefore get up at night, you and the people that are with you, and lie in wait in the field, 33 And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early, and attack the city, and, see, when he and the people that are with him come out against you, then you can do to them as you shall find occasion." 34 And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, at night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies. 35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood at the entering of the gate of the city, and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from lying in wait. 36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, "See, people come down from the top of the mountains." And Zebul said to him, "You see the shadow of the mountains as if they were men." 37 And Gaal spoke again and said, "See people come down by the middle of the land, and another company comes along by the plain of Meonenim." 38 Then Zebul said to him, "Where now is your mouth, with which you said, "Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? Isn't this the people that you've despised?" Go out, please, and fight with them." 39 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. 40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, up to the entering of the gate. 41 And Abimelech lived at Arumah, and Zebul kicked out Gaal and his brothers, so that they couldn't live in Shechem. 42 And it occurred on the next day, that the people went out into the field, and they told Abimelech. 43 And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and see, the people had come out of the city, and he rose up against them, and struck them. 44 And Abimelech, and the people that were with him, rushed forward, and stood at the entering of the gate of the city, and the two other companies ran to the people that were in the fields, and killed them. 45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day, and he took the city, and killed the people that were in it, and beat down the city, and sprinkled it with salt. 46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into a section of the house of the god Berith. 47 And Abimelech was told, that all the men of the tower of Shechem had gathered together. 48 And Abimelech got himself up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him, and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said to the people that were with him, "What you've seen me do, make haste, and do as I've done." 49 And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and laid them at the fortress, and set it on fire on them, so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women. 50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it. 51 But there was a strong tower in the city, and all the men and women fled there, and all the citizens, and shut it on themselves, and got up to the top of the tower. 52 And Abimelech came to the tower, and fought against it, and went hard to the door of the tower to burn it with fire. 53 And a certain woman threw a piece of a millstone on Abimelech's head, and broke his skull. 54 Then he called hastily to the young man who was his armor carrier, and said to him, "Draw your sword, and kill me, so that men don't say about me, A woman killed him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died. 55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, each man departed to his place. 56 Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, that he did to his father, in killing his seventy brothers, 57 And God rendered on their heads all the evil of the men of Shechem, and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came on them. ___Judges chapter 10 1 And after Abimelech, Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar arose to defend Israel, and he lived in Shamir in Mount Ephraim. 2 And he judged Israel twenty three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir. 3 And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty two years. 4 And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities that are called Havothjair, until this day, that are in the land of Gilead. 5 And Jair died, and was buried in Camon. 6 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the Lord, and didn't serve him. 7 And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon. 8 And that year, they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel, eighteen years all the children of Israel that were on the other side of Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. 9 Also the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was very distressed. 10 And the children of Israel cried to the Lord, saying, "We have sinned against you, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim." 11 And the Lord said to the children of Israel, "Didn't I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? 12 The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, oppressed you, and you cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand. 13 Yet you've forsaken me, and served other gods, so I won't give you deliverance any more. 14 Go and cry to the gods that you've chosen, let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation." 15 And the children of Israel said to the Lord, "We have sinned, do to us whatever seems good to you, deliver us only, please, this day." 16 And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the Lord, and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. 17 Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped at Mizpeh. 18 And the people and princes of Gilead said to each other, "What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead." ___Judges chapter 11 1 Now Jephthah, the Gileadite, was a mighty man of valor, and he was the son of a prostitute, and Gilead fathered Jephthah. 2 And Gilead's wife bore him sons, and his wife's sons grew up, and they threw out Jephthah, and said to him, "You shall not inherit in our father's house, for you are the son of a strange woman." 3 Then Jephthah fled from his brothers, and lived in the land of Tob, and vain men gathered to Jephthah, and went out with him. 4 And in process of time, the children of Ammon made war against Israel. 5 And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah out of the land of Tob, 6 And they said to Jephthah, "Come, and be our captain, so that we can fight with the children of Ammon." 7 And Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "Didn't you hate me, and expel me out of my father's house? And why have you come to me now when you are in distress?" 8 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "Therefore we turn again to you now, so that you'll go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead." 9 And Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "If you bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the Lord delivers them before me, shall I be your head?" 10 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "The Lord be witness between us, if we don't do according to your words." 11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them, and Jephthah spoke all his words before the Lord in Mizpeh. 12 And Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the children of Ammon, saying, "What do you have to do with me, that you've come against me to fight in my land?" 13 And the king of the children of Ammon answered to the messengers of Jephthah, "Because Israel took away my land, when they came up out of Egypt, from Arnon to Jabbok, and to Jordan, now therefore restore those lands again peaceably." 14 And Jephthah sent messengers again to the king of the children of Ammon, 15 And said to him, "Thus says Jephthah, Israel didn't take away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon, 16 But when Israel came up from Egypt, and walked through the wilderness to the Red sea, and came to Kadesh, 17 Then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, Please let me pass through your land, but the king of Edom would not listen to it. And similarly, they sent to the king of Moab, but he wouldn't give permission, and Israel lived in Kadesh. 18 Then they went along through the wilderness, and circled the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, but didn't go inside the border of Moab, for Arnon was the border of Moab. 19 And Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon, and Israel said to him, Please let us pass through your land into my place. 20 But Sihon didn't trust Israel to pass through his coast, but Sihon gathered all his people together, and pitched in Jahaz, and fought against Israel. 21 And the Lord God of Israel delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they struck them, so Israel possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country. 22 And they possessed all the borders of the Amorites, from Arnon to Jabbok, and from the wilderness to Jordan. 23 So now the Lord God of Israel has dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and should you possess it? 24 Won't you possess whatever Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So whomever the Lord our God shall drive out from before us, that's what we'll possess. 25 And now are you any better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them, 26 While Israel lived in Heshbon and her towns, and in Aroer and her towns, and in all the cities that are along by the coasts of Arnon, three hundred years? Why didn't you therefore recover them within that time? 27 So, I haven't sinned against you, but you do me wrong to war against me, the Lord the Judge be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon." 28 But the king of the children of Ammon wouldn't listen to the words of Jephthah that he sent him. 29 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over to the children of Ammon. 30 And Jephthah vowed a vow to the Lord, and said, "If you shall without fail deliver the children of Ammon into my hands, 31 Then it shall be, that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering. 32 So Jephthah passed over to the children of Ammon to fight against them, and the Lord delivered them into his hands. 33 And he struck them from Aroer, 'til you come to Minnith, twenty cities, and to the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel. 34 And Jephthah came to Mizpeh to his house, and see, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances, and she was his only child, beside her he had no other son or daughter. 35 And when he saw her, he tore his clothes, and said, "Alas, my daughter! You've brought me very low, and you are one of those who trouble me, for I have opened my mouth to the Lord, and I can't go back." 36 And she said to him, "My father, if you've opened your mouth to the Lord, do to me according to what you've said, since the Lord has taken vengeance for you against your enemies, against the children of Ammon." 37 And she said to her father, "Let this thing be done for me, let me alone two months, so I can go up and down on the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my friends." 38 And he said, "Go." And he sent her away for two months, and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity on the mountains. 39 And at the end of two months, she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow that he had vowed, and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel, 40 That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year. ___Judges chapter 12 1 And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said to Jephthah, "Why did you pass over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didn't call us to go with you? We will burn your house on top of you with fire." 2 And Jephthah said to them, "I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon, and when I called you, you didn't deliver me out of their hands. 3 And when I saw that you didn't deliver me , I put my life in my hands, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the Lord delivered them into my hand, why then have you come up to me this day, to fight against me?" 4 Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim, and the men of Gilead struck Ephraim, because they said, "You Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites, and among the Manassites." 5 And the Gileadites took the passages of Jordan before the Ephraimites, and it was so, that when those Ephraimites who had escaped said, "Let me go over, that the men of Gilead said to him, Are you an Ephraimite?" If he said, "No," 6 Then said they to him, "Say now Shibboleth, and he said Sibboleth," for he couldn't frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him, and killed him at the passages of Jordan, and forty two thousand of the Ephraimites fell at that time. 7 And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead. 8 And after him, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. 9 And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent out, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years. 10 Then Ibzan died, and was buried at Bethlehem. 11 And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel, and he judged Israel ten years. 12 And Elon, the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the country of Zebulun. 13 And after him, Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel. 14 And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on seventy ass colts, and he judged Israel eight years. 15 And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mountain of the Amalekites. ___Judges chapter 13 1 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years. 2 And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah, and his wife was barren, and bore no children. 3 And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman, and said to her, "See now, you're barren, and don't bear, but you'll conceive, and bear a son. 4 Now therefore beware, please, and don't drink wine nor strong drink, and don't eat any unclean thing, 5 For see, you'll conceive, and bear a son, and no razor shall come on his head, for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines." 6 Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, "A man of God came to me, and his facial expression was like the facial expression of an angel of God, very terrible, but I didn't ask him where he was from, nor did he tell me his name, 7 But he said to me, "See, you'll conceive, and bear a son, and now drink no wine nor strong drink, and don't eat any unclean thing, for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb until the day of his death." 8 Then Manoah intreated the Lord, and said, "O my Lord, let the man of God that you sent come back to us, and teach us what we shall do to the child that shall be born." 9 And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came back to the woman as she sat in the field, but Manoah her husband was not with her. 10 And the woman hurried and ran, and showed her husband, and said to him, "See, the man has appeared to me, that came to me the other day." 11 And Manoah got up, and followed his wife, and came to the man, and said to him, "Are you the man that spoke to the woman?" And he said, "I am." 12 And Manoah said, "Now let your words happen. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do to him?" 13 And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, "Of all that I said to the woman let her beware. 14 She may not eat of anything that comes of the vine, nor let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing, all that I commanded her let her observe." 15 And Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, Please let us detain you, until we prepare a kid for you." 16 And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, "Though you detain me, I won't eat of your bread, and if you want to offer a burnt offering, you must offer it to the Lord." For Manoah didn't know that he was an angel of the Lord. 17 And Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, "What is your name, so that when your sayings happen we can honor you?" 18 And the angel of the Lord said to him, "Why do you ask my name, since it is secret?" 19 So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it on a rock to the Lord, and the angel did wondrously, and Manoah and his wife watched. 20 For when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked at it, and fell on their faces to the ground. 21 But the angel of the Lord didn't appear anymore to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the Lord. 22 And Manoah said to his wife, "We shall surely die, because we have seen God." 23 But his wife said to him, "If the Lord were pleased to kill us, he wouldn't have received a burnt offering and a meat offering from our hands, nor would he have showed us all these things, nor would he, as at this time, have told us such things as these. 24 And the woman bore a son, and called his name Samson, and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him. 25 And the Spirit of the Lord began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol. ___Judges chapter 14 1 And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. 2 And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, "I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines, now therefore get her for me as wife." 3 Then his father and his mother said to him, "Isn't there a woman among the daughters of your brothers, or among all my people, that you go to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines?" And Samson said to his father, "Get her for me, for she pleases me well." 4 But his father and his mother didn't know that it was of the Lord, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines, for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel. 5 Then Samson went down to Timnath, and his father and his mother, and came to the vineyards of Timnath, and see, a young lion roared against him. 6 And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily on him, and he tore him like he would have torn a young goat, and he had nothing in his hand, but he didn't tell his father or his mother what he had done. 7 And he went down, and talked with the woman, and she pleased Samson well. 8 And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion, and see, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcass of the lion. 9 And he took some of it in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they ate, but he didn't tell them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion. 10 So his father went down to the woman, and Samson made a feast there, since that's what the young men used to do. 11 And when they saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with him. 12 And Samson said to them, "I will now tell you a riddle, if you can tell me the right answer within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I'll give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments, 13 But if you can't explain it to me, then you shall give me thirty sheets and thirty change of garments." And they said to him, "Tell us your riddle, so we can hear it." 14 And he said to them, "Out of the eater came forth food, and out of the strong came sweetness." And they couldn't in three days expain the riddle. 15 And on the seventh day, they said to Samson's wife, "Entice your husband, so he will explain to us the riddle, so we don't burn you and your father's house with fire, have you called us to take what we have? Is it not so?" 16 And Samson's wife cried before him, and said, "You hate me, and don't love me, you've told a riddle to the children of my people, and haven't told it to me." And he said to her, "See, I haven't told it to my father nor my mother, and shall I tell it to you?" 17 And she cried before him the seven days, while their feast lasted, and on the seventh day, he told her, because she lay severely on him, and she told the riddle to the children of her people. 18 And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?" And he said to them, "If you had not plowed with my heifer, you wouldn't have found out my riddle." 19 And the Spirit of the Lord came on him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and killed thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments to those who explained the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house. 20 But Samson's wife was given to his companion, who used to be his friend. ___Judges chapter 15 1 But a while afterward, in the time of wheat harvest, Samson visited his wife with a kid, and he said, "I will go in to my wife into the bedroom." But her father wouldn't allow him to go in. 2 And her father said, "I truly thought that you completely hated her, therefore I gave her to your companion, isn't her younger sister more attractive than she is? Please take her, instead of the other." 3 And Samson said concerning them, "Now I shall be more blameless than the Philistines, though I do them a displeasure." 4 And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the middle between two tails. 5 And when he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the standing corn of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks, and also the standing corn, with the vineyards and olives. 6 Then the Philistines said, "Who did this?" And they answered, "Samson, the son in law of the Timnite, because he had taken his wife, and given her to his companion." And the Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire. 7 And Samson said to them, "Though you've done this, yet I will be avenged against you, and after that I will stop." 8 And he struck them hip and thigh with a great slaughter, and he went down and lived on the top of the rock Etam. 9 Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi. 10 And the men of Judah said, "Why have you come up against us?" And they answered, "We've come to tie up Samson, to do to him as he has done to us." 11 Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, "Don't you know that the Philistines are rulers over us? What is this that you've done to us?" And he said to them, "Like they did to me, so I've done to them." 12 And they said to him, "We've come down to bind you, so we can deliver you into the hand of the Philistines." And Samson said to them, "Swear to me, that you won't fall on me yourselves." 13 And they said to him, saying, "No, but we will tie you tightly, and deliver you into their hand, but surely we won't kill you." And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the rock. 14 And when he came to Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him, and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily on him, and the cords that were on his arms became like flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands. 15 And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put out his hand, and took it, and killed a thousand men with it. 16 And Samson said, "With the jawbone of an ass, heaps on heaps, with the jaw of an ass I've killed a thousand men." 17 And when he had stopped speaking, he threw away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place Ramathlehi. 18 And he was very thirsty, and called on the Lord, and said, "You've given this great deliverance into the hand of your servant, and now shall I die from thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?" 19 But God split a hollow place that was in the jaw, and water came water from there, and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived, so he called the name of it Enhakkore, which is in Lehi until this day. 20 And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years. ___Judges chapter 16 1 Then Samson went to Gaza, and saw a prostitute there, and had sex with her. 2 And the Gazites were told, "Samson has come here." And they surrounded him, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, "In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him." 3 And Samson lay 'til midnight, and got up at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of a hill that is before Hebron. 4 And afterward, he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 5 And the lords of the Philistines came up to her, and said to her, "Entice him, and find out the source of his great strength, and how we can prevail against him, so we can bind him to afflict him, and every one of us will give you eleven hundred pieces of silver. 6 And Delilah said to Samson, "Tell me, please, what the source of your great strength is, and how you can be bound to afflict you. 7 And Samson said to her, "If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then I'll be weak, and be like another man." 8 Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs that hadn't been dried, and she bound him with them. 9 Now there were men lying in wait, staying with her in the room. And she said to him, "The Philistines are on you, Samson." And he broke the withs, like a thread of tow is broken when it touches the fire. So his strength was not known. 10 And Delilah said to Samson, "See, you have mocked me, and told me lies, now tell me, please, how you can be bound." 11 And he said to her, "If they tie me tightly with new ropes that have never been used, then I'll be weak, and be like another man." 12 Therefore, Delilah took new ropes, and bound him with them, and said to him, "The Philistines are on you, Samson." And there were liers in wait staying in the room. And he broke them off his arms like a thread. 13 And Delilah said to Samson, "Until now you've mocked me, and told me lies, tell me how you can be bound." And he said to her, "If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web." 14 And she fastened it with the pin, and said to him, "The Philistines are on you, Samson." And he awoke out of his sleep, and went away with the pin of the beam, and with the web. 15 And she said to him, "How can you say, I love you, when your heart is not with me? You've mocked me these three times, and haven't told me the source of your great strength." 16 And when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed to death, 17 He told her all his heart, and said to her, "A razor hasn't come on my head, for I've been a Nazarite to God from my mother's womb, if I'm shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I'll become weak, and be like any other man." 18 And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, "Come up this once, for he's shown me all his heart." Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her, and brought money in their hand. 19 And she made him sleep on her knees, and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head, and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. 20 And she said, "The Philistines are on you, Samson." And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, "I'll go out like at other times before, and shake myself." And he didn't know that the Lord had departed from him. 21 But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with shackles of brass, and he ground in the prison house. 22 But the hair of his head began to grow again after he'd been shaven. 23 Then the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to rejoice, for they said, "Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hand." 24 And when the people saw him, they praised their god, for they said, "Our god has delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, who killed many of us." 25 And when their hearts were merry, they said, "Call for Samson, so he can make sport for us." And they called for Samson out of the prison house, and he made them sport, and they set him between the pillars. 26 And Samson said to the lad that held him by the hand, "Allow me to feel the pillars that support the house, so I can lean on them." 27 Now the house was full of men and women, and all the lords of the Philistines were there, and about three thousand men and women were on the roof, that watched while Samson made sport. 28 And Samson called to the Lord, and said, "O Lord God, remember me, please, and strengthen me, please, only this once, O God, so I can at once be avenged aginst the Philistines for my two eyes." 29 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars on which the house stood, and on which it was supported, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. 30 And Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines." And he bowed himself with all his might, and the house fell on the lords, and on all the people that were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than those that he killed during his life. 31 Then his brothers and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the burying place of Manoah, his father. And he judged Israel twenty years. ___Judges chapter 17 1 And there was a man of Mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah. 2 And he said to his mother, "The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from you, about which you cursed, and spoke of also in my ears, see, the silver is with me, I took it." And his mother said, "The Lord bless you, my son." 3 And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, "I had wholly dedicated the silver to the Lord from my hand for my son, to make an engraved image and an image cast in the foundry, now therefore I will restore it to you." 4 Yet he restored the money to his mother, and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the foundry man, who made from it an engraved image and a foundry cast image, and they were in the house of Micah. 5 And the man Micah had a house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest. 6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did what was right in his own eyes. 7 And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he visited there. 8 And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to stay where he could find a place, and he came to Mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed. 9 And Micah said to him, "Where do you come from?" And he said to him, "I'm a Levite of Bethlehemjudah, and I go to stay where I can find a place." 10 And Micah said to him, "Live with me, and be a father to me and a priest, and I'll give you ten shekels of silver yearly, and a suit of clothes, and your food." So the Levite went in. 11 And the Levite was content to live with the man, and the young man was like one of his sons to him. 12 And Micah dedicated the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah. 13 Then Micah said, "Now know I that the Lord will do me good, since I have a Levite as my priest." ___Judges chapter 18 1 In those days there was no king in Israel, and in those days, the tribe of the Danites sought an inheritance to live in, for until that day, not all of their inheritance had fallen to them among the tribes of Israel. 2 And the children of Dan sent five men of their family from their coasts, men of valor, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it, and they said to them, "Go, search the land, who, when they came to Mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, they lodged there." 3 When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite, and they turned in there, and said to him, "Who brought you here? And what do you make in this place? And what do you have here?" 4 And he said to them, "Micah deals thus and thus with me, and has hired me, and I'm his priest." 5 And they said to him, "Please ask advice of God, so we'll know whether our way that we go shall be prosperous." 6 And the priest said to them, "Go in peace, before the Lord is your way in which you go." 7 Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were in it, how they lived carelessly, like the Zidonians, quiet and secure, and there was no magistrate in the land who could put them to shame in anything, and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man. 8 And they came to their brothers to Zorah and Eshtaol, and their brothers said to them, "What do you say?" 9 And they said, "Get up, so we can go up against them, for we have seen the land, and see, it's very good, and are you still? Don't be slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land. 10 When you go, you'll come to a people secure, and to a large land, for God has given it into your hands, a place where there is no want of anything that's in the earth." 11 And six hundred men equipped with weapons of war went from there from the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol. 12 And they went up, and pitched in Kirjathjearim in Judah, so they called that place Mahanehdan to this day, see, it's behind Kirjathjearim. 13 And they passed from there to Mount Ephraim, and came to the house of Micah. 14 Then the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish answered their brothers, "Do you know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and an engraved image, and a foundry cast image? Now therefore consider what you have to do." 15 And they turned toward there, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, to the house of Micah, and greeted him. 16 And the six hundred men equipped with their weapons of war, who were of the children of Dan, stood by the entrance of the gate. 17 And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in there, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the foundry cast image, and the priest stood at the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were armed with weapons of war. 18 And they went into Micah's house, and brought out the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the foundry cast image. Then the priest said to them, "What are you doing?" 19 And they said to him, "Be quiet, lay your hand on your mouth, and go 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 that you be a priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?" 20 And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went among the people. 21 So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the baggage before them. 22 And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near Micah's house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan. 23 And they shouted to the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said to Micah, "What's wrong with you, that you come with such a group of people?" 24 And he said, "You've taken away my gods that I made, and the priest, and you're gone away, and what do I have more? And what is this that you say to me, "What's wrong with you?" 25 And the children of Dan said to him, "Don't let your voice be heard among us, so that angry fellows don't run at you, and you lose your life, with the lives of your household." 26 And the children of Dan went their way, and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his house. 27 And they took the things that Micah had made, and the priest that he had, and came to Laish, to a people that were quiet and secure, and they struck them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire. 28 And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man, and it was in the valley that lies by Bethrehob. And they built a city, and lived in it. 29 And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born to Israel, but the name of the city was Laish at first. 30 And the children of Dan set up the graven image, and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land. 31 And they set up Micah's graven image that he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh. ___Judges chapter 19 1 And in those days, when there was no king in Israel, there was a certain Levite staying on the side of Mount Ephraim, who took to himself a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah. 2 And his concubine played the prostitute against him, and went away from him to her father's house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months. 3 And her husband got up, and went after her, to speak friendly to her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses, and she brought him into her father's house, and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him. 4 And his father in law, the damsel's father, retained him, and he stayed with him three days, so they ate and drink, and lodged there. 5 And on the fourth day, when they got up early in the morning, he rose up to depart, and the damsel's father said to his son in law, "Comfort your heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way." 6 And they sat down, and ate and drink both of them together, for the damsel's father had said to the man, "Be content, please, and wait all night, and let your heart be merry. 7 And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him, therefore he lodged there again. 8 And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart, and the damsel's father said, "Comfort your heart, please." And they stayed until afternoon, and both of them ate. 9 And when the man got up to depart, he and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel's father, said to him, "See, now the day draws toward evening, please stay the night, see, the day grows to an end, lodge here, so that your heart will be merry, and tomorrow be on your way early, so you can go home. 10 But the man would not stay that night, but he rose up and departed, and came opposite Jebus, which is Jerusalem, and two saddled asses were with him, also his concubine was with him. 11 And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent, and the servant said to his master, "Come, please, and let us turn in to this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it." 12 And his master said to him, "We won't turn aside here into the city of a stranger that is not of the children of Israel, we will pass over to Gibeah." 13 And he said to his servant, "Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah." 14 And they passed on and went their way, and the sun went down on them when they were by Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin. 15 And they turned aside there, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah, and when he went in, he sat down in a street of the city, for there was no man that took them into his house for lodging. 16 And see, an old man came from his work out of the field at evening, who was also of Mount Ephraim, and he was staying in Gibeah, but the men of the place were Benjamites. 17 And when he lifted up his eyes, he saw a traveling man in the street of the city, and the old man said, "Where are you going? And where have you come from?" 18 And he said to him, "We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of Mount Ephraim, that's where I'm from, and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I'm going now to the house of the Lord, and there is no man that has received me into his house. 19 Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses, and there is bread and wine also for me, and for your handmaid, and for the young man that is with your servants, there is lack of nothing." 20 And the old man said, "Peace be with you, however let all your needs rest on me, only don't lodge in the street." 21 So he brought him into his house, and gave provender to the asses, and they washed their feet, and ate and drank. 22 Now as they were making their hearts merry, see, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, surrounded the house, and beat at the door, and spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, "Bring out the man that came into your house, so we can know him." 23 And the man, the master of the house, went out to them, and said to them, "No, my brothers, no, please, don't do so wickedly, since this man has come into my house, don't do this foolishness. 24 See, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine, I will bring them out now, and humble them, and do with them what seems good to you, but to this man don't do so filthy a thing." 25 But the men wouldn't listen to him, so the man took his concubine, and brought her out to them, and they knew her and abused her all night until the morning, and when it began to be daybreak, they let her go. 26 Then the woman came in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, 'til daylight. 27 And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way, and see, the woman his concubine had fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were on the threshold. 28 And he said to her, "Up, and let us be going." But there was no answer. Then the man took her up on an ass, and the man rose up, and went to his place. 29 And when he had come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel. 30 And it was so, that all that saw it said, "There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt until this day, consider it, take advice, and speak your minds." ___Judges chapter 20 1 Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation gathered together like one man, from Dan to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, to the Lord in Mizpeh. 2 And the chief of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword. 3 (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpeh.) Then the children of Israel said, "Tell us how did this wickedness happen?" 4 And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was killed, answered, "I came into Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge. 5 And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and surrounded the house all around me at night, and thought to have killed me, and they've forced my concubine, so that she's dead. 6 And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel, for they've committed lewdness and foolishness in Israel. 7 See, you're all children of Israel, so give your advice and counsel." 8 And all the people arose like one man, saying, "None of us will go to his tent, nor will any of us turn into his house. 9 But now this shall be the thing that we will do to Gibeah, we will draw straws and go up against it, 10 And we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch food for the people, so they can do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the foolishness that they have done in Israel." 11 So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together all in agreement. 12 And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, "What wickedness is this that has been done among you? 13 Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, who are in Gibeah, so that we can put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin wouldn't listen to the voice of their brothers the children of Israel, 14 But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel. 15 And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities, twenty six thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were numbered seven hundred chosen men. 16 Among all these people there were seven hundred chosen men who were lefthanded, each of them could sling stones at a hair's width, and not miss. 17 And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword, all these were men of war. 18 And the children of Israel got up, and went up to the house of God, and asked advice of God, and said, "Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin?" And the Lord said, "Judah shall go up first." 19 And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah. 20 And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin, and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah. 21 And the children of Benjamin came out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty two thousand men. 22 And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day. 23 (And the children of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until evening, and asked advice of the Lord, saying, "Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the Lord said, "Go up against him.") 24 And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day. 25 And Benjamin went out against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men, all these drew the sword. 26 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came to the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the Lord, and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. 27 And the children of Israel inquired of the Lord, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, 28 And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, "Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I stop?" And the Lord said, Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand. 29 And Israel set liers in wait around Gibeah. 30 And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times. 31 And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city, and they began to strike of the people, and kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goes up to the house of God, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel. 32 And the children of Benjamin said, "They're struck down before us, like at first." But the children of Israel said, "Let us flee, and draw them from the city to the highways." 33 And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and put themselves in array at Baaltamar, and the liers in wait of Israel came out of their places, out of the meadows of Gibeah. 34 And ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel came against Gibeah, and the battle was severe, but they didn't know that evil was near them. 35 And the Lord struck Benjamin before Israel, and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty five thousand one hundred men, all these drew the sword. 36 So the children of Benjamin saw that they were struck, for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted the liers in wait that they had set beside Gibeah. 37 And the liers in wait hurried, and rushed at Gibeah, and the liers in wait drew themselves along, and struck all of the city with the edge of the sword. 38 Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers in wait, that they should make a great flame with smoke rise up out of the city. 39 And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to strike and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons, for they said, "Surely they're struck down before us, like in the first battle." 40 But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and see, the flame of the city ascended up to heaven. 41 And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed, for they saw that evil had come on them. 42 Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel to the way of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them, and those who came out of the cities they destroyed among them. 43 Thus they surrounded the Benjamites, and chased them, and walked on them easily opposite Gibeah toward the sunrising. 44 And eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell, all these were men of valor. 45 And they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men, and pursued hard after them to Gidom, and killed two thousand men of them. 46 So that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty five thousand men that drew the sword, all these were men of valor. 47 But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness to the rock Rimmon, and stayed in the rock Rimmon four months. 48 And the men of Israel turned again against the children of Benjamin, and struck them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of every city, as the animals, and all that came to hand, also they set on fire all the cities that they came to. ___Judges chapter 21 1 Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, "None of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin for a wife." 2 And the people came to the house of God, and stayed there 'til evening before God, and lifted up their voices, and cried severly, 3 And said, "O Lord God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel, that one tribe should today be missing in Israel?" 4 And on the next day, the people rose early, and built an altar there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. 5 And the children of Israel said, "Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that didn't come up with the congregation to the Lord?" For they had made a great oath concerning him that didn't come up to the Lord to Mizpeh, saying, "He shall surely be put to death." 6 And the children of Israel were sorry for Benjamin their brother, and said, "There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day. 7 How shall we do for wives for those who remain, since we have sworn by the Lord that we will not give them of our daughters as wives?" 8 And they said, "Which one is there of the tribes of Israel that didn't come up to Mizpeh to the Lord?" And see, no one came to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the assembly. 9 For the people were numbered, and see, none of the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead were there. 10 And the congregation sent twelve thousand men of the most valiant there, and commanded them, "Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the children. 11 And this is the thing that you shall do, you shall completely destroy every male, and every woman that has lain with man." 12 And they found among the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead four hundred young virgins, that hadn't known man by lying with any male, and they brought them to the camp to Shiloh that is in the land of Canaan. 13 And the whole congregation sent some people to speak to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call peaceably to them. 14 And Benjamin came again at that time, and they gave them wives that they had saved alive of the women of Jabeshgilead, but they were not enough. 15 And the people repented for Benjamin, because the Lord had made a wound in the tribes of Israel. 16 Then the elders of the congregation said, "What shall we do for wives for those who remain, since the women have been destroyed out of Benjamin?" 17 And they said, "There must be an inheritance for those Benjamites who've escaped, so that a tribe is not destroyed out of Israel. 18 But we can't give them wives of our daughters, for the children of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that gives a wife to Benjamin." 19 Then they said, "See, there's a feast of the Lord in Shiloh yearly at a place that's on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah. 20 Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, "Go and lie in wait in the vineyards, 21 And look, and see if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then you come out of the vineyards, and catch every man his wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin. 22 And it shall be, when their fathers or their brothers come to us to complain, that we'll say to them, Be favorable to them for our sakes, because we didn't reserve to each man his wife in the war, for you didn't give to them at that time, so you wouldn't be guilty." 23 And the children of Benjamin did so, and took themselves wives, according to their number, of those who danced, whom they caught, and they went and returned to their inheritance, and repaired the cities, and lived in them. 24 And the children of Israel departed from there at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from there every man to his inheritance. 25 In those days there was no king in Israel, every man did that which was right in his own eyes. ___Ruth chapter 1 1 Now in the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to live temporarily in the country of Moab, he and his wife, and his two sons. 2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they went into the country of Moab, and continued there. 3 And Elimelech, Naomi's husband died, and she and her two sons remained. 4 And they took wives from the women of Moab, the name of one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth, and they lived there about ten years. 5 And Mahlon and Chilion both died also, and the woman was deprived of her two sons and her husband. 6 Then she arose with her daughters in law, so that she could return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab how the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread. 7 So she went out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi said to her two daughters in law, "Go, return each to her mother's house, the Lord deal kindly with you, as you've dealt with the dead, and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you'll find rest, each of you in the house of her husband." Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voice, and wept. 10 And they said to her, "Surely we will return with you to your people." 11 And Naomi said, "Turn again, my daughters, why would you go with me? Are there yet any more sons in my womb, so they can be your husbands? 12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have a husband also tonight, and also bear sons, 13 Would you wait for them 'til they're grown? Would you wait for them instead of having other husbands? No, my daughters, for it grieves me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me." 14 And they lifted up their voice, and cried again, and Orpah kissed her mother in law, but Ruth stuck to her. 15 And she said, "See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people, and to her gods, go after your sister in law." 16 And Ruth said, "Don't ask me to leave you or to return from following you, for I’ll go where you go, I’ll live where you live, your people shall be my people, and your God shall be my God, 17 Where you die, I'll die, and I'll be buried there, the Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death separates you and me." 18 When she saw that she was steadily minded to go with her, then she stopped trying to persuade her. 19 So the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And when they’d come to Bethlehem, all the city was moved regarding them, and they said, "Is this Naomi?" 20 And she said to them, "Don't call me Naomi, call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty, why then do you call me Naomi, seeing the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?" 22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, who returned out of the country of Moab, and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest. ___Ruth chapter 2 1 And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth, the Moabitess, said to Naomi, "Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace." And she said to her, "Go, my daughter." 3 And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to go to a part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. 4 And see, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, "The Lord be with you." And they answered him, "The Lord bless you." 5 Then Boaz said to his servant that was set over the reapers, "Whose damsel is this?" 6 And the servant that was supervisor over the reapers answered, "It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab, 7 And she said, Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves, so she came, and has continued from the morning until now, so that she tarried a little in the house." 8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, "Don't you hear, my daughter? Don't go to glean in some other field, and don't go from here, but stay here close by my maidens, 9 Let your eyes be on the field that they reap, and go after them, haven't I commanded the young men that they shall not touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the containers, and drink from what the young men have drawn." 10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said to him, "Why have I found grace in your eyes, so that you would take knowledge of me, since I'm a stranger?" 11 And Boaz answered her, "It has fully been shown to me, all that you've done to your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you've left your father and your mother, and the land of your nativity, and have come to a people that you didn't know until now. 12 The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given to you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you've come to trust." 13 Then she said, "Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, because you've comforted me, and because you've spoken friendly to your handmaid, though I'm not like one of your handmaidens." 14 And Boaz said to her, "At mealtime come here, and eat of the bread, and dip your morsel in the vinegar." And she sat beside the reapers, and he reached her parched corn, and she ate and was filled, and left. 15 And when she had gotten up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, "Let her glean among the sheaves, and don't reproach her, 16 And also let some of the handfuls fall on purpose for her, and leave them, so she can glean them, and don't rebuke her." 17 So she gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. 18 And she took it up, and went into the city, and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned, and she brought out, and gave to her what she had left after she was full. 19 And her mother in law said to her, "Where have you gleaned today? And where did you work? Blessed be he that took knowledge of you." And she showed her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, "The man's name with whom I worked today is Boaz." 20 And Naomi said to her daughter in law, "The Lord bless him, who has not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead." And Naomi said to her, "The man is near of kin to us, one of our next kinsmen." 21 And Ruth the Moabitess said, "He said to me also, you shall keep close to my young men, until they've ended all my harvest." 22 And Naomi said to Ruth her daughter in law, "It's good, my daughter, that you go out with his maidens, so they don't meet you in any other field." 23 So she kept close by the maidens of Boaz to glean until the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest, and lived with her mother in law. ___Ruth chapter 3 1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, so that it will be well with you? 2 And now, isn't Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens you were? See, he's winnowing barley tonight in the threshing floor. 3 Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself, and put your clothes on, and get down to the floor, but don't make yourself known to the man, until he's finished eating and drinking. 4 And it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall see the place where he shall lie, and you shall go in, and uncover his feet, and lie down, and he will tell you what you shall do." 5 And she said to her, "I'll do all that you've said to me." 6 And she went down to the floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law had said. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn, and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid down. 8 And it at midnight, the man was afraid, and turned himself, and see, a woman lay at his feet. 9 And he said, "Who are you?" And she answered, "I am Ruth your handmaid, spread therefore your skirt over your handmaid, for you are a near kinsman." 10 And he said, "The Lord bless you, my daughter, for you've shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, since you don't follow young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, don't be afraid, I will do to you all that you require, for all the city of my people know that you're a virtuous woman. 12 And now it is true that I am your near kinsman, but there is a kinsman nearer than I am. 13 Wait tonight, and then in the morning, if he'll perform to you the part of a kinsman, well, let him do the kinsman's part, but if he won't do the part of a kinsman to you, then I'll do the part of a kinsman to you, as the Lord lives, lie down 'til the morning." 14 And she lay at his feet until the morning, and she rose up before one person could identify another. And he said, "Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor." 15 Also he said, "Bring the veil that you have on you, and hold it." And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her, and she went into the city. 16 And when she came to her mother in law, she said, "Who are you, my daughter?" And she told her all that the man had done to her. 17 And she said, "He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said to me, don't go empty to your mother in law." 18 Then she said, "Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will fall, for the man won't rest, 'til he has finished the thing this day." ___Ruth chapter 4 1 Then Boaz went up to the gate, and sat down there, and see, the kinsman about whom Boaz spoke came along, to whom he said, "Hey, such a one! Turn aside and sit down here." And he turned aside and sat down. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, "Sit down here." And they sat down. 3 And he said to the kinsman, "Naomi, that has come back from the country of Moab, is selling a parcel of land, that was our brother Elimelech's, 4 And I thought to tell you, "Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If you'll redeem it, redeem it, but if you won't redeem it, then tell me so that I'll know, for there is no one to redeem it beside you, and I am next after you." And he said, "I'll redeem it." 5 Then Boaz said, "When you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must buy it also from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance." 6 And the kinsman said, "I can't redeem it for myself, so I don't damage my own inheritance, you redeem my right for yourself, because I can't redeem it." 7 Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, to confirm all things, a man pulled off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor, and this was a testimony in Israel. 8 Therefore the kinsman said to Boaz, "Buy it for yourself." So he pulled off his shoe. 9 And Boaz said to the elders, and to all the people, "You are witnesses this day, that I've bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, from the hand of Naomi. 10 Also, Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, I've purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance, so that the name of the dead is not cut off from among his brothers, and from the gate of his place, you are witnesses this day." 11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders said, "We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman that has come into your house like Rachel and like Leah, which two built the house of Israel, and do worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem, 12 And let your house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, of the children that the Lord shall give you from this young woman." 13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and when he went in to her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. 14 And the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a kinsman, so that his name will be famous in Israel. 15 And he shall be to you a restorer of your life, and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to the son." 16 And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse to it. 17 And the women who were her neighbors gave him a name, saying, "There's a son born to Naomi," and they called him Obed, he is the father of Jesse, the father of David. 18 Now these are the generations of Pharez, Pharez fathered Hezron, 19 And Hezron fathered Ram, and Ram fathered Amminadab, 20 And Amminadab fathered Nahshon, and Nahshon fathered Salmon, 21 And Salmon fathered Boaz, and Boaz fathered Obed, 22 And Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David. ___1_Samuel chapter 1 1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of Mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite, 2 And he had two wives, the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah, and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there. 4 And at the time when Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions, 5 But to Hannah he gave a worthy portion, for he loved Hannah, but the Lord had shut up her womb. 6 And her adversary also provoked her severely, to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb. 7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her, therefore she wept, and didn't eat. 8 Then Elkanah, her husband, said to her, "Hannah, why do you cry? And why don't you eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?" 9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat on a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord, and wept severely. 11 And she vowed a vow, and said, "O Lord of hosts, if you'll indeed look at the affliction of your handmaid, and remember me, and not forget your handmaid, but will give to your handmaid a man child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come on his head." 12 And as she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart, and her lips moved, but her voice was not heard, therefore Eli thought she was drunk. 14 And Eli said to her, "How long will you be drunk? Put away your wine." 15 And Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit, I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. 16 Don't count your handmaid as a daughter of Belial, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken until now." 17 Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant you your petition that you've asked from him." 18 And she said, "Let your handmaid find grace in your sight." So the woman went her way, and ate, and her facial expression was no longer sad. 19 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house in Ramah, and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. 20 So, after Hannah had conceived, when the time had come, she bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked for him from the Lord." 21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and his vow. 22 But Hannah didn't go up, for she said to her husband, "I won't go up until the child is weaned, and then I will bring him, so that he will appear before the Lord, and live there forever." 23 And Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems good to you, wait until you've weaned him, only the Lord establish his word." So the woman stayed, and gave her son suck until she weaned him. 24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh, and the child was young. 25 And they killed a bullock, and brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, "Oh my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman that stood by you here, praying to the Lord. 27 I asked for this child, and the Lord has given me my petition that I asked him for, 28 Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord, as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord." And he worshipped the Lord there. ___1_Samuel chapter 2 1 And Hannah prayed, and said, "My heart rejoices in the Lord, my horn is exalted in the Lord, my mouth is enlarged over my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. 2 There is none holy like the Lord, for there is none beside you, nor is there any rock like our God. 3 Talk no more so very proudly, don't let arrogance come out of your mouth, for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 4 The bows of the mighty men have been broken, and those who stumbled have been clothed with strength. 5 Those who were full have hired out themselves for bread, and those who were hungry stopped, so that the barren has given birth to seven, and she that has many children has grown feeble. 6 The Lord kills, and makes alive, he brings down to the grave, and brings up. 7 The Lord makes poor, and makes rich, he brings low, and lifts up. 8 He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts up the beggar from the manure pile, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory, for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he has set the world on them. 9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness, for by strength shall no man prevail. 10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces, out of heaven he shall thunder on them, the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth, and he shall give strength to his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed." 11 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest. 12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial, they didn't know the Lord. 13 And the priests' custom with the people was that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand, 14 And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot, all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. That's what they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites that came there. 15 Also, before they burned the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, "Give flesh to roast for the priest, for he will not have sodden flesh from you, but raw." 16 And if any man said to him, "Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as your soul desires," then he would answer him, "No, but you shall give it to me now, and if not, I will take it by force." 17 So the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for men hated the offering of the Lord. 18 But Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child, clothed with a linen ephod. 19 Also his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, "The Lord give you more children from this woman for the loan that is lent to the Lord." And they went to their own home. 21 And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bore three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord. 22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 23 And he said to them, "Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings by all these people. 24 No, my sons, for it is no good report that I hear, you make the Lord's people transgress. 25 If one man sins against another, the judge shall judge him, but if a man sins against the Lord, who shall plead his case for him?" But they didn't listen to what their father said, because the Lord had decided to kill them. 26 And the child Samuel continued to grow, and was in favor both with the Lord, and also with men. 27 And a man of God came to Eli, and said to him, "Thus says the Lord, Did I plainly appear to the house of your father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house? 28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer on my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? And did I give to the house of your father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel? 29 Why do you kick at my sacrifice and at my offering, that I have commanded in my dwelling place, and honor your sons more than me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel my people? 30 So the Lord God of Israel says, I said indeed that your house, and the house of your father, would walk before me forever, but now the Lord says, be it far from me, for those who honor me, I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 31 See, the days come, that I will cut off your arm, and the arm of your father's house, so that there won't be an old man in your house. 32 And you'll see an enemy in my dwelling place, in all the wealth that God shall give Israel, and there shall not be an old man in your house forever. 33 And the man of yours, that I don't cut off from my altar, shall be to consume your eyes, and to grieve your heart, and all the increase of your house shall die in the flower of their age. 34 And this shall be a sign to you, that shall come on your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas, they shall both die on the same day. 35 And I will raise myself up a faithful priest, that shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind, and I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before my anointed forever. 36 And it shall happen, that everyone that is left in your house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, please, into one of the priests' offices, so that I can eat a piece of bread." ___1_Samuel chapter 3 1 And the child Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days, there was no open vision. 2 And at that time, when Eli had laid down in his place, and his eyes began to grow dim, he could not see, 3 And before the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel had laid down to sleep, 4 That the Lord called Samuel, and he answered, "Here am I." 5 And he ran to Eli, and said, "Here am I, for you called me." And he said, "I didn't call, lie down again." And he went and lay down. 6 And the Lord called yet again, "Samuel." And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here am I, for you called me." And he answered, "I didn't call, my son, lie down again." 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor had the word of the Lord yet been revealed to him. 8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here am I, for you called me." And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down, and it shall be, if he calls you, that you shall say, "Speak, Lord, for your servant hears." So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 And the Lord came, and stood, and called like at other times, "Samuel, Samuel." Then Samuel answered, "Speak, for your servant hears." 11 And the Lord said to Samuel, "See, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of everyone that hears it shall tingle. 12 On that day, I will perform against Eli all things that I have spoken concerning his house, when I begin, I will also make an end. 13 For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the sin that he knows, because his sons made themselves filthy, and he didn't restrain them. 14 And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, that the sin of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever." 15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision. 16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, "Samuel, my son." And he answered, "Here am I." 17 And he said, "What is the thing that the Lord has said to you? Please don't hide it from me, God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that he said to you." 18 And Samuel told him every bit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, "It is the Lord, let him do what seems good to him." 19 And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and didn't let any of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord. 21 And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord. ___1_Samuel chapter 4 1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer, and the Philistines pitched in Aphek. 2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel, and when they joined battle, Israel was struck before the Philistines, and they killed of the army in the field about four thousand men. 3 And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has the Lord struck us today before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh to us, so that, when it comes among us, it will save us out of the hand of our enemies. 4 So the people sent to Shiloh, so that they could bring from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, who lives between the cherubims, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 5 And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth echoed back. 6 And 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?" And they understood that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp. 7 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, "God has come into the camp." And they said, "Woe to us! For there has not been such a thing previously. 8 Woe to us! Who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? These are the Gods that struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. 9 Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O you Philistines, so that you're not servants to the Hebrews, as they have been to you, quit yourselves like men, and fight." 10 And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent, and there was a very great slaughter, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. 11 And the ark of God was taken, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were killed. 12 And a man of Benjamin ran out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes torn, and with dirt on his head. 13 And when he came, see, Eli sat on a seat by the wayside watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city shouted. 14 And when Eli heard the noise of the shouting, he said, "What does the noise of this commotion mean?" And the man came in hastily, and told Eli. 15 Now Eli was ninety eight years old, and his eyes were dim, so that he couldn't see. 16 And the man said to Eli, "I am he that came out of the army, and I fled today out of the army." And he said, "What happened there, my son?" 17 And the messenger answered and said, "Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been also a great slaughter among the people, and your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been taken." 18 And when he made mention of the ark of God, he fell off of the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck broke, and he died, for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. 19 And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered, and when she heard the news that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed, for her pains came on her. 20 And about the time of her death, the women that stood by her said to her, "Don't be afraid, for you've given birth to a son. But she didn't answer, nor did she regard it. 21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel," because the ark of God had been taken, and because of her father in law and her husband. 22 And she said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been taken." ___1_Samuel chapter 5 1 And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. 3 And when those of Ashdod arose early on the next day, see, Dagon had fallen on his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. 4 And when they arose early on the next morning, see, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord, and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off on the threshold, only the stump of Dagon was left to him. 5 Therefore, neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod until this day. 6 But the hand of the Lord was heavy on those of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and struck them with hemorrhoids, Ashdod and the borders of it. 7 And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, "The ark of the God of Israel shall not stay with us, for his hand is severe against us, and on Dagon our god." 8 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them, and said, "What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?" And they answered, "Let the ark of the God of Israel be taken to Gath." And they carried the ark of the God of Israel there. 9 And it was so, that, after they had carried it there, the hand of the Lord was against the city with a very great destruction, and he struck the men of the city, both small and great, and they had hemorrhoids in their secret parts. 10 Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And as the ark of God came to Ekron, the Ekronites shouted, saying, "They have brought here the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people." 11 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, "Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go back to its own place, so that it doesn't kill us, and our people," for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city, the hand of God was very heavy there. 12 And the men that didn't die were struck with the hemorrhoids, and the cry of the city went up to heaven. ___1_Samuel chapter 6 1 And the ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months. 2 And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, "What shall we do to the ark of the Lord? Tell us how we shall send it to its place." 3 And they said, "If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, don't send it empty, but be sure to return him a trespass offering, then you shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand has not been removed from you." 4 Then they said, What shall the trespass offering be that we shall return to him?" They answered, "Five golden hemorrhoids, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines, for one plague was on you all, and on your lords. 5 So you shall make images of your hemorrhoids, and images of your mice that damage the land, and you shall give glory to the God of Israel, perhaps he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land. 6 Why then do you harden your hearts, like the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When he had done wonderfully among them, didn't they let the people go, and they departed? 7 Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which has come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them, 8 And take the ark of the Lord, and lay it on the cart, and put the jewels of gold, that you return to him for a trespass offering, in a box by the side of it, and send it away, so that it can go. 9 And see, if it goes up by the way of its own coast to Bethshemesh, then he has done us this great evil, but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that struck us, it was a chance that happened to us." 10 And the men did so, and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home, 11 And they laid the ark of the Lord on the cart, and the box with the mice of gold and the images of their hemorrhoids. 12 And the kine took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and didn't turn aside to the right hand or to the left, and the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Bethshemesh. 13 And those of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley, and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it. 14 And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone, and they cut up the wood of the cart, and offered the kine as a burnt offering to the Lord. 15 And the Levites took down the ark of the Lord, and the box that was with it, in which the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone, and the men of Bethshemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day to the Lord. 16 And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day. 17 And these are the golden hemorrhoids that the Philistines returned for a trespass offering to the Lord, for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one, 18 And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, to the great stone of Abel, on which they set down the ark of the Lord, which stone remains until this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite. 19 And he struck the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the Lord, he smote of the people fifty thousand seventy men, and the people lamented, because the Lord had struck many of the people with a great slaughter. 20 And the men of Bethshemesh said, "Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God? And to whom shall he go up from us?" 21 And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, "The Philistines have brought back the ark of the Lord, come down, and fetch it." ___1_Samuel chapter 7 1 And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the Lord, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and dedicated Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the Lord. 2 And while the ark stayed in Kirjathjearim, the time was long, for it was twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord. 3 And Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, "If you return to the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts to the Lord, and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines." 4 Then the children of Israel put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the Lord only. 5 And Samuel said, "Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you to the Lord." 6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, 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 children of Israel in Mizpeh. 7 And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel had gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, "Don't stop praying to the Lord our God for us, so that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines. 9 And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly to the Lord, and Samuel called to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord heard him. 10 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel, but the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day on the Philistines, and crushed them, and they were struck before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and struck them, until they came under Bethcar. 12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, "Until now the Lord has helped us." 13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the borders of Israel, and the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 And the cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath, and Israel delivered the borders of them out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. 15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 And he went from year to year in a circle to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. 17 And his return was to Ramah, for his house was there, and he judged Israel there, and he built an altar to the Lord there. ___1_Samuel chapter 8 1 And when Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abiah, they were judges in Beersheba. 3 And his sons didn't walk in his ways, but turned aside after money, and took bribes, and perverted justice. 4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel to Ramah, 5 And said to him, "See, you're old, and your sons don't walk in your ways, now make us a king to judge us like all the nations." 6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, so that I wouldn't rule over them. 8 According to all the works that they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt to this day, with which they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so they also do to you. 9 Now therefore listen to their voice, but yet protest solemnly to them, and show them the manner of the king that shall rule over them." 10 And Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people that asked from him a king. 11 And he said, "This will be the manner of the king that shall rule over you, he will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen, and some shall run before his chariots. 12 And he will appoint himself captains over thousands, and captains over fifties, and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. 13 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. 14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, the best of them, and give them to his servants. 15 And he will take a tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. 16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and put them to doing his work. 17 He will take a tenth of your sheep, and you'll be his servants. 18 And you'll cry out on that day because of your king that you shall have chosen yourselves, and the Lord will not hear you on that day." 19 But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel, and they said, "No, we will have a king over us, 20 So that we also will be like all the nations, and that our king will judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles." 21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the ears of the Lord. 22 And the Lord said to Samuel, "Listen to their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Go every man to his city." ___1_Samuel chapter 9 1 Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. 2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and goodly, and there wasn't a goodlier person than he among the children of Israel, from his shoulders and upward he was taller than any of the people. 3 And the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to his son Saul, "Now take one of the servants with you, and get up, go look for the asses." 4 And he passed through Mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they didn't find them, then they passed through the land of Shalim, and they weren't there, and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they didn't find them. 5 And when they had come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, "Come, and let us return, so that my father doesn't stop caring for the asses, and start worrying about us." 6 And he said to him, "Look now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man, all that he says surely happens, now let us go there, perhaps he can show us our way that we should go." 7 Then said Saul to his servant, "But see, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is spent in our containers, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God, what do we have?" 8 And the servant answered Saul, and said, "See, I have here at hand one fourth of a shekel of silver, I'll give that to the man of God, to tell us our way." 9 (Before in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spoke, "Come, and let us go to the seer," for he that is now called a Prophet was previously called a Seer.) 10 Then Saul said to his servant, "Well said, come, let us go." So they went to the city where the man of God was. 11 And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said to them, "Is the seer here?" 12 And they answered them, and said, "He is, see, he is before you, make haste now, for he came today to the city, for there is a sacrifice of the people today in the high place, 13 As soon as you've come into the city, you'll immediately find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he comes, because he blesses the sacrifice, and afterwards they eat who have been invited. Now therefore get you up, for about this time you'll find him." 14 And they went up into the city, and when they had come into the city, see, Samuel came out opposite them, to go up to the high place. 15 Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, 16 "Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, so that he will save my people out of the hand of the Philistines, for I have looked at my people, because their cry has come to me." 17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him, "See, the man about whom I spoke to you! This same shall rule over my people." 18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, "Tell me, please, where the seer's house is." 19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, "I am the seer, go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today, and tomorrow I will let you go, and will tell you all that is in your heart. 20 And as for your asses that were lost three days ago, don't set your mind on them, for they've been found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you, and on all your father's house?" 21 And Saul answered and said, "Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak this way to me?" 22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlor, and made them sit in the most important place among those who were invited, which was about thirty people. 23 And Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the portion that I gave you, about which I said to you, Set it by you." 24 And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was on it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, "See what is left! Set it before you, and eat, for until this time it has been kept for you since I said, I have invited the people." So Saul ate with Samuel that day. 25 And when they had come down from the high place into the city, Samuel talked with Saul on the top of the house. 26 And they arose early, and at about daybreak, Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, "Up, so that I can send you away." And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, outside. 27 And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but you stand still a while, so I can show you the word of God." ___1_Samuel chapter 10 1 Then Samuel took a bottle of oil, and poured it on his head, and kissed him, and said, "Is it not because the Lord has anointed you to be captain over his inheritance? 2 When you've departed from me today, then you'll find two men by Rachel's tomb in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah, and they'll say to you, The asses that you went to look for have been found, and see, your father has stopped being concerned about the asses, and sorrows for you, saying, What shall I do about my son? 3 Then you shall go on forward from there, and you shall come to the plain of Tabor, and three men going up to God to Bethel shall meet you, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine, 4 And they will greet you, and give you two loaves of bread, that you'll receive from their hands. 5 After that you'll come to the hill of God, where the garrison of the Philistines is, and when you've come there to the city, you'll meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a flute, and a harp, before them, and they shall prophesy, 6 And the Spirit of the Lord will come on you, and you'll prophesy with them, and shall be turned into a different man. 7 And let it be, when these signs have come to you, that you do as occasion serves you, for God is with you. 8 And you shall go down before me to Gilgal, and see, I will come down to you, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings, seven days you shall wait, 'til I come to you, and show you what you shall do." 9 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him a different heart, and all those signs happened that day. 10 And when they came there to the hill, see, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God came on him, and he prophesied among them. 11 And when all that knew him before saw that, see, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said to each other, "What is this that has come to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?" 12 And one of the same place answered and said, "But who is their father?" Therefore it became a proverb, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" 13 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place. 14 And Saul's uncle said to him and to his servant, "Where did you go?" And he said, "To seek the asses, and when we saw that they were nowhere, we came to Samuel." 15 And Saul's uncle said, "Tell me, please, what Samuel said to you." 16 And Saul said to his uncle, "He told us plainly that the asses were found." But of the matter of the kingdom, about which Samuel spoke, he didn't tell him. 17 And Samuel called the people together to the Lord to Mizpeh, 18 And said to the children of Israel, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of those who oppressed you, 19 And you have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations, and you have said to him, No, set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes, and by your thousands." 20 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken. 21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken, and when they sought him, he couldn't be found. 22 Therefore they inquired of the Lord further, if the man should still come there. And the Lord answered, "See, he has hidden himself among the stuff." 23 And they ran and fetched him there, and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders and upward. 24 And Samuel said to all the people, "See him whom the Lord has chosen, that there is none like him among all the people?" And all the people shouted, and said, "God save the king." 25 Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. 26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah, and a band of men went with him, whose hearts God had touched. 27 But the children of Belial said, "How shall this man save us?" And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he said nothing. ___1_Samuel chapter 11 1 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead, and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you." 2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, "On this condition I will make a covenant with you, if I may poke out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach on all Israel." 3 And the elders of Jabesh said to him, "Give us seven days' respite, so that we can send messengers to all the borders of Israel, and then, if there's no man to save us, we will come out to you." 4 Then the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, and told the news in the ears of the people, and all the people lifted up their voices, and cried. 5 And see, Saul followed the herd out of the field, and Saul said, "What's wrong with the people to make them cry?" And they told him the news from the men of Jabesh. 6 And the Spirit of God came on Saul when he heard that news, and his anger was kindled greatly. 7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, "Whoever doesn't come out after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen." And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they all came out. 8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 9 And they said to the messengers that came, "Say this to the men of Jabeshgilead, Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you'll have help." And the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, and they were glad. 10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, "Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you can do with us all that seems good to you." 11 And it was so on the next day, that Saul put the people in three companies, and they came into the middle of the host in the morning watch, and killed the Ammonites until the heat of the day, and those who remained were scattered, so that no two of them were left together. 12 And the people said to Samuel, "Who was it that said, Shall Saul rule over us? Bring the men, so we can put them to death." 13 And Saul said, "There shall not a man be put to death this day, for today the Lord has made salvation in Israel." 14 Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there." 15 And all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal, and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. ___1_Samuel chapter 12 1 And Samuel said to all Israel, "See, I have listened to your voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you. 2 And now, the king walks before you, and I am old and gray headed, and see, my sons are with you, and I have walked before you from my childhood until this day. 3 See, here I am, witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed, whose ox have I taken? Or whose ass have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I received any bribe to blind my eyes with that? And I will restore it you." 4 And they said, "You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from any man's hand." 5 And he said to them, "The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand." And they answered, "He is witness." 6 And Samuel said to the people, "It is the Lord that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. 7 Now therefore stand still, so I can reason with you before the Lord of all the righteous acts of the Lord, that he did to you and to your fathers. 8 When Jacob had come into Egypt, and your fathers cried to the Lord, then the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt, and made them live in this place. 9 And when they forgot the Lord their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the army of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them. 10 And they cried to the Lord, and said, we have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth, but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you. 11 And the Lord sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and you lived safely. 12 And when you saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, you said to me, No, but a king shall rule over us, when the Lord your God was your king. 13 Now therefore see the king whom you have chosen, and whom you have desired! And see, the Lord has set a king over you. 14 If you will fear the Lord, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall both you and also the king that rules over you continue following the Lord your God, 15 But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you, like it was against your fathers. 16 Now therefore stand and see this great thing, that the Lord will do before your eyes. 17 Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call to the Lord, and he shall send thunder and rain, so that you'll perceive and see that your wickedness is great, that you've done in the sight of the Lord, in asking for yourselves a king." 18 So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel. 19 And all the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, so we don't die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king." 20 And Samuel said to the people, "Don't be afraid, you have done all this wickedness, yet don't turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart, 21 And don't turn aside, for then you would go after vain things, that can't profit nor deliver, for they are vain. 22 For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you his people. 23 Also as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in stopping to pray for you, but I will teach you the good and the right way, 24 Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart, for consider how great things he has done for you. 25 But if you shall still do wickedly, you shall be consumed, both you and your king." ___1_Samuel chapter 13 1 Saul ruled one year, and when he had ruled two years over Israel, 2 Saul chose for himself three thousand men of Israel, from which two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in Mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin, and he sent the rest of the people every man to his tent. 3 And Jonathan struck the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, "Let the Hebrews hear." 4 And all Israel heard that Saul had struck a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was hated by the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal. 5 And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people like the sand that is on the sea shore in multitude, and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven. 6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a difficult place, (for the people were distressed,) then the people hid themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. 7 And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. 8 And he waited seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed, but Samuel didn't come to Gilgal, and the people were scattered from him. 9 And Saul said, "Bring me here a burnt offering, and peace offerings." And he offered the burnt offering. 10 And as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, Samuel came, and Saul went out to meet him, to greet him. 11 And Samuel said, "What have you done?" And Saul said, "Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you didn't come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash, 12 Therefore I said, the Philistines will come down now on me to Gilgal, and I haven't made supplication to the Lord, I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering." 13 And Samuel said to Saul, "You've done foolishly, you haven't kept the commandment of the Lord your God, that he commanded you, for now the Lord would have established your kingdom in Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue, the Lord has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be captain over his people, because you haven't kept that which the Lord commanded you." 15 And Samuel got up, and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men. 16 And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, lived in Gibeah of Benjamin, but the Philistines camped in Michmash. 17 And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies, one company turned to the way that leads to Ophrah, to the land of Shual, 18 And another company turned the way to Bethhoron, and another company turned to the way of the border that looks toward the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness. 19 Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, "So that the Hebrews won't make themselves swords or spears," 20 But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock. 21 Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. 22 So in the day of battle, there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan, but Saul and Jonathan his son had weapons. 23 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash. ___1_Samuel chapter 14 1 Now one day, Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man that carried his armor, "Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on the other side." But he didn't tell his father. 2 And Saul waited in the farthest part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree that is in Migron, and the people that were with him were about six hundred men, 3 And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord's priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people didn't know that Jonathan was gone. 4 And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines' garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side, and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5 The front of the one was situated northward opposite Michmash, and the other southward opposite Gibeah. 6 And Jonathan said to the young man that carried his armor, "Come, and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised, it may be that the Lord will work for us, for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few." 7 And his armor bearer said to him, "Do all that is in your heart, turn, see, I am with you according to your heart." 8 Then Jonathan said, "See, we will pass over to these men, and we will expose our presence to them. 9 If they say thus to us, Wait until we come to you, then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up to them. 10 But if they say thus, Come up to us, then we will go up, for the Lord has delivered them into our hand, and this shall be a sign to us." 11 And both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines, and the Philistines said, See, the Hebrews come out of the holes where they had hid themselves. 12 And the men of the garrison said to Jonathan and his armor bearer, and said, "Come up to us, and we will show you a thing." And Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come up after me, for the Lord has delivered them into the hand of Israel." 13 And Jonathan climbed up on his hands and on his feet, and his armor bearer after him, and they fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer killed after him. 14 And that first slaughter that Jonathan and his armor bearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were a half acre of land, that a yoke of oxen might plow. 15 And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people, the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked, so it was a very great trembling. 16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and see, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down each other. 17 Then Saul said to the people that were with him, "Number now, and see who has gone from us." And when they had numbered, see, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there. 18 And Saul said to Ahiah, "Bring here the ark of God." For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel. 19 And while Saul talked to the priest, the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased, and Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand." 20 And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle, and see, every man's sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great slaughter. 21 Also the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, that went up with them into the camp from the surrounding country, they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 Likewise all the men of Israel that had hidden themselves in Mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, they also followed hard after them in the battle. 23 So the Lord saved Israel that day, and the battle passed over to Bethaven. 24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day, for Saul had told the people, "Cursed be the man that eats any food until evening, so I can be avenged against my enemies." So none of the people tasted any food. 25 And all of those of the land came to the woods, and there was honey on the ground. 26 And when the people had come into the woods, see, the honey dropped, but no man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan didn't hear when his father charged the people with the oath, so he put out the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in a honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes were enlightened. 28 Then one of the people answered, and said, "Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, cursed be the man that eats any food this day." And the people were faint. 29 Then Jonathan said, "My father has troubled the land, please observe how my eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much more, if perhaps the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies that they found? For wouldn't there have now been a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?" 31 And they struck the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon, and the people were very faint. 32 And the people flew on the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and killed them on the ground, and the people ate them with the blood. 33 Then they told Saul, "See, the people sin against the Lord, in that they eat with the blood." And he said, "You have transgressed, roll a great stone to me this day." 34 And Saul said, "Disperse yourselves among the people, and say to them, bring me here every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and kill them here, and eat, and don't sin against the Lord in eating with the blood." And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and killed them there. 35 And Saul built an altar to the Lord, that was the first altar that he built to the Lord. 36 And Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines at night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them." And they said, do whatever seems good to you. Then the priest said, "Let us draw near here to God." 37 And Saul asked advice from God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?" But he didn't answer him that day. 38 And Saul said, "Come near here, all the chief of the people, and know and see how this sin has been today. 39 For, as the Lord lives, who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die." But there was not a man among all the people that answered him. 40 Then he said to all Israel, "You be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side." And the people said to Saul, "Do what seems good to you." 41 Therefore Saul said to the Lord God of Israel, "Give a perfect lot." And Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people escaped. 42 And Saul said, "Draw straws between me and Jonathan my son." And Jonathan was taken. 43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you've done." And Jonathan told him, "I only tasted a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand, and see, I must die." 44 And Saul answered, "God do so and more also, for you shall surely die, Jonathan." 45 And the people said to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who has done this great salvation in Israel? God forbid, as the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day." So the people rescued Jonathan, so that he didn't die. 46 Then Saul went up from following the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place. 47 So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines, and wherever he turned himself, he vexed them. 48 And he gathered an army, and struck the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who spoiled them. 49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchishua, and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn, Merab, and the name of the younger, Michal, 50 And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz, and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle. 51 And Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel. 52 And there was severe war against the Philistines all the days of Saul, and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him to himself. ___1_Samuel chapter 15 1 Samuel also said to Saul, "The Lord sent me to anoint you to be king over his people, over Israel, now therefore listen to the voice of the words of the Lord. 2 Thus says the Lord of hosts, I remember what Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him on the way, when he came up from Egypt. 3 Now go and strike Amalek, and completely destroy all that they have, and don't spare them, but kill both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and donkey." 4 And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah. 5 And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley. 6 And Saul said to the Kenites, Go, depart, get down from among the Amalekites, so that I don't destroy you with them, for you showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. 7 And Saul struck the Amalekites from Havilah until you come to Shur, that is opposite Egypt. 8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and completely destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not completely destroy them, but everything that was filthy and refuse they destroyed completely. 10 Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, 11 "I regret that I've set up Saul to be king, for he has turned back from following me, and has not performed my commandments." And it grieved Samuel, and he prayed to the Lord all night. 12 And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, "Saul came to Carmel, and see, he set himself up a place, and has gone around, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal." 13 And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed be you by the Lord, I have performed the commandment of the Lord." 14 And Samuel said, "Then what does this bleating of the sheep in my ears mean, and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?" 15 And Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice to the Lord your God, and the rest we have completely destroyed." 16 Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stay, and I will tell you what the Lord has said to me this night." And he said to him, "Say on." 17 And Samuel said, "When you were little in your own sight, weren't you made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed you king over Israel? 18 And the Lord sent you on a journey, and said, go and completely destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they're consumed. 19 Why then you didn't obey the voice of the Lord, but jumped on the spoil, and did evil in the sight of the Lord?" 20 And Saul said to Samuel, "Yes, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way that the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have completely destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things that should have been completely destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal." 22 And Samuel said, "Does the Lord have as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? See, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is like sin and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king." 24 And Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and your words, because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. 25 Now therefore, please, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, so that I can worship the Lord." 26 And 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." 27 And as Samuel turned, about to go away, he grabbed hold of the skirt of his mantle, and it tore. 28 And Samuel said to him, "The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, that is better than you. 29 And also the strength of Israel will not lie nor repent, for he is not a man, that he should repent." 30 Then he said, "I have sinned, yet honor me now, please, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, so I can worship the Lord your God." 31 So Samuel turned again after Saul, and Saul worshipped the Lord. 32 Then Samuel said, "Bring here to me Agag the king of the Amalekites." And Agag came to him delicately. And Agag said, surely the bitterness of death is past. 33 And Samuel said, "As your sword has made women childless, so your shall mother be childless among women." And Samuel cut Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal. 34 Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul. 35 And Samuel didn't go anymore to see Saul until the day of his death, but Samuel mourned for Saul, and the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel. ___1_Samuel chapter 16 1 And the Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing that I've rejected him from ruling over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go, I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided myself a king among his sons." 2 And Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me." And the Lord said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, I've come to sacrifice to the Lord. 3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do, and you shall anoint for me him that I name to you." 4 And Samuel did what the Lord said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, "Do you come peaceably?" 5 And he said, "Peaceably, I've come to sacrifice to the Lord, make yourselves holy, and come with me to the sacrifice." And he made Jesse and his sons holy, and called them to the sacrifice. 6 And when they had come, he looked at Eliab, and said, surely the Lord's anointed is before him. 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Don't look at his face, or at how tall he is, because I've refused him, for the Lord doesn't see like man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "Nor has the Lord chosen this." 9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, "Nor has the Lord chosen this." 10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen these." 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your children here?" And he said, "The youngest remains, and see, he's keeping the sheep. And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and fetch him, for we will not sit down 'til he comes here." 12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and with a beautiful face, and attractive to look at. And the Lord said, "Get up, anoint him, he's the one." 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord came on David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. 14 But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. 15 And Saul's servants said to him, "See now, an evil spirit from God troubles you. 16 Let our lord now command your servants, that are before you, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on a harp, and when the evil spirit from God is on you, he shall play with his hand, and you'll be well." 17 And Saul said to his servants, "Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me." 18 Then one of the servants answered, "See, I've seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a attractive person, and the Lord is with him." 19 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, "Send me David your son, who is with the sheep." 20 And Jesse took an ass loaded with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son to Saul. 21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him, and he loved him greatly, and he became his armor carrier. 22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Let David, please, stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight." 23 And when the evil spirit from God was on Saul, David took a harp, and played with his hand, so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him. ___1_Samuel chapter 17 1 Now the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, that belongs to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim. 2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines. 3 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, and there was a valley between them. 4 And a champion went out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was nine feet and a span. 5 And he had a helmet of brass on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. 6 And he had greaves of brass on his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. 7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron, and someone carrying a shield went before him. 8 And he stood and shouted to the armies of Israel, and said to them, "Why have you come out to set your battle in array? Am I not a Philistine, and you are servants to Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he's able to fight with me, and to kill me, then we will be your servants, but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then you'll be our servants, and serve us." 10 And the Philistine said, "I defy the armies of Israel this day, give me a man, so we can fight together." 11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were discouraged, and quite afraid. 12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse, and he had eight sons, and the man was considered to be an old man in the days of Saul. 13 And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle, and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14 And David was the youngest, and the three eldest followed Saul. 15 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. 16 And the Philistine came near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days. 17 And Jesse said to David his son, take now for your brothers an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to your brothers, 18 And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and find out how your brothers are doing, and take their pledge. 19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. 20 And David got up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him, and he came to the trench, as the army was going out to the fight, and shouted for the battle. 21 For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army. 22 And David left his baggage in the hand of the keeper of the baggage, and ran into the army, and came and greeted his brothers. 23 And as he talked with them, see, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, named Goliath, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spoke according to the same words, and David heard them. 24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were very afraid. 25 And the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man that has come up? Surely to defy Israel he has come up, and it shall be, that the man who kills him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel." 26 And David spoke to the men that stood by him, saying, "What shall be done to the man that kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" 27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, "So shall it be done to the man that kills him." 28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men, and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, "Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride, and the naughtiness of your heart, for you've come down so you can see the battle." 29 And David said, "What have I now done? Is there not a reason?" 30 And he turned from him toward someone else, and spoke according to the same manner, and the people answered him back like they did before. 31 And when the words were heard that David spoke, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him. 32 And David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him, your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." 33 And Saul said to David, "You're not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you're just a youth, and he's a man of war from his youth." 34 And David said to Saul, "Your servant kept his father's sheep, and a lion came, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 And I went out after him, and struck him, and delivered it out of his mouth, and when he rose up against me, I caught him by his beard, and struck him, and killed him. 36 Your servant killed both the lion and the bear, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God." 37 David said also, "The Lord who delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the Lord be with you." 38 And Saul armed David with his armor, and he put a helmet of brass on his head, also he armed him with a coat of mail. 39 And David put his sword on his armor, and he tried to go, but he had not proven it. And David said to Saul, "I can't go with these, for I haven't proven them." And David took them off. 40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag that he had, even in a scrip, and his sling was in his hand, and he went near the Philistine. 41 And the Philistine came on and approached near David, and the man that carried the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked around, and saw David, he scorned him, for he was just a youth, and ruddy, and with an attractive face. 43 And the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with staves?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field." 45 Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you've defied. 46 This day, the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you, and take your head from you, and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day to the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth, so that all the earth will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord doesn't save by sword and spear, for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands." 48 And when the Philistine got up, and came near to meet David, David hurried, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took from there a stone, and slang it, and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sunk into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine, and killed him, but there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 David therefore ran, and stood on the Philistine, and took his sword, and pulled it out of the sheath, and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they ran away. 52 And the men of Israel and of Judah got up, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until you come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, to Gath, and to Ekron. 53 And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents. 54 And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent. 55 And when Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the captain of the host, "Abner, whose son is this youth?" And Abner said, "As your soul lives, O king, I can't tell." 56 And the king said, "Inquire whose son the stripling is." 57 And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 58 And Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" And David answered, "I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite." ___1_Samuel chapter 18 1 And when he finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 And Saul took him that day, and wouldn't let him go home anymore to his father's house. 3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even his sword, and his bow, and his girdle. 5 And David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely, and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants. 6 And as they came, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music. 7 And the women answered each other as they played, and said, "Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands." 8 And Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him, and he said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands, and what can he have more but the kingdom?" 9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward. 10 And on the next day, the evil spirit from God came on Saul, and he prophesied in the middle of the house, and David played with his hand, like at other times, and there was a javelin in Saul's hand. 11 And Saul threw the javelin, for he said, "I will strike David to the wall with it." And David avoided out of his presence twice. 12 And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and had departed from Saul. 13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand, and he went out and came in before the people. 14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him. 15 So when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them. 17 And Saul said to David, "See my elder daughter Merab, I will give to you her for your wife, only be valiant for me, and fight the Lord's battles." For Saul said, "Let not my hand be on him, but let the hand of the Philistines be on him." 18 And David said to Saul, "Who am I? And what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?" 19 But at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as wife. 20 And Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David, and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. 21 And Saul said, "I will give her to him, so that she will be a trap to him, and so that the hand of the Philistines will be against him." So Saul said to David, "You shall this day be my son in law in the one of the two." 22 And Saul commanded his servants, saying, "Talk with David privately, and say, see, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you, now therefore be the king's son in law." 23 And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, "Does it seem to you a light thing to be a king's son in law, since I'm a poor man, and lightly esteemed?" 24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, "David spoke like this." 25 And Saul said, "Say this to David, the king doesn't desire any dowry, but a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies." But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son in law, and the days had not expired. 27 So David got up and went, he and his men, and killed two hundred Philistines, and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, so that he could be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter as wife. 28 And Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him. 29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David, and Saul became David's enemy continually. 30 Then the princes of the Philistines went out, and after they went out, David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was much set by. ___1_Samuel chapter 19 1 And Saul said to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. 2 But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David, and Jonathan told David, "Saul my father is trying to kill you, now therefore, please, be careful until the morning, and stay in a secret place, and hide yourself, 3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will talk with my father about you, and what I see, I will tell you." 4 And Jonathan spoke good about David to Saul his father, and said to him, "Let the king not sin against his servant, against David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his works toward you have been very good, 5 For he put his life in his hand, and killed the Philistine, and the Lord made a great salvation for all Israel, you saw it, and rejoiced, so then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a reason?" 6 And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan, and Saul swore, "As the Lord lives, he shall not be killed." 7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan showed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in the past. 8 And there was war again, and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and killed them with a great slaughter, and they fled from him. 9 And the evil spirit from the Lord was on Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand, and David played with his hand. 10 And Saul sought to strike David to the wall with the javelin, but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he struck the javelin into the wall, and David fled, and escaped that night. 11 Saul also sent messengers to David's house, to watch him, and to kill him in the morning, and Michal, David's wife told him, saying, "If you don't save your life tonight, tomorrow you'll be killed." 12 So Michal let David down through a window, and he went, and fled, and escaped. 13 And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth. 14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, "He is sick." 15 And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, "Bring him up to me in the bed, so I can kill him." 16 And when the messengers had come in, see, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster. 17 And Saul said to Michal, "Why have you deceived me this way, and sent away my enemy, so that he has escaped?" And Michal answered Saul, "He said to me, Let me go, why should I kill you?" 18 So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and lived in Naioth. 19 And it was told Saul, see, "David is at Naioth in Ramah." 20 And Saul sent messengers to take David, and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was on the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. 21 And when they told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied also. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. 22 Then he went also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu, and he asked and said, "Where are Samuel and David?" And someone said, "See, they're at Naioth in Ramah." 23 And he went there to Naioth in Ramah, and the Spirit of God was on him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. So they say, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" ___1_Samuel chapter 20 1 And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, "What have I done? What is my sin? And what is my sin before your father, so that he seeks my life?" 2 And he said to him, "God forbid, you shall not die, see, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will show it to me, and why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so." 3 And David swore also, and said, "Your father certainly knows that I have found grace in your eyes, and he says, let Jonathan not know this, so he won't be grieved, but truly as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death." 4 Then Jonathan said to David, "Whatever your soul desires, I will do it for you." 5 And David said to Jonathan, "See, tomorrow is the new moon, and I shouldn't fail to sit with the king to eat, but let me go, so I can hide myself in the field until the third day at evening. 6 If your father misses me at all, then say, David earnestly asked permission from me to run to Bethlehem his city, for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family. 7 If he says thus, It is well, your servant shall have peace, but if he's very angry, then be sure that evil is determined by him. 8 Therefore you shall deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the Lord with you, but if there's sin in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?" 9 And Jonathan said, "Far be it from you, for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come on you, then wouldn't I tell you?" 10 Then David said to Jonathan, "Who shall tell me? Or what if your father answers you roughly?" 11 And Jonathan said to David, "Come, and let us go out into the field." And they went out both of them into the field. 12 And Jonathan said to David, "O Lord God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about tomorrow any time, or the third day, and see, if there is good toward David, and I then don't send to you, and show it you, 13 The Lord do so and much more to Jonathan, but if it pleases my father to do you evil, then I will show you, and send you away, so you can go in peace, and the Lord be with you, as he has been with my father. 14 And you shall not only while I yet live show me the kindness of the Lord, so that I don't die, 15 But also you shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever, no, not when the Lord has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth." 16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "Let the Lord even require it at the hand of David's enemies." 17 And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul. 18 Then Jonathan said to David, "Tomorrow is the new moon, and you shall be missed, because your seat will be empty. 19 And when you've stayed three days, then you shall go down quickly, and come to the place where you hid yourself when the business was in hand, and shall remain by the stone Ezel. 20 And I will shoot three arrows on the side of it, as though I shot at a mark. 21 And see, I will send a lad, saying, go, find the arrows. If I specifically say to the lad, see, the arrows are on this side of you, take them, then come, for there is peace to you, and no hurt, as the Lord lives. 22 But if I say thus to the young man, see, the arrows are beyond you, go your way, for the Lord has sent you away. 23 And concerning the matter that you and I have spoken of, see, the Lord be between you and me forever." 24 So David hid himself in the field, and when the new moon had come, the king sat down to eat. 25 And the king sat on his seat, as at other times, on a seat by the wall, and Jonathan got up, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty. 26 But Saul didn't say anything that day, for he thought, something has happened him, he is not clean, surely he is not clean. 27 And on the next day, that was the second day of the month, David's place was empty, and Saul said to Jonathan his son, "Why doesn't the son of Jesse come to eat, neither yesterday, nor today?" 28 And Jonathan answered Saul, "David earnestly asked permission from me to go to Bethlehem, 29 And he said, let me go, please, for our family has a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there, and now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away, please, and see my brothers. That's why he didn't come to the king's table." 30 Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, "You son of the perverse rebellious woman, don't I know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own confusion, and to the confusion of your mother's nakedness? 31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you shall not be established, nor your kingdom. So now send and fetch him to me, for he shall surely die." 32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, "Why should he be killed? What has he done?" 33 And Saul threw a javelin at him to strike him, by which Jonathan knew that it was determined by his father to kill David. 34 So Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger, and ate no meat the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame. 35 And in the morning, Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him. 36 And he said to his lad, "Run, find now the arrows that I shoot." And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. 37 And when the lad had come to the place of the arrow that Jonathan had shot, Jonathan shouted to the lad, and said, "Is not the arrow beyond you?" 38 And Jonathan shouted to the lad, "Make speed, hurry up, don't stay." And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master. 39 But the lad didn't know anything, only Jonathan and David knew the matter. 40 And Jonathan gave his bow and arrows to his lad, and said to him, "Go, carry them to the city. 41 And as soon as the lad had gone, David got up out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times, and they kissed each other, and wept with each other, until David finished. 42 And Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, since we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, the Lord be between me and you, and between my descendants and your descendants forever." And he got up and departed, and Jonathan went into the city. ___1_Samuel chapter 21 1 Then David went to Nob to Ahimelech the priest, and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said to him, "Why are you alone, and no man with you?" 2 And David said to Ahimelech the priest, "The king has commanded me a business, and has said to me, let no man know anything of the business about which I send you, and what I have commanded you, and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place. 3 Now therefore what is under your hand? Give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or what there is present." 4 And the priest answered David, "There is no common bread under my hand, but there is hallowed bread, if the young men have at least kept themselves from women." 5 And David answered the priest, "Truly, women have been kept from us for about three days, since I came out, and the containers of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yes, though it were made holy this day in the container." 6 So the priest gave him hallowed bread, for there was no bread there but the showbread, that was taken from before the Lord, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away. 7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord, and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the top man of the herdsmen that belonged to Saul. 8 And David said to Ahimelech, "And isn't there here under your hand spear or sword? For I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste." 9 And the priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah, see, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod, if you want to take that, take it, for there is no other except that here." And David said, "There is none like that, give it to me." 10 And David got up, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11 And the servants of Achish said to him, "Isn't this David the king of the land? Didn't they sing to each other about him in dances, saying, Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands?" 12 And David laid up these words in his heart, and was very afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13 And he changed his behavior before them, and pretended to be crazy in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spit fall down on his beard. 14 Then Achish said to his servants, "See, you can see the man is crazy, why then have you brought him to me? 15 Do I need crazy men, that you have brought this fellow to play the crazy man in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?" ___1_Samuel chapter 22 1 David therefore departed from there, and escaped to the cave, Adullam, and when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down to him there. 2 And everyone that was in distress, and everyone that was in debt, and everyone that was discontented, gathered themselves to him, and he became a captain over them, and there were with him about four hundred men. 3 And David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab, and he said to the king of Moab, "Please let my father and my mother come out and be with you, 'til I know what God will do for me." 4 And he brought them before the king of Moab, and they lived with him all the while that David was in the hold. 5 And the prophet Gad said to David, "Don't stay in the hold, depart, and get to the land of Judah." Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth. 6 When Saul heard that David had been discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul lived in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him,) 7 Then Saul said to his servants that stood around him, "Hear now, you Benjamites, will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, 8 So that all of you have conspired against me, and there is no one that shows me that my son has made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or shows me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?" 9 Then Doeg the Edomite answered, who was set over the servants of Saul, and said, "I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. 10 And he inquired of the Lord for him, and gave him food, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine." 11 Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob, and all of them came to the king. 12 And Saul said, "Hear now, you son of Ahitub." And he answered, "Here I am, my lord." 13 And Saul said to him, "Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread, and a sword, and have inquired of God for him, so that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?" 14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, "And who is so faithful among all your servants as David, who is the king's son in law, and goes at your bidding, and is honorable in your house? 15 Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? Be it far from me, let the king not impute anything to his servant, nor to all the house of my father, for your servant knew nothing of all this, less or more." 16 And the king said, you shall surely die, Ahimelech, you, and all your father's house. 17 And the king said to the infantry that stood around him, "Turn, and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not show it to me." But the servants of the king would not put out their hand to fall on the priests of the Lord. 18 And the king said to Doeg, "Turn and fall on the priests." And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell on the priests, and killed on that day eighty five persons that wore a linen ephod. 19 And Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword. 20 And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David. 21 And Abiathar showed David that Saul had killed the Lord's priests. 22 And David said to Abiathar, "I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul, I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father's house. 23 Live with me, don't be afraid, for he that seeks my life seeks your life, but with me you shall be in safeguard." ___1_Samuel chapter 23 1 Then they told David, "See, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshing floors." 2 Therefore David inquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I go and strike these Philistines?" And the Lord said to David, "Go, and strike the Philistines, and save Keilah." 3 And David's men said to him, "See, we're afraid here in Judah, how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?" 4 Then David inquired of the Lord again. And the Lord answered him and said, "Get up, go down to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand." 5 So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and struck them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. 6 And when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand. 7 And Saul was told that David had come to Keilah. And Saul said, "God has delivered him into my hand, for he is shut in, by entering into a town that has gates and bars." 8 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. 9 And David knew that Saul secretly practiced mischief against him, and he said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod here." 10 Then David said, "O Lord God of Israel, your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake. 11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? Will Saul come down, like your servant has heard? O Lord God of Israel, I beg of you, tell your servant." And the Lord said, he will come down. 12 Then said David, "Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?" And the Lord said, they will deliver you up. 13 Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, got up and departed out of Keilah, and went wherever they could go. And it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, and he didn't go there. 14 And David lived in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God didn't deliver him into his hand. 15 And David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life, and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in the woods. 16 And Jonathan, Saul's, son got up, and went to David into the woods, and strengthened his hand in God. 17 And he said to him, "Don't be afraid, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you, and you shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you, and that also Saul my father knows." 18 And the two of them made a covenant before the Lord, and David lived in the woods, and Jonathan went to his house. 19 Then the Ziphites came up to Saul to Gibeah, saying, "Doesn't David hide himself with us in strong holds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, that is on the south of Jeshimon? 20 Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to come down, and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand." 21 And Saul said, "Blessed be you by the Lord, for you have compassion on me. 22 Go, please, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who has seen him there, for it is told me that he deals very subtlely. 23 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hides himself, and come back to me with the certainty, and I will go with you, and if he's in the land, I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah." 24 And they got up, and went to Ziph before Saul, but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon. 25 Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David, so he came down into the rocks, and lived in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. 26 And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain, and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul, for Saul and his men surrounded David and his men to take them. 27 But a messenger came to Saul, saying, "Hurry and come, for the Philistines have invaded the land." 28 So Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines, therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth. 29 And David went up from there, and lived in strong holds at Engedi. ___1_Samuel chapter 24 1 And when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, it was told him, "See, David is in the wilderness of Engedi." 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats. 3 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to take a nap, and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. 4 And the men of David said to him, "See, the day about which the Lord said to you, see, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, so you can do to him as it shall seem good to you." Then David got up, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe secretly. 5 And afterward, David's heart struck him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. 6 And he said to his men, the Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord. 7 So David held his servants back with these words, and didn't allow them to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way. 8 David also got up afterward, and went out of the cave, and shouted after Saul, saying, "My lord the king." And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself. 9 And David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to hear men's words that say, See, David seeks your hurt? 10 See, this day your eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and some told me kill you, but my eye spared you, and I said, I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord's anointed. 11 Also, my father, see, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand, for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and didn't kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, yet you hunt my soul to take it. 12 The Lord judge between me and you, and the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be on you. 13 As says the proverb of the ancients, wickedness proceeds from the wicked, but my hand shall not be on you. 14 After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog, after a flea. 15 The Lord therefore be judge, and judge between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand." 16 And when David had stopped speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. 17 And he said to David, "You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me good, but I've rewarded you evil. 18 And you have showed this day how that you have dealt well with me, since when the Lord had delivered me into your hand, you didn't kill. 19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go well away? So the Lord reward you good for what you've done to me this day. 20 And now, see, I know well that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. 21 Now therefore swear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house." 22 And David swore to Saul. And Saul went home, but David and his men got up to the hold. ___1_Samuel chapter 25 1 And Samuel died, and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David got up, and went down to the wilderness of Paran. 2 And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel, and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats, and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. 3 Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail, and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful face, but the man was churlish and evil in his doings, and he was of the house of Caleb. 4 And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep. 5 And David sent out ten young men, and David said to the young men, "Get up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name, 6 And thus shall you say to him that lives in prosperity, Peace be both to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have. 7 And now I have heard that you have shearers, now your shepherds who were with us, we didn't hurt them, nor was there anything missing to them, all the while they were in Carmel. 8 Ask your young men, and they will show you. So let the young men find favor in your eyes, for we come in a good day, please give whatever comes to your hand to your servants, and to your son David." 9 And when David's young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and stopped. 10 And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, "Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants these days that break away every man from his master. 11 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men whom I don't know where they're from?" 12 So, David's young men turned their way, and went back, and came and told him all those sayings. 13 And David said to his men, "Every man gird on his sword." And they girded on every man his sword, and David also girded on his sword, and about four hundred men went up after David, and two hundred stayed by the stuff. 14 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, "See, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to greet our master, and he railed at them. 15 But the men were very good to us, and we were not hurt, nor did we miss anything, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields, 16 They were a wall to us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. 17 Now therefore know and consider what you will do, for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household, for he is such a son of Belial, that a man can't speak to him." 18 Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses. 19 And she said to her servants, "Go on before me, see, I come after you." But she didn't tell her husband Nabal. 20 And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and see, David and his men came down opposite her, and she met them. 21 Now David had said, "Surely in vain I've kept all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained to him, and he has repaid me evil for good. 22 So and more also do God to the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisses against the wall." 23 And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, 24 And fell at his feet, and said, "On me, my lord, on me let this sin be, and let your handmaid, please, speak in your audience, and hear the words of your handmaid. 25 Please let my lord not regard this man of Belial, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he, Nabal is his name, and foolishness is with him, but I, your handmaid, didn't see the young men of my lord, whom you sent. 26 Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, seeing the Lord has withheld you from coming to shed blood, and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now let your enemies, and those who seek evil against my lord, be like Nabal. 27 And now this blessing that your handmaid has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men that follow my lord. 28 Please forgive the trespass of your handmaid, for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord fights the battles of the Lord, and evil has not been found in you all your days. 29 Yet a man has risen to pursue you, and to seek your soul, but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord your God, and he shall sling out the souls of your enemies, like out of the middle of a sling. 30 And when the Lord shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you, and shall have appointed you ruler over Israel, 31 This shall be no grief to you, nor offence of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself, but when the Lord shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember your handmaid." 32 And David said to Abigail, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me, 33 And blessed be your advice, and blessed be you, who has kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with my own hand. 34 For in very deed, as the Lord God of Israel lives, who has kept me back from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely there had not been left to Nabal by the morning light any that pisses against the wall." 35 So David received from her hand that which she had brought him, and said to her, "Go up in peace to your house, see, I have listened to your voice, and have accepted your person." 36 And Abigail came to Nabal, and see, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king, and Nabal's heart was merry inside him, for he was very drunk, so she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light. 37 But in the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, his heart died within him, and he became like a stone. 38 And about ten days afterward, the Lord struck Nabal, so that he died. 39 And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed be the Lord, that has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept his servant from evil, for the Lord has returned the wickedness of Nabal on his own head." And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife. 40 And when the servants of David had come to Abigail to Carmel, they spoke to her, saying, "David sent us to you, to take you to him as wife." 41 And she got up, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, "See, let your handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord." 42 And Abigail hurried, and got up, and rode on an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her, and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife. 43 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and they were both his wives. 44 But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim. ___1_Samuel chapter 26 1 And the Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, "Doesn't David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, that is before Jeshimon?" 2 Then Saul got up, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3 And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, that is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David lived in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness. 4 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul had really come. 5 And David got up, and came to the place where Saul had pitched, and David saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host, and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched around him. 6 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, "Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp?" And Abishai said, "I will go down with you." 7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night, and see, Saul lay sleeping inside the trench, with his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster, but Abner and the people lay around him. 8 Then Abishai said to David, "God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day, now therefore let me strike him, please, with the spear to the earth immediately, and I will not strike him the second time." 9 And David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord's anointed, and be guiltless?" 10 David said furthermore, "As the Lord lives, the Lord shall strike him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go down into battle and die. 11 The Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord's anointed, but please take now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go." 12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster, and they got away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, nor awoke, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them. 13 Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off, a great distance being between them, 14 And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "Don't you answer, Abner?" Then Abner answered and said, "Who are you that calls to the king?" 15 And David said to Abner, "Aren't you a valiant man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then haven't you kept your lord the king? For there came in one of the people to destroy the king, your lord. 16 This thing is not good that you have done. As the Lord lives, you are worthy to die, because you have not kept your master, the Lord's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster." 17 And Saul knew David's voice, and said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And David said, "It is my voice, my lord, O king." 18 And he said, "Why does my lord thus pursue after his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand? 19 Now therefore, please, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the Lord has stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering, but if they are the children of men, cursed be they before the Lord, for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, go, serve other gods. 20 Now therefore, let my blood not fall to the earth before the face of the Lord, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when someone hunts a partridge in the mountains." 21 Then said Saul, "I have sinned, return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my soul was precious in your eyes this day, see, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly." 22 And David answered and said, "See, the king's spear! And let one of the young men come over and fetch it. 23 The Lord repay to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the Lord's anointed. 24 And see, as your life was much set by this day in my eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the Lord, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation." 25 Then Saul said to David, "Blessed be you, my son David, you shall both do great things, and also shall still prevail." So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place. ___1_Samuel chapter 27 1 And David said in his heart, "I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul, there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines, and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me anymore in any of the borders of Israel, so shall I escape out of his hand." 2 And David got up, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him to Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3 And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife. 4 And it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, and he didn't seek him anymore. 5 And David said to Achish, "If I have now found grace in your eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, so I can live there, for why should your servant live in the royal city with you?" 6 Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day, so Ziklag pertains to the kings of Judah to this day. 7 And the time that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months. 8 And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites, for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as you go to Shur, to the land of Egypt. 9 And David struck the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish. 10 And Achish said, "Where have you made a road today? And David said, against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites." 11 And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring news to Gath, saying, "So that they won't tell on us, saying, so did David, and so will be his manner all the while he lives in the country of the Philistines." 12 And Achish believed David, saying, "He has made his people Israel to completely hate him, therefore he shall be my servant forever." ___1_Samuel chapter 28 1 And in those days, the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said to David, "Know surely, that you'll go out with me to battle, you and your men." 2 And David said to Achish, "Surely you shall know what your servant can do." And Achish said to David, "Therefore I'll make you keeper of my head forever." 3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land. 4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem, and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa. 5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. 6 And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord didn't answer him, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. 7 Then said Saul to his servants, "Seek me a woman that has a familiar spirit, so I can go to her, and inquire of her." And his servants said to him, "See, there is a woman that has a familiar spirit at Endor." 8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other clothing, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman at night, and he said, "Please, divine to me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up whom I shall name to you." 9 And the woman said to him, "You know what Saul has done, how he has cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land, why then do you lay a trap for my life, to cause me to die?" 10 And Saul swore to her by the Lord, saying, "As the Lord lives, no punishment shall happen to you for this thing." 11 Then the woman said, whom shall I bring up to you? And he said, "Bring me up Samuel." 12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice, and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, "Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul." 13 And the king said to her, "Don't be afraid, what did you see?" And the woman said to Saul, "I saw gods ascending out of the earth." 14 And he said to her, "What form does he have? And she said, an old man comes up, and he is covered with a mantle." And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself. 15 And Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you troubled me, to bring me up?" And Saul answered, "I am very distressed, for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me, and doesn't answer me anymore, neither by prophets, nor by dreams, therefore I've called you, so you can make known to me what I should do." 16 Then said Samuel, "Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has departed from you, and has become your enemy? 17 And the Lord has done to him, as he spoke by me, for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, to David, 18 Because you didn't obey the voice of the Lord, nor did you execute his fierce anger on Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. 19 The Lord will also deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me, the Lord also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines." 20 Then Saul fell immediately down on the earth, and was very afraid, because of the words of Samuel, and there was no strength in him, for he had eaten no bread all day, nor all night. 21 And the woman came to Saul, and saw that he was very troubled, and said to him, "See, your handmaid has obeyed your voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have listened to your words that you spoke to me. 22 Now therefore, please, listen also to the voice of your handmaid, and let me set a bite of food before you, and eat, so that you'll have strength, when you go on your way." 23 But he refused, and said, "I won't eat." But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him, and he listened to their voice. So he got up from the earth, and sat on the bed. 24 And the woman had a fat calf in the house, and she hurried and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread with it, 25 And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants, and they ate. Then they rose up, and went away that night. ___1_Samuel chapter 29 1 Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek, and the Israelites pitched by a fountain that is in Jezreel. 2 And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands, but David and his men passed on in the rear guard with Achish. 3 Then the princes of the Philistines said, "What are these Hebrews doing here?" And Achish said to the princes of the Philistines, "Isn't this David, the servant of Saul, the king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell to me until this day?" 4 And the princes of the Philistines were angry with him, and the princes of the Philistines said to him, "Make this fellow return, so he can return to his place that you've appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, so that he won't be an adversary to us in the battle, for how would he reconcile himself with his master? Wouldn't it be with the heads of these men? 5 Isn't this David, about whom they sang to each other in dances, saying, Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands?" 6 Then Achish called David, and said to him, "Surely, as the Lord lives, you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army is good in my sight, for I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming to me until this day, but the lords don't favor you. 7 So now return, and go in peace, so that you don't displease the lords of the Philistines." 8 And David said to Achish, "But what have I done? And what have you found in your servant so long as I have been with you until this day, so that I can't go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?" 9 And Achish answered David, "I know that you are good in my sight, like an angel of God, but the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle. 10 So now rise up early in the morning with your master's servants that have come with you, and as soon as you're up early in the morning, and have light, depart." 11 So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel. ___1_Samuel chapter 30 1 And when David and his men had come to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and struck Ziklag, and burned it with fire, 2 And had taken the women captives, that were in it, they didn't kill any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way. 3 So David and his men came to the city, and see, it was burned with fire, and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, had been taken captives. 4 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. 5 And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 6 And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the souls of all the people were grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters, but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. 7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, "Please bring the ephod here." And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8 And David inquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them?" And he answered him, "Pursue, for you'll surely overtake them, and without fail recover all." 9 So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed. 10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men, for two hundred stayed behind, that were so faint that they couldn't go over the brook Besor. 11 And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he ate, and they made him drink water, 12 And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins, and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him, for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water three days and three nights. 13 And David said to him, "To whom do you belong? And where are you from?" And he said, "I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite, and my master left me, because three days ago I fell sick. 14 We made an invasion on the south of the Cherethites, and on the coast that belongs to Judah, and on the south of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire." 15 And David said to him, "Can you bring me down to this company?" And he said, "Swear to me by God, that you will neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring you down to this company." 16 And when he had brought him down, see, they were spread abroad on all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah. 17 And David struck them from the twilight until the evening of the next day, and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men, who rode on camels, and fled. 18 And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. 19 And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor anything that they had taken to them, David recovered all. 20 And David took all the flocks and the herds, that they drove before those other cattle, and said, "This is David's spoil." 21 And David came to the two hundred men, who were so faint that they couldn't follow David, whom they had made also to stay at the brook Besor, and they went out to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him, and when David came near the people, he greeted them. 22 Then all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, answered and said, "Because they didn't go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except to every man his wife and his children, so that they can lead them away, and depart." 23 Then David said, "You shall not do so, my brothers, with that which the Lord has given us, who has preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand. 24 For who will listen to you in this matter? But as his part is that goes down to the battle, so shall his part be that stays by the stuff, they shall divide equally." 25 And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel until this day. 26 And when David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, "See a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the Lord," 27 To those who were in Bethel, and to thoe who were in south Ramoth, and to those who were in Jattir, 28 And to those who were in Aroer, and to those who were in Siphmoth, and to those who were in Eshtemoa, 29 And to those who were in Rachal, and to those who were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to those who were in the cities of the Kenites, 30 And to those who were in Hormah, and to those who were in Chorashan, and to those who were in Athach, 31 And to those who were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men used to frequent. ___1_Samuel chapter 31 1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down dead in Mount Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines followed hard after Saul and on his sons, and the Philistines killed Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons. 3 And the battle went badly against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was severely wounded by the archers. 4 Then Saul said to his armor bearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, so that these uncircumcised don't come and thrust me through, and abuse me." But his armor bearer wouldn't, for he was very afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell on it. 5 And when his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise on his sword, and died with him. 6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor bearer, and all his men, that same day together. 7 And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and those who were on the other side of Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned the cities, and fled, and the Philistines came and lived in them. 8 And on the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons fallen in Mount Gilboa. 9 And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines all around, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people. 10 And they put his armor in the house of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan. 11 And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard about what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 All the valiant men got up, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. 13 And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days. ___2_Samuel chapter 1 1 Now after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had lived two days in Ziklag, 2 On the third day, see, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes torn, and earth on his head, and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance. 3 And David said to him, "Where do you come from?" And he said to him, I've escaped out of the camp of Israel. 4 And David said to him, "What happened? Please tell me." And he answered that the people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and died, and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. 5 And David said to the young man that told him, "How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?" 6 And the young man that told him said, "As I happened by chance on Mount Gilboa, see, Saul leaned on his spear, and see, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. 7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, here I am. 8 And he said to me, who are you? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. 9 He said to me again, stand, I pray you, on me, and kill me, for anguish has come on me, because my life is yet whole in me. 10 So I stood on him, and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen, and I took the crown that was on his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord." 11 Then David took hold of his clothes, and tore them, and likewise all the men that were with him, 12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. 13 And David said to the young man that told him, "Where are you from?" And he answered, "I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite." 14 And David said to him, "How is it that you weren't afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?" 15 And David called one of the young men, and said, "Go near, and fall on him." And he struck him so that he died. 16 And David said to him, "Your blood is on your head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, I have killed the Lord's anointed." 17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son, 18 (Also he told them to teach the children of Judah the use of the bow, see, it is written in the book of Jasher.) 19 "The beauty of Israel has been killed on your high places, how have the mighty fallen! 20 Don't tell it in Gath, don't publish it in the streets of Askelon, so that the daughters of the Philistines don't rejoice, so that the daughters of the uncircumcised don't triumph. 21 You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, nor let there be rain, on you, nor fields of offerings, for there the shield of the mighty is vilely thrown away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. 22 From the blood of the killed, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan didn't turn back, and the sword of Saul didn't return empty. 23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided, they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. 24 You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in red cloth, with other delights, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. 25 How have the mighty fallen in the middle of the battle! O Jonathan, you were killed in your high places. 26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan, you have been very pleasant to me, your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women. 27 How have the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!" ___2_Samuel chapter 2 1 And after this, David inquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?" And the Lord said to him, "Go up." And David said, "Where shall I go up?" And he said, "To Hebron." 2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite. 3 And David brought up his men that were with him, every man with his household, and they lived in the cities of Hebron. 4 And the men of Judah came, and they anointed David king over the house of Judah there. And they told David that the men of Jabeshgilead were those who had buried Saul. 5 And David sent messengers to the men of Jabeshgilead, and said to them, "Blessed be you by the Lord, because you've shown this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him. 6 And now the Lord show kindness and truth to you, and I will also repay you this kindness, because you've done this thing. 7 Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be valiant, for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them." 8 But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim, 9 And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 10 Ishbosheth, Saul's son was forty years old when he began to rule over Israel, and ruled two years. But the house of Judah followed David. 11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. 12 And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon, and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. 14 And Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men now get up, and play before us." And Joab said, "Let them get up." 15 Then twelve of Benjamin, that pertained to Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, got up and went over, and twelve of the servants of David. 16 And they caught everyone his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side, so they fell down together, so that place was called Helkathhazzurim, which is in Gibeon. 17 And there was a very severe battle that day, and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David. 18 And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel, and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe. 19 And Asahel pursued after Abner, and in going, he didn't turn to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. 20 Then Abner looked behind him, and said, "Are you Asahel?" And he answered, "I am." 21 And Abner said to him, "Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and lay hold on one of the young men, and take his armor." But Asahel would not turn aside from following him. 22 And Abner said again to Asahel, "Turn aside from following me, why should I strike you to the ground? How then should I hold up my face to Joab your brother?" 23 But he refused to turn aside, so Abner with the rear end of the spear struck him under the fifth rib, so that the spear came out behind him, and he fell down there, and died in the same place, and as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still. 24 Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner, and the sun went down when they had come to the hill of Ammah, that lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon. 25 And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of a hill. 26 Then Abner called to Joab, and said, "Shall the sword devour forever? Don't you know that it will be bitterness in the end? How long shall it be then, before you tell the people to return from following their brothers?" 27 And Joab said, "As God lives, unless you had spoken, surely then in the morning the people would have all gone up from following his brother." 28 So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, nor did they fight anymore. 29 And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim. 30 And Joab returned from following Abner, and when he had gathered all the people together of David's servants, nineteen men and Asahel were missing. 31 But the servants of David had struck of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that three hundred sixty men died. 32 And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the tomb of his father, that was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at daybreak. ___2_Samuel chapter 3 1 Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David, but David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. 2 And sons were born to David in Hebron, and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, 3 And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite, and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur, 4 And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith, and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital, 5 And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah, David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron. 6 And while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul. 7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, and Ishbosheth said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father's concubine?" 8 Then Abner was very angry for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, "Am I a dog's head, who against Judah shows kindness this day to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David, that you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman? 9 So do God to Abner, and more also, unless, as the Lord has sworn to David, even so I do to him, 10 To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba." 11 And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him. 12 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, "Whose is the land? Saying also, make your league with me, and see, my hand shall be with you, to bring around all Israel to you." 13 And he said, "Well, I will make a league with you, but one thing I require of you, that is, you shall not see my face, unless you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see my face." 14 And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul's son, saying, "Deliver me my wife Michal, that I engaged to me for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines." 15 And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, from Phaltiel the son of Laish. 16 And her husband went along with her weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go, return." And he returned. 17 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, "You sought for David in times past to be king over you, 18 Now then do it, for the Lord has spoken about David, saying, by the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies." 19 And Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin, and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin. 20 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made a feast for Abner and the men that were with him. 21 And Abner said to David, "I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, so that they will make a league with you, and so that you will rule over all that your heart desires." And David sent Abner away, and he went in peace. 22 And see, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them, but Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the host that was with him had come, they told Joab, saying, "Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he has gone in peace." 24 Then Joab came to the king, and said, "What have you done? See, Abner came to you, why is it that you have sent him away, and he is quite gone? 25 You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you do." 26 And when Joab had come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah, but David didn't know it. 27 And when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there under the fifth rib, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. 28 And afterward, when David heard it, he said, "I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord forever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner, 29 Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house, and let there not fail from the house of Joab someone that has an issue, or that is a leper, or that leans on a staff, or that falls on the sword, or that lacks bread. 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. 31 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, "Tear your clothes, and gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner." And king David himself followed the bier. 32 And they buried Abner in Hebron, and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. 33 And the king lamented over Abner, and said, "Did Abner die like a fool dies? 34 Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put into fetters, like a man falls before wicked men, so did you fall." And all the people wept again over him. 35 And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was still day, David swore, saying, "So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or anything else, 'til the sun is down." 36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as whatever the king did pleased all the people. 37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to kill Abner the son of Ner. 38 And the king said to his servants, "Don't you know that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? 39 And I am this day weak, though anointed king, and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me, the Lord shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness." ___2_Samuel chapter 4 1 And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled. 2 And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands, the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin, (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin, 3 And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were visitors there until this day.) 4 And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the news came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled, and as she made haste to flee, he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth. 5 And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon. 6 And they went inside the house, as though they would have fetched wheat, and they struck him under the fifth rib, and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped. 7 For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedroom, and they struck him, and killed him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and got away through the plain all night. 8 And they brought the head of Ishbosheth to David to Hebron, and said to the king, see the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life, and the Lord has avenged my lord the king this day against Saul, and against his descendants. 9 And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, "As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity, 10 When someone told me, See, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good news, I took hold of him, and killed him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his news, 11 How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous person in his own house on his bed? Shall I not therefore now require his blood at your hands, and take you away from the earth?" 12 And David commanded his young men, and they killed them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hung them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the tomb of Abner in Hebron. ___2_Samuel chapter 5 1 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David to Hebron, and said see, "We are your bone and your flesh. 2 Also in the past, when Saul was king over us, it was you that led out and brought in Israel, and the Lord said to you, you shall feed my people Israel, and you shall be captain over Israel." 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron, and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to rule, and he ruled forty years. 5 In Hebron he ruled over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he ruled thirty three years over all Israel and Judah. 6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem to the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, "Unless you take away the blind and the lame, you can't come in here," thinking that David can't come in here. 7 But David took the strong hold of Zion, the same is the city of David. 8 And David said on that day, "Whoever gets up to the gutter, and strikes the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated by David's soul, he shall be chief and captain." So they said, "The blind and the lame shall not come into the house." 9 So David lived in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built all around from Millo and inward. 10 And David went on, and grew great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him. 11 And Hiram, king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons, and they built David a house. 12 And David perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake. 13 And David took more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David. 14 And these are the names of those that were born to him in Jerusalem, Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, 15 Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia, 16 And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet. 17 But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David, and David heard of it, and went down to the hold. 18 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 19 And David inquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I go up to the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hand?" And the Lord said to David, "Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand." 20 And David came to Baalperazim, and David struck them there, and said, "The Lord has broken forth on my enemies before me, like the breach of waters." Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim. 21 And there they left their idols, and David and his men burned them. 22 And the Philistines came up again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 23 And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, "You shall not go up, but circle around behind them, and come at them opposite the mulberry trees. 24 And let it be, when you hear the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then you shall stir yourself up, for then shall the Lord go out before you, to strike the army of the Philistines." 25 And David did so, as the Lord had commanded him, and struck the Philistines from Geba until you come to Gazer. ___2_Samuel chapter 6 1 Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David got up, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up the ark of God from there, whose name is called by the name of the Lord of Hosts that dwells between the cherubims. 3 And they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah, and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. 4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God, and Ahio went before the ark. 5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all kinds of instruments made of fir wood, on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals. 6 And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it, for the oxen shook it. 7 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error, and he died there by the ark of God. 8 And David was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach on Uzzah, and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah until this day. 9 And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and said, "How shall the ark of the Lord come to me?" 10 So David would not move the ark of the Lord to him into the city of David, but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite. 11 And the ark of the Lord continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months, and the Lord blessed Obededom, and all his household. 12 And it was told king David, "The Lord has blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertains to him, because of the ark of God." So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness. 13 And it was so, that when those who carried the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. 14 And David danced before the Lord with all his might, and David was girded with a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. 16 And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart. 17 And they brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place, in the middle of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it, and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. 18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. 19 And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to everyone a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed everyone to his house. 20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, "How glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!" 21 And David said to Michal, "It was before the Lord, who chose me before your father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel, therefore I will play before the Lord. 22 And I will yet be more common than this, and will be base in my own sight, and concerning the maid servants that you've spoken about, I shall be had in honor by them." 23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death. ___2_Samuel chapter 7 1 And when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest all around from all his enemies, 2 The king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I live in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays within curtains." 3 And Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you." 4 And that night, the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying, 5 "Go and tell my servant David, thus says the Lord, shall you build me a house for me to live in? 6 But I haven't lived in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, until this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. 7 In all the places in which I have walked with all the children of Israel did I speak a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why haven't you built me a house of cedar? 8 Now therefore so shall you say to my servant David, thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel, 9 And I was with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies out of your sight, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men that are in the earth. 10 Also I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, so that they will live in a place of their own, and move no more, nor shall the children of wickedness afflict them anymore, as previously, 11 And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the Lord tells you that he will make you a house. 12 And when your days are fulfilled, and you shall sleep with your fathers, I will set up your descendants after you, who shall proceed out of your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commits sin, I will punish him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men, 15 But my mercy shall not depart from him, like I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you, your throne shall be established forever." 17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak to David. 18 Then king David went in, and sat before the Lord, and he said, "Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that you have brought me until now? 19 And this was yet a small thing in your sight, O Lord God, but you have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord God? 20 And what can David say more to you? For you, Lord God, know your servant. 21 For your word's sake, and according to your own heart, you have done all these great things, to make your servant know them. 22 So you are great, O Lord God, for there is none like you, nor is there any God beside you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And what nation in the earth is like your people, like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for yourself great things and terrible, for your land, before your people, that you redeemed to yourself from Egypt, from the nations and their gods? 24 For you have confirmed to yourself your people Israel to be a people to you forever, and you Lord, have become their God. 25 And now, O Lord God, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, establish it forever, and do as you have said. 26 And let your name be magnified forever, saying, the Lord of hosts is the God over Israel, and let the house of your servant David be established before you. 27 For you, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed to your servant, saying, I will build you a house, therefore has your servant found in his heart to pray this prayer to you. 28 And now, O Lord God, you are that God, and your words are true, and you have promised this goodness to your servant, 29 Therefore now let it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it will continue forever before you, for you, O Lord God, have spoken it, and with your blessing let the house of your servant be blessed forever." ___2_Samuel chapter 8 1 And after this David struck the Philistines, and subdued them, and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines. 2 And he struck Moab, and measured them with a line, throwing them down to the ground, with two lines he measured to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts. 3 David struck also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates. 4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen, and David killed all the chariot horses, except he reserved of them for a hundred chariots. 5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to strengthen Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed of the Syrians twenty two thousand men. 6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the Lord preserved David wherever he went. 7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took very much brass. 9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had struck all the army of Hadadezer, 10 Then Toi sent Joram his son to king David, to greet him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and struck him, for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him containers of silver, and containers of gold, and containers of brass, 11 Which also king David dedicated to the Lord, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations that he subdued, 12 Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah. 13 And David got himself a name when he returned from striking the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men. 14 And he put garrisons in Edom, he put garrisons throughout all Edom, and all of those of Edom became David's servants. And the Lord preserved David wherever he went. 15 And David ruled over all Israel, and David executed judgment and justice for all his people. 16 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder, 17 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests, and Seraiah was the scribe, 18 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and David's sons were the main rulers. ___2_Samuel chapter 9 1 And David said, "Is there yet anyone that is left of the house of Saul, so I can show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?" 2 And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him to David, the king said to him, "Are you Ziba?" And he said, "Your servant is he." 3 And the king said, "Is there yet any of the house of Saul, so I can show the kindness of God to him?" And Ziba said to the king, "Jonathan still has a son, who is lame on his feet." 4 And the king said to him, "Where is he?" And Ziba said to the king, "See, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar." 5 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar. 6 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, "Mephibosheth." And he answered, "See, your servant!" 7 And David said to him, "Don't be afraid, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake, and will restore you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat bread at my table continually." 8 And he bowed himself, and said, "What is your servant, that you should look at such a dead dog as I am?" 9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, "I have given to your master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house. 10 You therefore, and your sons, and your servants, shall till the land for him, and you shall bring in the fruits, so that your master's son can have food to eat, but Mephibosheth, your master's son, shall eat bread always at my table." Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Then Ziba said to the king, "According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so shall your servant do." "As for Mephibosheth, said the king," he shall eat at my table, like one of the king's sons." 12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that lived in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth. 13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king's table, and was lame on both his feet. ___2_Samuel chapter 10 1 And after this, the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son ruled instead of him. 2 Then David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me." And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon. 3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, "Do you think that David is honoring your father, because he has sent comforters to you? Hasn't David rather sent his servants to you, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?" 4 So Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, to their buttocks, and sent them away. 5 When they told it to David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed, and the king said, "Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return." 6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men. 7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. 8 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate, and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field. 9 When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians, 10 And he put the rest of the people into the hand of Abishai his brother, so that he would put them in array against the children of Ammon. 11 And he said, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. 12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God, and the Lord do what seems good to him." 13 And Joab went near, and the people that were with him, to the battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him. 14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, then they also fled before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem. 15 And when the Syrians saw that they were struck before Israel, they gathered themselves together. 16 And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river, and they came to Helam, and Shobach the captain of the army of Hadarezer went before them. 17 And when it was told to David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him. 18 And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and struck Shobach the captain of their army, who died there. 19 And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were struck before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians were afraid to help the children of Ammon anymore. ___2_Samuel chapter 11 1 And after the year had ended, at the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel, and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. 2 And one evening, David got up from his bed, and walked on the roof of the king's house, and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself, and the woman was very beautiful to look at. 3 And David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, "Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" 4 And David sent messengers, and took her, and she came in to him, and he lay with her, for she was purified from her uncleanness, and she returned to her house. 5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, "I am pregnant." 6 And David sent to Joab, saying, "Send me Uriah the Hittite." And Joab sent Uriah to David. 7 And when Uriah had come to him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered. 8 And David said to Uriah, go down to your house, and wash your feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and an order of meat from the king was sent after him. 9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and didn't go down to his house. 10 And when they had told David, "Uriah didn't go down to his house," David said to Uriah, "Didn't you come from your journey? Why then didn't you go down to your house?" 11 And Uriah said to David, "The ark, and Israel, and Judah, stay in tents, and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields, shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing." 12 And David said to Uriah, "Wait here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart." So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day, and the next day. 13 And when David had called him, he ate and drink before him, and he made him drunk, and at evening he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but didn't go down to his house. 14 And in the morning, David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 And he wrote in the letter, "Set Uriah in the front of the hottest battle, and pull back from him, so that he will be struck, and die." 16 And when Joab observed the city, he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew that valiant men were. 17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab, and some of the people of the servants of David fell, and Uriah the Hittite died also. 18 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war, 19 And charged the messenger, saying, "When you have made an end of telling the matters of the war to the king, 20 And if the king's anger arises, and he says to you, why did you approach so near to the city when you fought? Didn't you know that they would shoot from the wall? 21 Who struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Didn't a woman throw a piece of a millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall? Then say, Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also." 22 So the messenger went, and came and showed David all that Joab had sent him for. 23 And the messenger said to David, "Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out to us into the field, and we were on them even to the entrance at the gate. 24 And the shooters shot from off the wall at your servants, and some of the king's servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also." 25 Then David said to the messenger, "Thus shall you say to Joab, don't let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another, make your battle stronger against the city, and overthrow it, and encourage him." 26 And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. 27 And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord. ___2_Samuel chapter 12 1 And the Lord sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him, "There were two men in one city, the one rich, and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 3 But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb, that he had bought and nourished up, and it grew up together with him, and with his children, it ate of his own food, and drank from his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was like a daughter to him. 4 And a traveler came to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and from his own herd, to dress for the traveling man that had come to him, but took the poor man's lamb, and cooked it for the man that had come to him." 5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As the Lord lives, the man that has done this thing shall surely die, 6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity." 7 And Nathan said to David, "You are the man. Thus says the Lord God of Israel, I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul, 8 And I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah, and if that had been too little, I would also have given to you such and such things. 9 Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you've despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. 11 Thus says the Lord, see, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house, and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun." 13 And David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord." And Nathan said to David, "The Lord also has put away your sin, you shall not die. 14 But, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die." 15 And Nathan departed to his house. And the Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it was very sick. 16 David therefore besought God for the child, and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night on the earth. 17 And the elders of his house got up, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth, but he wouldn't, nor did he eat bread with them. 18 And on the seventh day, the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, "See, while the child was still alive, we spoke to him, and he wouldn't listen to our voice, how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?" 19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead, therefore David said to his servants, "Is the child dead?" And they said, "He is dead." 20 Then David got up from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his clothes, and came into the house of the Lord, and worshipped, then he came to his own house, and when he required, they set bread before him, and he ate. 21 Then his servants said to him, "What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child, while it was alive, but when the child was dead, you got up and ate bread. 22 And he said, "While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, so that the child will live? 23 But now he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." 24 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her, and lay with her, and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon, and the Lord loved him. 25 And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the Lord. 26 And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city. 27 And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, "I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters. 28 Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it, so that I don't take the city, and it be called after my name." 29 And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it. 30 And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight of it was a talent of gold with the precious stones, and it was set on David's head. And he brought out the spoil of the city in great abundance. 31 And he brought out the people that were in it, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brick kiln, and thus did he to all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. ___2_Samuel chapter 13 1 And after this, Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar, and Amnon the son of David loved her. 2 And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her. 3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother, and Jonadab was a very subtle man. 4 And he said to him, "Why are you, being the king's son, lean from day to day? Won't you tell me?" And Amnon said to him, "I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister." 5 And Jonadab said to him, lay down on your bed, and make yourself sick, and when your father comes to see you, say to him, "Please, let my sister Tamar come, and give me food, and prepare the food in my sight, so I can see it, and eat it from her hand." 6 So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick, and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, "Please, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, so I can eat from her hand." 7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, "Go now to your brother Amnon's house, and cook him food." 8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house, and he was lying down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes. 9 And she took a pan, and poured them out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, "All men go out from me." And every man went out from him. 10 And Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the food into the room, so that I can eat from your hand. And Tamar took the cakes that she had made, and brought them into the room to Amnon her brother. 11 And when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her, and said to her, "Come lie with me, my sister." 12 And she answered him, "No, my brother, do not force me, for no such thing ought to be done in Israel, don't do this foolishness. 13 And I, where shall I cause my shame to go? And as for you, you'll be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please, speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you." 14 But he wouldn't listen to her voice, and being stronger than she, he forced her, and lay with her. 15 Then Amnon hated her very much, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, "Get up, be gone." 16 And she said to him, "There is no reason, this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that you did to me." But he wouldn't listen to her. 17 Then he called his servant that ministered to him, and said, now put this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her. 18 And she had a garment of various colors on her, for with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins dressed. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her. 19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her garment of various colors that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying. 20 And Absalom her brother said to her, "Has Amnon your brother been with you? But be quiet now, my sister, he is your brother, don't pay attention to this thing." So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house. 21 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very angry. 22 And Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon neither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar. 23 And after two full years, Absalom had sheep shearers in Baalhazor, that is beside Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons. 24 And Absalom came to the king, and said, "See now, your servant has sheep shearers, let the king, please, and his servants go with your servant." 25 And the king said to Absalom, "No, my son, let us not all go now, so that we won't be indebted to you." And he pressed him, but he wouldn't go, but blessed him. 26 Then said Absalom, "If not, please, let my brother Amnon go with us." And the king said to him, "Why should he go with you?" 27 But Absalom pressed him, so that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. 28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, "Watch now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, strike Amnon, then kill him, don't be afraid, haven't I commanded you? Be courageous, and be valiant." 29 And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons got up, and every man got up on his mule, and fled. 30 And while they were on the way, news came to David, saying, "Absalom has killed all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left." 31 Then the king got up, and tore his garments, and lay on the earth, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn. 32 And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother, responded and said, "Let my lord not suppose that they have killed all the young men the king's sons, for Amnon only is dead, for by the appointment of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar. 33 Now therefore let my lord the king not take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead, for Amnon only is dead." 34 But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and see, many people came by the way of the hill side behind him. 35 And Jonadab said to the king, "See, the king's sons come, as your servant said, so it is." 36 And as soon as he had made an end of speaking, see, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept, and the king also and all his servants wept very severely. 37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. 38 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 39 And the soul of king David longed to go out to Absalom, for he was comforted concerning Amnon, since he was dead. ___2_Samuel chapter 14 1 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom. 2 And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched from there a wise woman, and said to her, "Please, pretend to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and don't anoint yourself with oil, but be like a woman that has a long time mourned for the dead, 3 And come to the king, and speak like this to him." So Joab put the words in her mouth. 4 And when the woman of Tekoah spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, "Help, O king." 5 And the king said to her, "What's wrong with you?" And she answered, "I am indeed a widow woman, and my husband is dead. 6 And your handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was no one to separate them, but the one struck the other, and killed him. 7 And see, the whole family has risen against your handmaid, and they said, deliver him that struck his brother, so that we can kill him, for the life of his brother whom he killed, and we will destroy the heir also, and so they shall quench my coal that is left, and shall not leave to my husband either name or remainder on the earth." 8 And the king said to the woman, "Go to your house, and I will give charge concerning you." 9 And the woman of Tekoah said to the king, "My lord, O king, the sin be on me, and on my father's house, and the king and his throne be guiltless." 10 And the king said, "Whoever says anything to you, bring him to me, and he won't touch you anymore." 11 Then she said, "Please, let the king remember the Lord your God, that you would not allow the avengers of blood to destroy anymore, so that they won't destroy my son." And he said, "As the Lord lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the earth." 12 Then the woman said, "Let your handmaid, please, speak one word to my lord the king." And he said, "Go ahead." 13 And the woman said, "Why then have you thought such a thing against the people of God? For the king speaks this thing as one who is faulty, in that the king doesn't fetch home again his banished. 14 For we must die, and are like water spilled on the ground, that can't be gathered up again, nor does God respect any person, yet does he devise means, so that his banished is not expelled from him. 15 Now therefore the reason I've come to speak about this thing to my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid, and your handmaid said, I will now speak to the king, it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid. 16 For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God. 17 Then your handmaid said, the word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable, for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad, therefore the Lord your God will be with you." 18 Then the king answered the woman, "Please don't hide from me, the thing that I shall ask you." And the woman said, "Let my lord the king now speak." 19 And the king said, "Is not the hand of Joab with you in all this?" And the woman answered, "As your soul lives, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken, for your servant Joab, he told me, and he put all these words in the mouth of your handmaid, 20 Your servant Joab has done this thing to bring about this form of speech, and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth." 21 And the king said to Joab, "See now, I have done this thing, go therefore, bring the young man Absalom back." 22 And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king, and Joab said, "Today your servant knows that I have found grace in your sight, my lord, O king, in that the king has fulfilled the request of his servant." 23 So Joab got up and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. 24 And the king said, "Let him return to his own house, and let him not see my face." So Absalom returned to his own house, and didn't see the king's face. 25 But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty, from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. 26 And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end that he polled it, because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it,) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight. 27 And to Absalom three sons were born, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar, she was a woman of a fair countenance. 28 So Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, and didn't see the king's face. 29 Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, so that he could send him to the king, but he wouldn't come to him, and when he sent again the second time, he wouldn't come. 30 Therefore he said to his servants, "See, Joab's field is near mine, and he has barley there, go and set it on fire." And Absalom's servants set the field on fire. 31 Then Joab got up, and came to Absalom to his house, and said to him, why have your servants set my field on fire? 32 And Absalom answered Joab, "See, I sent to you, saying, Come here, so that I can send you to the king, to say, Why have I come from Geshur? It would have been good for me to have been there still, now therefore let me see the king's face, and if there is any sin in me, let him kill me." 33 So Joab came to the king, and told him, and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom. ___2_Samuel chapter 15 1 And after this, Absalom prepared chariots and horses for himself, and fifty men to run before him. 2 And Absalom got up early, and stood beside the way of the gate, and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him, and said, "Of what city are you?" And he said, "Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel." 3 And Absalom said to him, "See, your matters are good and right, but there is no man appointed by the king to hear you." 4 Absalom said also, "Oh that I were made judge in the land, so that every man who has any suit or cause would come to me, and I would do him justice!" 5 And it was so, that when any man came near to him to do him obeisance, he put out his hand, and took him, and kissed him. 6 And Absalom did like that to all Israel that came to the king for judgment, so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. 7 And after forty years, Absalom said to the king, "Please let me go and pay my vow, that I've vowed to the Lord, in Hebron. 8 For your servant vowed a vow while I lived at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the Lord shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord." 9 And the king said to him, go in peace. So he got up, and went to Hebron. 10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, Absalom reigns in Hebron." 11 And two hundred men out of Jerusalem went with Absalom, who were called, and they went in their simplicity, they didn't know what was being done. 12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city, from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, for the people increased continually with Absalom. 13 And a messenger came to David, saying, "The hearts of the men of Israel favor Absalom." 14 And David said to all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, "Get up, and let's flee, for we shall not otherwise escape from Absalom, make speed to depart, so he doesn't overtake us suddenly, and bring evil on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword." 15 And the king's servants said to the king, "See, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king shall appoint." 16 And the king went out, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep the house. 17 And the king went out, and all the people after him, and waited in a place that was far off. 18 And all his servants passed on beside him, and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came after him from Gath, passed on before the king. 19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why do you go also with us? Return to your place, and stay with the king, for you are a stranger, and also an exile. 20 Since you came but yesterday, should I this day make you go up and down with us? Seeing I go where I can, return, and take back your brothers, mercy and truth be with you." 21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, "As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, your servant will be there also." 22 And David said to Ittai, "Go and pass over." And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him. 23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over, the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness. 24 And see, Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, carrying the ark of the covenant of God, and they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar went up, until all the people had finished passing out of the city. 25 And the king said to Zadok, "Carry back the ark of God into the city, if I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation, 26 But if he says thus, I have no delight in you, see, here I am, let him do to me as seems good to him." 27 The king said also to Zadok the priest, "Aren't you a discerner? Return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 See, I will wait in the plain of the wilderness, until word comes from you to certify to me." 29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem, and they waited there. 30 And David went up by the ascent of Mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot, and all the people that were with him covered every man their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went up. 31 And someone told David, saying, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." And David said, "O Lord, please, turn the advice of Ahithophel into foolishness." 32 And when David had come to the top of the mountain, where he worshipped God, see, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn, and earth on his head, 33 To whom David said, "If you pass on with me, then you'll be a burden to me, 34 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 until now, so I will now also be your servant, then you can defeat the advice of Ahithophel for me. 35 And don't you have there with you Zadok and Abiathar the priests? Therefore it shall be, that whatever thing you shall hear out of the king's house, you shall tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 See, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son, and by them you shall send to me everything that you can hear." 37 So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem. ___2_Samuel chapter 16 1 And when David was a little past the top of the hill, see, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and a hundred bunches of raisins, and a hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine. 2 And the king said to Ziba, "What do you mean by these?" And Ziba said, "The asses are for the king's household to ride on, and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine, so that such as are faint in the wilderness can drink." 3 And the king said, "And where is your master's son?" And Ziba said to the king, "See, he stays at Jerusalem, for he said, Today the house of Israel shall restore me the kingdom of my father." 4 Then the king said to Ziba, "See, all that pertained to Mephibosheth is yours." And Ziba said, "I humbly beseech you that I may find grace in your sight, my lord, O king." 5 And when king David came to Bahurim, see, a man of the family of the house of Saul came out whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera, he came out, and cursed still as he came. 6 And he threw stones at David, and at all the servants of king David, and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, "Come out, come out, you bloody man, and you man of Belial, 8 The Lord has returned on you all the blood of the house of Saul, instead of whom you've ruled, and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son, and see, you are taken in your mischief, because you're a bloody man." 9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over, please, and take off his head." 10 And the king said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the Lord has said to him, Curse David. Who shall then say, why have you done so?" 11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, "See, my son, who came out of my body, seeks my life, how much more now may this Benjamite do it? Let him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord has sent him. 12 It may be that the Lord will look on my affliction, and that the Lord will repay me good for his cursing this day." 13 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and threw dust. 14 And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there. 15 And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 16 And when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, had come to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, "God save the king, God save the king." 17 And Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your kindness to your friend? Why didn't you go with your friend?" 18 And Hushai said to Absalom, "No, but whom the Lord, and this people, and all the men of Israel choose, his will I be, and with him will I stay. 19 And again, whom should I serve? Shouldn't I serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father's presence, so will I be in your presence." 20 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, "Give advice among you what we shall do." 21 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Go in to your father's concubines, that he has left to keep the house, and all Israel shall hear that you're hated by your father, then the hands of all that are with you shall be strong." 22 So they spread Absalom a tent on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23 And the advice of Ahithophel, that he advised in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God, so was all the advice of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom. ___2_Samuel chapter 17 1 Also, Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night, 2 And I will come on him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid, and all the people that are with him shall flee, and I will strike the king only, 3 And I will bring back all the people to you, the man whom you seek is as if all returned, so all the people shall be in peace." 4 And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel. 5 Then Absalom said, "Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he says." 6 And when Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, "Ahithophel has spoken after this manner, shall we do after his saying? If not, speak." 7 And Hushai said to Absalom, "The advice that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time. 8 For," said Hushai, "you know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are chafed in their minds, like a bear robbed of her whelps in the field, and your father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people. 9 See, he is hidden now in some pit, or in some other place, and when some of them are overthrown at the first, whoever hears it will say, there is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom. 10 And he also that is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, shall completely melt, for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and that those who are with him are valiant men. 11 Therefore, I advise that all Israel be generally gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, like the sand that is by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in your own person. 12 So we shall come on him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light on him like the dew falls on the ground, and of him and of all the men that are with him, not so much as one shall be left. 13 Also, if he has gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there's not one small stone found there." 14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel." For the Lord had appointed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, because the Lord had chosen to bring evil on Absalom. 15 Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, "Thus and thus did Ahithophel advise Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and thus I have advised. 16 Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Don't lodge this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over, so that the king won't be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him. 17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel, so that they wouldn't be seen to come into the city, and a young woman went and told them, and they went and told king David. 18 But a lad saw them, and told Absalom, but both of them went away quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, who had a well in his court, and they went down into the well. 19 And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn on it, and the thing was not known. 20 And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" And the woman said to them, "They've gone over the brook of water." And when they had sought and couldn't find them, they returned to Jerusalem. 21 And after they had departed, they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said to David, "Get up, and pass quickly over the water, for thus has Ahithophel advised against you." 22 Then David got up, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan, by the morning light not one of them remained that had not gone over Jordan. 23 And when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled his ass, and got up, and went home to his house, to his city, and put his affairs in order, and hung himself, and died, and was buried in the tomb of his father. 24 Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25 And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab, which Amasa was a man's son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab's mother. 26 So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead. 27 And when David had come to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, 28 Brought beds, and basins, and pots, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse, 29 And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat, for they said, "The people are hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness." ___2_Samuel chapter 18 1 And David counted the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. 2 And David sent out one third of the people under the hand of Joab, and one third under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and one third under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, "I will surely go out with you myself also." 3 But the people answered, "You shall not go out, for if we flee away, they will not care for us, neither if half of us die, will they care for us, but now you are worth ten thousand of us, therefore now it is better that you strengthen us out of the city." 4 And the king said to them, "I'll do what seems best to you." And the king stood by the side of the gate, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands. 5 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man, with Absalom." And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom. 6 So the people went out into the field against Israel, and the battle was in the woods of Ephraim, 7 Where the people of Israel were killed before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men. 8 For the battle was scattered over the face of all the country, and the woods devoured more people that day than the sword devoured. 9 And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode on a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between heaven and earth, and the mule that was under him went away. 10 And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, "See, I saw Absalom hung in an oak." 11 And Joab said to the man that told him, "And, you saw him, and why did you not strike him there to the ground? And I would have given you ten shekels of silver, and a girdle." 12 And the man said to Joab, "Though I would receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, yet I wouldn't put forth my hand against the king's son, for in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that no one touches the young man Absalom. 13 Otherwise, I would have worked falsehood against my own life, for there is no matter hidden from the king, and you yourself would have set yourself against me." 14 Then Joab said, "I can't wait like this with you." And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was still alive in the middle of the oak. 15 And ten young men that carried Joab's armor surrounded and struck Absalom, and killed him. 16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel, for Joab held back the people. 17 And they took Absalom, and threw him into a large pit in the woods, and laid a very great heap of stones on him, and all Israel fled everyone to his tent. 18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale, for he said, "I have no son to keep my name in remembrance," and he called the pillar after his own name, and it is called until this day, Absalom's place. 19 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, "Let me now run, and take the king news, how that the Lord has avenged him of his enemies." 20 And Joab said to him, "You shall not take news this day, but you shall bear news another day, but this day you shall bear no news, because the king's son is dead." 21 Then said Joab to Cushi, "Go tell the king what you've seen." And Cushi bowed himself to Joab, and ran. 22 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said yet again to Joab, "But however, let me, please, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, "Why would you run, my son, since you have no news ready?" 23 "But anyway," he said, "let me run." And he said to him, "Run." Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outran Cushi. 24 And David sat between the two gates, and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate to the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and saw a man running alone. 25 And the watchman shouted, and told the king. And the king said, "If he's alone, there is news in his mouth." And he came apace, and came near. 26 And the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman called to the porter, and said, "See another man running alone." And the king said, he also brings news. 27 And the watchman said, "I think the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok." And the king said, "He is a good man, and comes with good news." 28 And Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, "All is well." And he fell down to the earth on his face before the king, and said, "Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king." 29 And the king said, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" And Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent the king's servant, and me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I didn't know what it was." 30 And the king said to him, "Turn aside, and stand here." And he turned aside, and stood still. 31 And see, Cushi came, and Cushi said, "News, my lord the king, for the Lord has avenged you this day of all of those who rose up against you." 32 And the king said to Cushi, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" And Cushi answered, "The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against you to do you hurt, be like that young man is." 33 And the king was much moved, and went up to the room over the gate, and wept, and as he went, thus he said, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would to God I had died for you, O Absalom, my son, my son!" ___2_Samuel chapter 19 1 And it was told Joab, "See, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom." 2 And the victory that day was turned into mourning to all the people, for the people heard that day how the king was grieved for his son. 3 And the people got them by stealth that day into the city, like people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. 4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son! 5 And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, "This day, you have shamed the faces of all your servants, who this day have saved your life, and the lives of your sons and of your daughters, and the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines, 6 In that you love your enemies, and hate your friends. For you have declared this day, that you regard neither princes nor servants, for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all of us had died this day, then it would have pleased you well. 7 Now therefore arise, go out, and speak comfortably to your servants, for I swear by the Lord, if you don't go out, not one will remain with you this night, and that will be worse to you than all the evil that happened you from your youth until now." 8 Then the king got up, and sat in the gate. And they told to all the people, saying, "See, the king sits in the gate." And all the people came before the king, for Israel had fled every man to his tent. 9 And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled out of the land for Absalom. 10 And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why do you not speak a word of bringing the king back?" 11 And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, "Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, why are you the last to bring the king back to his house? Seeing that the speech of all Israel has come to the king, to his house. 12 You are my brothers, you are my bones and my flesh, why then are you the last to bring back the king? 13 And say to Amasa, Are you not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you are not captain of the army before me continually in the office of Joab." 14 And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, like the heart of one man, so that they sent this word to the king, "Return, and all your servants." 15 So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan. 16 And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, who was of Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David. 17 And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him, and they went over Jordan before the king. 18 And a ferry boat went over to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, when he had come over Jordan, 19 And said to the king, "Let not my lord impute sin to me, nor remember that which your servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, so that the king should take it to his heart. 20 For your servant knows that I have sinned, therefore, see, I have come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king." 21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, "Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord's anointed?" 22 And David said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be adversaries to me? Shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? For don't I know that I am this day king over Israel?" 23 Therefore the king said to Shimei, "You shall not die." And the king swore to him. 24 And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace. 25 And when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, "Why didn't you go with me, Mephibosheth?" 26 And he answered, "My lord, O king, my servant deceived me, for your servant said, I will saddle me a donkey, so that I can ride on it, and go to the king, because your servant is lame. 27 And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king, but my lord the king is as an angel of God, do therefore what is good in your eyes. 28 For all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king, yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right therefore do I have yet to cry anymore to the king?" 29 And the king said to him, "Why speak anymore of your matters? I have said, you and Ziba divide the land." 30 And Mephibosheth said to the king, "Yes, let him take all, since my lord the king has come again in peace to his own house." 31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan. 32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old, and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man. 33 And the king said to Barzillai, "Come over with me, and I will feed you with me in Jerusalem." 34 And Barzillai said to the king, "How long do I have to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35 I am this day eighty years old, and can I discern between good and evil? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear anymore the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then would your servant be a burden to my lord the king? 36 Your servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king, and why should the king repay me with such a reward? 37 Let your servant, please, turn back again, so I can die in my own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But look at your servant Chimham, let him go over with my lord the king, and do to him what shall seem good to you." 38 And the king answered, "Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good to you, and whatever you shall require of me, I will do for you." 39 And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king had come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him, and he returned to his own place. 40 Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him, and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel. 41 And see, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, "Why have our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan?" 42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, "Because the king is near of kin to us, why then are you angry about this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king's cost? Or has he given us any gift? 43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, "We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than you, why then did you despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king?" And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel. ___2_Samuel chapter 20 1 And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite, and he blew a trumpet, and said, "We have no part in David, nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse, every man to his tents, O Israel." 2 So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri, but the men of Judah stuck with their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem. 3 And David came to his house at Jerusalem, and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but didn't have sex with them. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood. 4 Then the king said to Amasa, "Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and you be here." 5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah, but he took longer than the set time that he had appointed him. 6 And David said to Abishai, "Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than Absalom did, take you your lord's servants, and pursue after him, so that he doesn't get himself fenced cities, and escape us." 7 And Joab's men went out after him, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men, and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri. 8 When they were at the great stone that is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded on him, and on it was a girdle with a sword fastened on his midsection in its sheath, and as he went out it fell out. 9 And Joab said to Amasa, "Are you in health, my brother?" And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him. 10 But Amasa didn't pay attention to the sword that was in Joab's hand, so he struck him with it in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and didn't strike him again, and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri. 11 And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, "He that favors Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab." 12 And Amasa wallowed in blood in the middle of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and threw a cloth on him, when he saw that everyone that came near him stood still. 13 When he had been removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri. 14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites, and they were gathered together, and went also after him. 15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they threw up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench, and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down. 16 Then a wise woman out of the city shouted, "Hear, hear, please say, to Joab, come near here, so I can talk with you." 17 And when he had come near to her, the woman said, "Are you Joab?" And he answered, "I am he." Then she said to him, "Hear the words of your handmaid." And he answered, "I hear." 18 Then she said, "They used to speak in old times, saying, they shall surely ask for advice at Abel, and so they ended the matter. 19 I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel, you seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel, why do you want to swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?" 20 And Joab answered and said, "Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy. 21 The matter is not so, but a man of Mount Ephraim, Sheba, the son of Bichri, by name, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David, deliver him only, and I will depart from the city." And the woman said to Joab, "See, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall." 22 Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king. 23 Now Joab was over all the host of Israel, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites, 24 And Adoram was over the tribute, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder, 25 And Sheva was scribe, and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests, 26 And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler near David. ___2_Samuel chapter 21 1 Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year, and David inquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered, "It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he killed the Gibeonites." 2 And the king called the Gibeonites, and said to them, (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites, and the children of Israel had sworn to them, and Saul sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah.) 3 So David said to the Gibeonites, "What shall I do for you? And how shall I make the atonement, so that you'll bless the inheritance of the Lord?" 4 And the Gibeonites said to him, "We will have no silver nor gold from Saul, nor of his house, nor shall you kill any man for us in Israel." And he said, "I will do for you what you shall say." 5 And they answered the king, "The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel, 6 Let seven men of his sons be delivered to us, and we will hang them up to the Lord in Gibeah of Saul, whom the Lord chose. And the king said, "I will give them." 7 But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the Lord's oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. 8 But 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 Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite, 9 And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hung them in the hill before the Lord, and all seven fell together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest. 10 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped on them out of heaven, and allowed neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night. 11 And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done. 12 And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, who had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hung them, when the Philistines had killed Saul in Gilboa, 13 And he brought up from there the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son, and they gathered the bones of those who were hung. 14 And they buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the tomb of Kish his father, and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was entreated for the land. 15 Also the Philistines had war yet again with Israel, and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines, and David became faint. 16 And Ishbibenob, who was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have killed David. 17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah strengthened him, and struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, "You shall no more go out with us to battle, so that you don't quench the light of Israel." 18 And after this, there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob, then Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was of the sons of the giant. 19 And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. 20 And there was again a battle in Gath, where there was a very tall man, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, twenty four in number, and he also was born to the giant. 21 And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David killed him. 22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants. ___2_Samuel chapter 22 1 And David spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul, 2 And he said, "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, 3 The God of my rock, in him I will trust, he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my savior, you save me from violence. 4 I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, so shall I be saved from my enemies. 5 When the waves of death surrounded me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid, 6 The sorrows of hell surrounded me, the traps of death went before me, 7 In my distress I called on the Lord, and cried to my God, and he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry entered into his ears. 8 Then the earth shook and trembled, the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was angry. 9 Smoke went up out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured, coals were kindled by it. 10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down, and darkness was under his feet. 11 And he rode on a cherub, and flew, and he was seen on the wings of the wind. 12 And he made darkness pavilions all around him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies. 13 Through the brightness before him, coals of fire were kindled. 14 The Lord thundered from heaven, and the most high uttered his voice. 15 And he sent out arrows, and scattered them, lightning, and struck them. 16 And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the reprimanding of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils. 17 He sent from above, he took me, he pulled me out of many waters, 18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me. 19 They prevented me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my stay. 20 He brought me forth also into a large place, he delivered me, because he delighted in me. 21 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands he has repaid me. 22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 23 For all his judgments were before me, and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them. 24 I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from my sin. 25 Therefore the Lord has repaid me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his eye sight. 26 With the merciful you will show yourself merciful, and with the upright man you will show yourself upright. 27 With the pure you will show yourself pure, and with the froward you will show yourself unsavory. 28 And you will save the afflicted people, but your eyes are on the haughty, so that you can bring them down. 29 For you are my lamp, O Lord, and the Lord will shine light on my darkness. 30 For by you I have run through a troop, by my God have I jumped over a wall. 31 As for God, his way is perfect, the word of the Lord is tested, he is a buckler to all those who trust in him. 32 For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? 33 God is my strength and power, and he makes my way perfect. 34 He makes my feet like hinds' feet, and sets me on my high places. 35 He teaches my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by my arms. 36 You've also given me the shield of your salvation, and your gentleness has made me great. 37 You have enlarged my steps under me, so that my feet did not slip. 38 I have pursued my enemies, and destroyed them, and didn't turn away again until I had consumed them. 39 And I have consumed them, and wounded them, so that they couldn't get up, yes, they've fallen under my feet. 40 For you've girded me with strength for battle, those who rose up against me, you have subdued under me. 41 You have also given me the necks of my enemies, so that I could destroy those who hate me. 42 They looked, but there was no one to save, even to the Lord, but he didn't answer them. 43 Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I stomped them like the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad. 44 You also have delivered me from the strivings of my people, you have kept me to be head of the heathen, a people that I didn't know shall serve me. 45 Strangers shall submit themselves to me, as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient to me. 46 Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places. 47 The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and the God of the rock of my salvation be exalted. 48 It is God that avenges me, and that brings down the people under me, 49 And that brings me out from my enemies, you also have lifted me up on high above those who rose up against me, you have delivered me from the violent man. 50 Therefore I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises to your name. 51 He is the tower of salvation for his king, and shows mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his descendants for evermore." ___2_Samuel chapter 23 1 Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, 2 "The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and his word was in my tongue. 3 The God of Israel said, the rock of Israel spoke to me, he that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. 4 And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun rises, even a morning without clouds, like the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. 5 Although my house is not so with God, yet he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure, for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he doesn't make it grow. 6 But all of the sons of Belial shall be like thorns thrust away, because they can't be taken with hands, 7 But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear, and they shall be completely burned with fire in the same place. 8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had, the Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains, the same was Adino the Eznite, he lifted up his spear against eight hundred, whom he killed at one time. 9 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel had gone away, 10 He got up, and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword, and the Lord made a great victory that day, and the people returned after him only to spoil. 11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where there was a piece of ground full of lentiles, and the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he stood in the middle of the ground, and defended it, and killed the Philistines, and the Lord made a great victory. 13 And three of the thirty top men went down, and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam, and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim. 14 And David was then in a hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 And David longed, and said, "Oh that someone would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is by the gate!" 16 And the three mighty men broke through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David, but he wouldn't drink of it, but poured it out to the Lord. 17 And he said, "Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this, is not this the blood of the men that went in danger of their lives? Therefore he would not drink it." These things did these three mighty men. 18 And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and killed them, and had the name among three. 19 Was he not most honorable of three? Therefore he was their captain, but he didn't attain to the first three. 20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he killed two lion-like men of Moab, he went down also and killed a lion in the middle of a pit during the time of snow, 21 And he killed an Egyptian, a goodly man, and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear. 22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things, and had the name among three mighty men. 23 He was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn't attain to the first three. And David set him over his guard. 24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, 27 Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, 29 Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah, of the children of Benjamin, 30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash, 31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, 32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, 33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, 34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armor bearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah, 38 Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite, 39 Uriah the Hittite, thirty seven in all. ___2_Samuel chapter 24 1 And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, "Go, count Israel and Judah." 2 For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, who was with him, "Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and count the people, so I will know the number of the people." 3 And Joab said to the king, "Now the Lord your God add to the people, however many they are, a hundredfold, and so that the eyes of my lord the king will see it, but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?" 4 But the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the army. And Joab and the captains of the army went out from the presence of the king, to count the people of Israel. 5 And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that lies in the middle of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer, 6 Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtimhodshi, and they came to Danjaan, and around to Zidon, 7 And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites, and they went out to the south of Judah, to Beersheba. 8 So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. 9 And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to the king, and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword, and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men. 10 And David's heart struck him after he had counted the people. And David said to the Lord, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done, and now, I beg you, O Lord, take away the sin of your servant, for I have done very foolishly." 11 For when David was up in the morning, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, 12 "Go and say to David, thus says the Lord, I offer you three things, choose one of them, so I can do it to you." 13 So Gad came to David, and told him, and said to him, "Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or shall you flee three months before your enemies, while they pursue you? Or that there be three days' pestilence in your land? Now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me." 14 And David said to Gad, "I am in a great difficulty, let us fall now into the hand of the Lord, for his mercies are great, and let me not fall into the hand of man." 15 So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning until the time appointed, and seventy thousand men of the people died from Dan to Beersheba. 16 And when the angel stretched out his hand on Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord repented of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, "It is enough, stop your hand now." And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing place of Araunah the Jebusite. 17 And David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel that struck the people, and said, "See, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly, but these sheep, what have they done? Let your hand, please, be against me, and against my father's house." 18 And Gad came that day to David, and said to him, "Go up, raise an altar to the Lord in the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite." 19 And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the Lord commanded. 20 And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming toward him, and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face on the ground. 21 And 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 will be stopped from the people." 22 And Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him, see, here are oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood." 23 Araunah, like a king, gave all these things to the king. And Araunah said to the king, "The Lord your God accept you." 24 And the king said to Araunah, "No, but I will surely buy them from you at a price, and I won't offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God of that which costs me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 25 And David built an altar to the Lord there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord was entreated for the land, and the plague was stopped from Israel. ___1_Kings chapter 1 1 Now king David was old and stricken in years, and they covered him with clothes, but he couldn't stay warm. 2 So his servants said to him, "Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin, and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in your bosom, so that my lord the king will get heat." 3 So they sought for a fair young woman throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 4 And the young woman was very beautiful, and cherished the king, and ministered to him, but the king didn't have sex with her. 5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king," and he prepared himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. 6 And his father had not displeased him at any time by saying, "Why have you done so?" And he also was a very goodly man, and his mother bore him after Absalom. 7 And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest, and they followed Adonijah and helped him. 8 But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah. 9 And Adonijah killed sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, that is by Enrogel, and called all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants, 10 But he didn't call Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother. 11 So Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, "Haven't you heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith rules, and David our lord doesn't know it? 12 Now therefore come, please let me give you advice, so you can save your own life, and the life of your son, Solomon. 13 Go to king David, and say to him, Didn't you, my lord, O king, swear to your handmaid, saying, assuredly Solomon your son shall rule after me, and he shall sit on my throne? Why then does Adonijah rule?" 14 See, while you're still talking there with the king, I also will come in after you, and confirm your words. 15 And Bathsheba went in to the king into the room, and the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite ministered to the king. 16 And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance to the king. And the king said, "What do you want?" 17 And she said to him, "My lord, you swore by the Lord your God to your handmaid, saying, assuredly Solomon your son shall rule after me, and he shall sit on my throne. 18 And now, see, Adonijah rules, and now, my lord the king, you don't know it, 19 And he has killed oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and has called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host, but Solomon your servant he hasn't called. 20 And you, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, that you should tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21 Otherwise when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders." 22 And see, while she was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in. 23 And they told the king, saying, "See, Nathan the prophet." And when he had come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground. 24 And Nathan said, "My lord, O king, have you said, Adonijah shall rule after me, and he shall sit on my throne? 25 For he has gone down this day, and has killed oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and has called all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest, and see, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah. 26 But me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon, he hasn't called. 27 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and you have not shown it to your servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?" 28 Then king David answered and said, "Call me Bathsheba." And she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king. 29 And the king swore, and said, "As the Lord lives, that has redeemed my soul out of all distress, 30 Just like I swore to you by the Lord God of Israel, saying, assuredly Solomon your son shall rule after me, and he shall sit on my throne instead of me, even so will I certainly do this day." 31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, "Let my lord king David live forever." 32 And king David said, "Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada." And they came before the king. 33 The king also said to them, "Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon, 34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel, and blow with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon. 35 Then you shall come up after him, so that he can come and sit on my throne, for he shall be king instead of me, and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah." 36 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, "Amen, the Lord God of my lord the king say so, too. 37 As the Lord has been with my lord the king, even so let him be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David." 38 So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride on king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon. 39 And Zadok the priest took a horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, "God save king Solomon." 40 And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth tore with the sound of them. 41 And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they finished of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, "Why is this noise of an uproar coming from the city?" 42 And while he was still speaking, see, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came, and Adonijah said to him, "Come in, for you are a valiant man, and bring good news." 43 And Jonathan answered Adonijah, "Truly our lord king David has made Solomon king. 44 And the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride on the king's mule, 45 And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon, and they've come up from there rejoicing, so that the city echoed back. This is the noise that you've heard. 46 And also Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom. 47 And also the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne. And the king bowed himself on the bed. 48 And also thus said the king, blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who has given someone to sit on my throne this day, my eyes seeing it." 49 And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and every man went away. 50 And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and got up, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. 51 And it was told Solomon, saying, "See, Adonijah fears king Solomon, for see, he has caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, let king Solomon swear to me today that he will not kill his servant with the sword." 52 And Solomon said, "If he will show himself a worthy man, not a hair of him shall fall to the earth, but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die." 53 So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon, and Solomon said to him, "Go to your house." ___1_Kings chapter 2 1 Now the days of David came near for him to die, and he charged Solomon his son, saying, 2 "I go the way of all the earth, be strong therefore, and show yourself to be a man, 3 And keep the charge of the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, so that you'll prosper in all that you do, and wherever you turn, 4 So that the Lord will continue his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, if your children pay attention to their way, to walk before me in truth, with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you (said he) a man on the throne of Israel. 5 Also you know also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner, and to Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war on his girdle that was around his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet. 6 Do therefore according to your wisdom, and don't let his gray head go down to the grave in peace. 7 But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those who eat at your table, for they came to me when I fled because of Absalom your brother. 8 And see, you have with you Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim, but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I swore to him by the Lord, saying, I will not put you to death with the sword. 9 Now therefore don't hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man, and know what you ought to do to him, but bring down his hoar head to the grave with blood." 10 So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David. 11 And the days that David ruled over Israel were forty years, he ruled seven years in Hebron, and thirty three years he ruled in Jerusalem. 12 Then Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was established greatly. 13 And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, "Do you come peaceably?" And he said, "Peaceably." 14 He said also, "I have somewhat to say to you." And she said, say on. 15 And he said, "You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should rule, but the kingdom has turned around, and has become my brother's, for it was his from the Lord. 16 And now I ask one petition of you, don't deny me." And she said to him, say on. 17 And he said, "Please speak to Solomon the king, (for he will not say no to you,) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite as wife." 18 And Bathsheba said, "Well, I will speak for you to the king." 19 Bathsheba therefore went to king Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself to her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother, and she sat at his right hand. 20 Then she said, "I desire one small petition of you, please don't say no to me." And the king said to her, ask on, my mother, for "I will not say no to you." 21 And she said, "Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife." 22 And king Solomon answered his mother, "And why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also, for he is my elder brother, for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah." 23 Then king Solomon swore by the Lord, saying, "God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life. 24 Now therefore, 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 be put to death this day." 25 And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he fell on him so that he died. 26 And the king said to Abiathar the priest, "Go to Anathoth, to your own fields, for you are worthy of death, but I will not at this time put you to death, because you carried the ark of the Lord God before David my father, and because you have been afflicted in everything in which my father was afflicted." 27 So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest to the Lord, so that he would fulfill the word of the Lord, that he spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh. 28 Then news came to Joab, for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he didn't turn after Absalom. And Joab fled to the tabernacle of the Lord, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. 29 And it was told king Solomon that Joab had fled to the tabernacle of the Lord, and see, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, "Go, fall on him." 30 And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the Lord, and said to him, "Thus says the king, Come out." And he said, "No, but I will die here." And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, thus said Joab, and thus he answered me. 31 And the king said to him, "Do as he has said, and fall on him, and bury him, so that you'll take away the innocent blood that Joab shed from me, and from the house of my father. 32 And the Lord shall return his blood on his own head, who fell on two men more righteous and better than he, and killed them with the sword, my father David not knowing about it, by name, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the army of Judah. 33 Their blood shall therefore return on the head of Joab, and on the head of his descendants forever, but on David, and on his descendants, and on his house, and on his throne, there shall be peace forever from the Lord." 34 So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell on him, and killed him, and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness. 35 And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his office over the army, and the king put Zadok the priest in the office of Abiathar. 36 And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem, and live there, and don't go out anywhere. 37 For it shall be, that on the day you go out, and pass over the brook Kidron, know for certain that you shall surely die, your blood shall be on your own head." 38 And Shimei said to the king, "The saying is good, as my lord the king has said, so your servant will do." And Shimei lived in Jerusalem many days. 39 And at the end of three years, two of the servants of Shimei ran away to Achish son of Maachah king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, "See, your servants are in Gath." 40 And Shimei got up, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants, and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath. 41 And Solomon was told that Shimei had gone out of Jerusalem to Gath, and had come back. 42 And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, "Didn't I make you swear by the Lord, and protested to you, saying, know for certain, on the day you go out, and walk abroad anywhere, that you shall surely die? And you said to me, the word that I have heard is good. 43 Why then haven't you kept the oath of the Lord, and the commandment that I have charged you with?" 44 The king said also to Shimei, "You know all the wickedness that your heart is partner with, that you did to David my father, therefore the Lord shall return your wickedness on your own head, 45 And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord forever." 46 So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, who went out, and fell on him, so that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon. ___1_Kings chapter 3 1 And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the Lord, and the wall of Jerusalem all around. 2 Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built to the name of the Lord, until those days. 3 And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places. 4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place, Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, "Ask what I shall give you." 6 And Solomon said, "You have shown to your servant David, my father, great mercy, according as he walked before you in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with you, and you've kept for him this great kindness, that you have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king instead of David my father, and I am but a little child, I don't know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is among your people that you've chosen, a great people, that can't be numbered nor counted for multitude. 9 Give therefore your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, so I can discern between good and bad, for who is able to judge your so great a people?" 10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 And God said to him, "Because you've asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern judgment, 12 See, I have done according to your words, see, I have given you a wise and an understanding heart, so that there was no one like you before you, nor after you shall any arise like you. 13 And I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches, and honor, so that there shall not be any among the kings like you all your days. 14 And if you'll walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, like your father David did, then I will lengthen your days." 15 And Solomon awoke, and see, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants. 16 Then two women came to the king that were prostitutes, and stood before him. 17 And the one woman said, "O my lord, I and this woman live in one house, and I received deliverance from a child with her in the house. 18 And the third day after I was delivered, this woman received deliverance also, and we were together, there was no stranger with us in the house, except the two of us in the house. 19 And this woman's child died in the night, because she overlaid it. 20 And she got up at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while your handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. 21 And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, see, it was dead, but when I had considered it in the morning, see, it was not my son, that I bore." 22 And the other woman said, "No, but the living is my son, and the dead is your son." And this said, "No, but the dead is your son, and the living is my son." Thus they spoke before the king. 23 Then the king said, "The one says, this is my son that lives, and your son is the dead, and the other says, no, but your son is the dead, and my son is the living." 24 And the king said, "Bring me a sword." And they brought a sword before the king. 25 And the king said, "Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other." 26 Then the woman spoke whose the living child was to the king, for her inner affections yearned for her son, and she said, "O my lord, give her the living child, and don't at all kill it." But the other said, let it be neither mine nor yours, but divide it. 27 Then the king answered and said, "Give her the living child, and don't at all kill it, she is the mother of it." 28 And all Israel heard of the judgment that the king had judged, and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment. ___1_Kings chapter 4 1 So king Solomon was king over all Israel. 2 And these were the princes that he had, Azariah the son of Zadok the priest, 3 Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder. 4 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the army, and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests, 5 And Azariah, the son of Nathan, was over the officers, and Zabud, the son of Nathan, was principal officer, and the king's friend, 6 And Ahishar was over the household, and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the taxes. 7 And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, that provided food for the king and his household, each man his month in a year made provision. 8 And these are their names, the son of Hur, in Mount Ephraim, 9 The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Bethshemesh, and Elonbethhanan, 10 The son of Hesed, in Aruboth, to him pertained Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher, 11 The son of Abinadab, in all the region of Dor, who had Taphath the daughter of Solomon as wife, 12 Baana the son of Ahilud, to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Bethshean, that is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Bethshean to Abelmeholah, to the place that is beyond Jokneam, 13 The son of Geber, in Ramothgilead, to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, that are in Gilead, to him also pertained the region of Argob, that is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and brass bars, 14 Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim, 15 Ahimaaz was in Naphtali, he also took Basmath, the daughter of Solomon, as wife, 16 Baanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth, 17 Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar, 18 Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin, 19 Geber the son of Uri was in the country of Gilead, in 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. 20 Judah and Israel were many, like the sand that is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry. 21 And Solomon ruled over all kingdoms from the river to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt, they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life. 22 And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and sixty measures of meal, 23 Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and a hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallow deer, and fatted fowl. 24 For he had dominion over all the region on this side of the river, from Tiphsah to Azzah, over all the kings on this side of the river, and he had peace on all sides around him. 25 And Judah and Israel lived safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. 26 And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. 27 And those officers provided food for king Solomon, and for all that came to king Solomon's table, every man in his month, they lacked nothing. 28 They also brought barley and straw for the horses and dromedaries to the place where the officers were, every man according to his assignment. 29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding very much, and largeness of heart, like the sand that is on the sea shore. 30 And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was wiser than all men, than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol, and his fame was in all nations all around. 32 And he spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand five. 33 And he spoke about trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall, he spoke also about animals, and about fowl, and about creeping things, and about fish. 34 And there came from all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom. ___1_Kings chapter 5 1 And Hiram, king of Tyre, sent his servants to Solomon, for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the office of his father, for Hiram was always a lover of David. 2 And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, 3 "You know how David my father could not build a house to the name of the Lord his God for the wars that were around him on every side, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet. 4 But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent. 5 And see, I purpose to build a house to the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spoke to David my father, saying, Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your office, he shall build a house for my name. 6 Now therefore command that they cut me cedar trees out of Lebanon, and my servants shall be with your servants, and I will give you wages for your servants according to all that you shall appoint, for you know that there are not among us any that can cut timber as skillfully as the Zidonians." 7 And when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly, and said, "Blessed be the Lord this day, who has given to David a wise son over this great nation." 8 And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, "I have considered the things that you sent to me for, and I will do all your desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir. 9 My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon to the sea, and I will convey them by sea in floats to the place that you shall appoint me, and will cause them to be delivered there, and you shall receive them, and you shall accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household." 10 So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire. 11 And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food for his household, and twenty measures of pure oil, thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year. 12 And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him, and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty together. 13 And king Solomon raised a draft out of all Israel, and the draft was thirty thousand men. 14 And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses, a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home, and Adoniram was over the draft. 15 And Solomon had seventy thousand that carried burdens, and eighty thousand cutters in the mountains, 16 Beside the chief of Solomon's officers that were over the work, three thousand three hundred, that ruled over the people that did the work. 17 And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and cut stones, to lay the foundation of the house. 18 And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders cut them, and the stone squarers, so they prepared timber and stones to build the house. ___1_Kings chapter 6 1 And in the four hundred eightieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's rule over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the Lord. 2 And the house that king Solomon built for the Lord, the length of it was ninty feet, and the breadth of it thirty feet, and the height of it forty five feet. 3 And the porch before the temple of the house, thirty feet was the length of it, according to the breadth of the house, and fifteen feet was the breadth of it before the house. 4 And for the house he made windows of narrow lights. 5 And against the wall of the house he built rooms all around, against the walls of the house all around, both of the temple and of the oracle, and he made rooms all around, 6 The lowermost room was seven and a half feet broad, and the middle was nine feet broad, and the third was ten and a half feet broad, for outside in the wall of the house he made narrowed rests all around, so that the beams wouldn't be fastened in the walls of the house. 7 And the house, while it was being built, was built of stone made ready before it was brought there, so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was being built. 8 The door for the middle room was in the right side of the house, and they went up with winding stairs into the middle room, and out of the middle into the third. 9 So he built the house, and finished it, and covered the house with beams and boards of cedar. 10 And then he built rooms against all the house, seven and a half feet high, and they rested on the house with timber of cedar. 11 And the word of the Lord came to Solomon, saying, 12 "Concerning this house that you're building, if you'll walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them, then I will perform my word with you, that I spoke to David your father, 13 And I will live among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel." 14 So Solomon built the house, and finished it. 15 And he built the walls of the house inside with boards of cedar, both the floor of the house, and the walls of the ceiling, and he covered them on the inside with wood, and covered the floor of the house with planks of fir. 16 And he built thirty feet on the sides of the house, both the floor and the walls with boards of cedar, he built them for it inside, for the oracle, and for the most holy place. 17 And the house, that is, the temple before it, was sixty feet long. 18 And the cedar of the house inside was carved with knobs and open flowers, all was cedar, there was no stone seen. 19 And he prepared the oracle in the house inside, to set the ark of the covenant of the Lord there. 20 And the oracle in the front was thirty feet in length, and thirty feet in breadth, and thirty feet in height, and he plated it with pure gold, and so covered the altar that was of cedar. 21 So Solomon plated the house inside with pure gold, and he made a partition by the chains of gold before the oracle, and he plated it with gold. 22 And the whole house he plated with gold, until he had finished all the house, also the whole altar that was by the oracle he plated with gold. 23 And inside the oracle, he made two cherubims out of olive tree, each fifteen feet high. 24 And seven and a half feet was the one wing of the cherub, and seven and a half feet the other wing of the cherub, from the furthest part of the one wing to the furthest part of the other were fifteen feet. 25 And the other cherub was fifteen feet, both the cherubims were of the same measure and size. 26 The height of the one cherub was fifteen feet, and so it was for the other cherub. 27 And he set the cherubims inside the inner house, and they stretched out the wings of the cherubims, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall, and their wings touched each other in the middle of the house. 28 And he plated the cherubims with gold. 29 And he carved all the walls of the house all around with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, inside and outside. 30 And the floor of the house he plated with gold, inside and outside. 31 And for the entering of the oracle he made doors of olive tree, the lintel and side posts were one fifth of the wall. 32 The two doors were also of olive tree, and he carved on them carvings of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, and plated them with gold, and spread gold on the cherubims, and on the palm trees. 33 So also did he make for the door of the temple posts of olive tree, one fourth of the wall. 34 And the two doors were of fir tree, the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding. 35 And he carved on them cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, and covered them with gold fitted on the carved work. 36 And he built the inner court with three rows of cut stone, and a row of cedar beams. 37 In the fourth year, the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid, in the month Zif, 38 And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished throughout all the parts of it, and according to all the fashion of it. So he was building it for seven years. ___1_Kings chapter 7 1 But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house. 2 He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon, the length of it was one hundred fifty feet, and the breadth of it seventy five feet, and the height of it forty five feet, on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on the pillars. 3 And it was covered with cedar above on the beams, that lay on forty five pillars, fifteen in a row. 4 And there were windows in three rows, and light was against light in three ranks. 5 And all the doors and posts were square, with the windows, and light was against light in three ranks. 6 And he made a porch of pillars, the length of it was seventy five feet, and the breadth of it forty five feet, and the porch was before them, and the other pillars and the thick beam were before them. 7 Then he made a porch for the throne where he could judge, the porch of judgment, and it was covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other. 8 And his house where he lived had another court inside the porch, that was of similar work. Solomon made also a house for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had taken as wife, like this porch. 9 All these were of costly stones, according to the measures of cut stones, sawed with saws, inside and outside, from the foundation to the coping, and so on the outside toward the large court. 10 And the foundation was of costly stones, great stones, stones of fifteen feet, and stones of twelve feet. 11 And above were costly stones, after the measures of cut stones, and cedars. 12 And the large court all around was with three rows of cut stones, and a row of cedar beams, both for the inner court of the house of the Lord, and for the porch of the house. 13 And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre. 14 He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass, and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and made all his work. 15 For he cast in foundry two pillars of brass, of twenty seven feet high each, and a line of eighteen feet circled either of them. 16 And he made two chapiters of brass cast in foundry, to set on the tops of the pillars, the height of the one chapiter was seven and a half feet, and the height of the other chapiter was seven and a half, 17 And nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work, for the chapiters that were on the top of the pillars, seven for the one chapiter, and seven for the other chapiter. 18 And he made the pillars, and two rows all around on the one network, to cover the chapiters that were on the top, with pomegranates, and he did so for the other chapiter. 19 And the chapiters that were on the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits. 20 And the chapiters on the two pillars had pomegranates also above, opposite the belly that was by the network, and the pomegranates were two hundred in rows all around on the other chapiter. 21 And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple, and he set up the right pillar, and called the name of it Jachin, and he set up the left pillar, and called the name of it Boaz. 22 And on the top of the pillars was lily work, so the work of the pillars was finished. 23 And he made a sea that had been cast in foundry, fifteen feet from the one brim to the other, it was round, and its height was seven and a half feet, and a line of forty five feet circled it. 24 And under the brim of it all around there were knobs surrounding it, ten per each eighteen inches, surrounding the sea all around, the knobs were cast in two rows when it was cast. 25 It stood on twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east, and the sea was set above on them, and all their hinder parts were inward. 26 And it was a hand breadth thick, and the brim of it was made like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies, it would contain two thousand baths of liquid. 27 And he made ten bases of brass, six feet was the length of one base, and six feet the breadth of it, and four and a half feet the height of it. 28 And the work of the bases was like this: they had borders, and the borders were between the ledges, 29 And on the borders that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, and cherubims, and on the ledges there was a base above, and beneath the lions and oxen were certain additions made of thin work. 30 And every base had four brass wheels, and plates of brass, and the four corners of which had undersetters, under the wash basin were undersetters cast in foundry, at the side of every addition. 31 And the mouth of it inside the chapiter and above was eighteen inches, but the mouth of it was round like the work of the base, twenty seven inches, and also on the mouth of it were engravings with their borders, foursquare, not round. 32 And under the borders were four wheels, and the axletrees of the wheels were joined to the base, and the height of a wheel was a twenty seven inches. 33 And the work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel, their axletrees, and their naves, and their felloes, and their spokes, were all cast in foundry. 34 And there were four undersetters to the four corners of one base, and the undersetters were of the very base itself. 35 And in the top of the base there was a round circle of nine inches high, and on the top of the base the ledges of it and the borders of it were of the same. 36 For on the plates of the ledges of it, and on the borders of it, he engraved cherubims, lions, and palm trees, according to the proportion of every one, and additions all around. 37 He made the ten bases after this manner, all of them had one casting, one measure, and one size. 38 Then he made ten wash basins of brass, one wash basin contained forty baths, and every wash basin was six feet, and on every one of the ten bases one wash basin. 39 And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house, and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward opposite the south. 40 And Hiram made the wash basins, and the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of the Lord, 41 The two pillars, and the two bowls of the chapiters that were on the top of the two pillars, and the two networks, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters that were on the top of the pillars, 42 And four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, two rows of pomegranates for one network, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters that were on the pillars, 43 And the ten bases, and ten wash basins on the bases, 44 And one sea, and twelve oxen under the sea, 45 And the pots, and the shovels, and the basins, and all these containers, that Hiram made for king Solomon for the house of the Lord, were of bright brass. 46 The king cast them in the plain of Jordan, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan. 47 And Solomon left all the containers unweighed, because there were very many, nor was the weight of the brass found out. 48 And Solomon made all the containers that pertained to the house of the Lord, the altar of gold, and the table of gold, on which was the showbread, 49 And the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold, 50 And the bowls, and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the censers of pure gold, and the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, of the temple. 51 So all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the Lord was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, even the silver, and the gold, and the containers, he put among the treasures of the house of the Lord. ___1_Kings chapter 8 1 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, to king Solomon in Jerusalem, so that they could bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion. 2 And all the men of Israel assembled themselves to king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. 3 And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark. 4 And they brought up the ark of the Lord, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy containers that were in the tabernacle, the priests and the Levites brought them up. 5 And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled to him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that couldn't be told nor numbered for multitude. 6 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubims. 7 For the cherubims spread out their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves of it above. 8 And they pulled out the staves, so that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they were not seen outside, and they are there until this day. 9 There was nothing in the ark except the two tables of stone, that Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. 10 And when the priests had come out of the holy place, the cloud filled the house of the Lord, 11 So that the priests couldn't stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord. 12 Then Solomon said, "The Lord said that he would live in the thick darkness. 13 I have surely built you a house to live in, a settled place for you to live in forever." 14 And the king turned his face around, and blessed all the congregation of Israel, (and all the congregation of Israel stood,) 15 And he said, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who spoke with his mouth to David my father, and has with his hand fulfilled it, saying, 16 Since the day that I brought out my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house, so that my name would be in it, but I chose David to be over my people Israel. 17 And it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 18 And the Lord said to David my father, since it was in your heart to build a house to my name, you did well that it was in your heart. 19 But you shall not build the house, but your son that shall come out of your body, he shall build the house for my name. 20 And the Lord has performed his word that he spoke, and I have risen up in the office of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built a house for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 21 And I have set a place for the ark there, in which is the covenant of the Lord, that he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt." 22 And Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven, 23 And he said, "Lord God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keeps covenant and mercy with your servants that walk before you with all their heart, 24 Who have kept with your servant David my father what you promised him, you spoke also with your mouth, and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is this day. 25 Therefore now, Lord God of Israel, keep with your servant David my father what you promised him, saying, there shall not fail you a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, so that your children take heed to their way, so that they walk before me as you have walked before me. 26 And now, O God of Israel, please let your word be verified, that you spoke to your servant David my father. 27 But will God indeed live on the earth? See, the heaven and heaven of heavens can't contain you, how much less this house that I've built? 28 Yet have respect to the prayer of your servant, and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer, that your servant prays before you today, 29 So that your eyes will be open toward this house night and day, toward the place about which you've said, my name shall be there, so that you'll listen to the prayer that your servant shall make toward this place. 30 And listen to the supplication of your servant, and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place, and hear in heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive. 31 If any man trespasses against his neighbor, and an oath be laid on him to cause him to swear, and the oath comes before your altar in this house, 32 Then hear in heaven, and do, and judge your servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness. 33 When your people Israel are struck down before the enemy, because they have sinned against you, and shall turn back to you, and confess your name, and pray, and make supplication to you in this house, 34 Then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land that you gave to their fathers. 35 When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place, and confess your name, and turn from their sin, when you afflict them, 36 Then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants, and of your people Israel, so that you teach them the good way in which they should walk, and give rain on your land, that you've given to your people for an inheritance. 37 If there's a famine in the land, if there's pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there are caterpillars, if their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, 38 Whatever prayer and supplication is made by any man, or by all your people Israel, that shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread out his hands toward this house, 39 Then hear in heaven, your dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart you know, (for only you know the hearts of all the children of men,) 40 So that they'll fear you all the days that they live in the land that you gave to our fathers. 41 Also, concerning a stranger, that is not of your people Israel, but comes out of a far country for your name's sake, 42 (For they shall hear of your great name, and of your strong hand, and of your stretched out arm,) when he shall come and pray toward this house, 43 Hear in heaven, your dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calls to you for, so that all people of the earth will know your name, to fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they will know that this house, that I've built, is called by your name. 44 If your people go out to battle against their enemy, wherever you shall send them, and shall pray to the Lord toward the city that you've chosen, and toward the house that I have built for your name, 45 Then hear their prayer and their supplication in heaven, and maintain their cause. 46 If they sin against you, (for there is no man that doesn't sin,) and you are angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives to the land of the enemy, far or near, 47 Yet if they shall think themselves in the land where they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication to you in the land of those who carried them captives, saying, we have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness, 48 And so return to you with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies, that led them away captive, and pray to you toward their land, that you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name, 49 Then hear their prayer and their supplication in heaven, your dwelling place, and maintain their cause, 50 And forgive your people that have sinned against you, and all their transgressions in which they have transgressed against you, and give them compassion before those who carried them captive, so that they will have compassion on them, 51 For they are your people, and your inheritance, that you brought out of Egypt, from the furnace of iron, 52 So that your eyes will be open to the supplication of your servant, and to the supplication of your people Israel, to listen to them in all that they call to you for. 53 For you separated them from among all the people of the earth, to be your inheritance, as you spoke by the hand of Moses your servant, when you brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord God." 54 And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication to the Lord, he got up from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven. 55 And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying, 56 "Blessed be the Lord, that has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised, there has not failed one word of all his good promise, that he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. 57 The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers, let him not leave us, nor forsake us, 58 So that he will incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, that he commanded our fathers. 59 And let these my words, with which I have made supplication before the Lord, be near the Lord our God day and night, so that he maintains the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require, 60 So that all the people of the earth will know that the Lord is God, and that there is no one else. 61 Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day." 62 And the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the Lord. 63 And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, that he offered to the Lord, twenty two thousand oxen, and one hundred twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord. 64 The same day the king hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord, for there he offered burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brass altar that was before the Lord was too small to receive the burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings. 65 And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entrance of Hamath to the river of Egypt, before the Lord our God, seven days and seven days, so fourteen days. 66 On the eighth day he sent the people away, and they blessed the king, and went to their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the Lord had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people. ___1_Kings chapter 9 1 And when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and all Solomon's desire that he was pleased to do, 2 The Lord appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. 3 And the Lord said to him, "I have heard your prayer and your supplication, that you have made before me, I have hallowed this house, that you have built, to put my name there forever, and my eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually. 4 And if you'll walk before me, like David your father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and will keep my statutes and my judgments, 5 Then I will establish the throne of your kingdom in Israel forever, as I promised to David your father, saying, there shall not fail you a man on the throne of Israel. 6 But if you shall at all turn from following me, you or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes that I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them, 7 Then I will cut off Israel out of the land that I have given them, and this house, that I have hallowed for my name, I will throw out of my sight, and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people, 8 And at this house, that is high, everyone that passes by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss, and they shall say, why has the Lord done thus to this land, and to this house? 9 And they shall answer, because they forsook the Lord their God, who brought out their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold on other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them, that's why the Lord has brought on them all this evil." 10 And at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the Lord, and the king's house, 11 (Now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his desire,) then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee. 12 And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities that Solomon had given him, and they didn't please him. 13 And he said, what cities are these that you have given me, my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul to this day. 14 And Hiram sent to the king one hundred twenty talents of gold. 15 And this is the reason of the levy that king Solomon raised, to build the house of the Lord, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer. 16 For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, and taken Gezer, and burnt it with fire, and killed the Canaanites that lived in the city, and given it for a present to his daughter, Solomon's wife. 17 And Solomon built Gezer, and Bethhoron the lower, 18 And Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness, in the land, 19 And all the cities of store that Solomon had, and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion. 20 And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, that were not of the children of Israel, 21 Their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel also were not able to completely destroy, on those did Solomon levy a tribute of bond service until this day. 22 But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen, but they were men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen. 23 These were the chief of the officers that were over Solomon's work, five hundred fifty, that bore rule over the people that did the work. 24 But Pharaoh's daughter came up out of the city of David to her house that Solomon had built for her, then he built Millo. 25 And three times a year, Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar that he built to the Lord, and he burnt incense on the altar that was before the Lord. So he finished the house. 26 And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Eziongeber, that is beside Eloth, on the shore of the red sea, in the land of Edom. 27 And Hiram sent his servants in the navy, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon. 28 And they came to Ophir, and fetched gold from there, four hundred twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon. ___1_Kings chapter 10 1 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. 2 And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that carried spices, and very much gold, and precious stones, and when she had come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. 3 And Solomon told her all her questions, there was not anything hidden from the king, that he didn't tell her. 4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built, 5 And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up to the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her. 6 And she said to the king, "It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts and of your wisdom. 7 But I didn't believe the words, until I came, and my eyes had seen it, and see, the half was not told me, your wisdom and prosperity exceeds the fame that I heard. 8 Happy are your men, happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you, and that hear your wisdom. 9 Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you, to set you on the throne of Israel, because the Lord loved Israel forever, therefore he made you king, to do judgment and justice." 10 And she gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones, there came no more such abundance of spices as these that the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon. 11 And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones. 12 And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the Lord, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for singers, there came no such almug trees, nor were seen to this day. 13 And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal abundance. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants. 14 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty six talents of gold, 15 Beside what he had from the merchant men, and of the traffic of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country. 16 And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold, six hundred shekels of gold went to one target. 17 And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold, three pounds of gold went to one shield, and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. 18 Also the king made a large throne of ivory, and plated it with the best gold. 19 The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind, and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays. 20 And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other on the six steps, there was not the like made in any kingdom. 21 And all king Solomon's drinking containers were of gold, and all the containers of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold, none were of silver, it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon. 22 For the king had a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram at sea, the navy of Tharshish came once in three years, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. 23 So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom. 24 And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart. 25 And they brought every man his present, containers of silver, and containers of gold, and garments, and armor, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year. 26 And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen, and he had one thousand four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem. 27 And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem like stones, and cedars he made to be like the sycamore trees that are in the vale, for abundance. 28 And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn, the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price. 29 And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty, and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means. ___1_Kings chapter 11 1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites, 2 Of the nations concerning which the Lord said to the children of Israel, you shall not go in to them, nor shall they come in to you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods, Solomon stuck to these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned away his heart. 4 For when Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the dirty thing of the Ammonites. 6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and didn't go fully after the Lord, as did David his father. 7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh, the dirty thing of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the dirty thing of the children of Ammon. 8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, who burnt incense and sacrificed to their gods. 9 And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, 10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods, but he didn't keep that which the Lord commanded. 11 So the Lord said to Solomon, "Since you've done this, and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes, that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant. 12 But in your days I will not do it for David your father's sake, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 But I will not tear away all the kingdom, but will give one tribe to your son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen." 14 And the Lord stirred up an adversary to Solomon, Hadad, the Edomite, he was of the king's descendants in Edom. 15 For when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host had gone up to bury the dead, after he had struck every male in Edom, 16 (Joab remained there for six months, with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom,) 17 Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him, to go into Egypt, Hadad being yet a little child. 18 And they got up out of Midian, and came to Paran, and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave him a house, and appointed him food, and gave him land. 19 And Hadad found great favor in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him as wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes, the queen. 20 And the sister of Tahpenes bore him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house, and Genubath was in Pharaoh's household among the sons of Pharaoh. 21 And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, "Let me depart, so I can go to my own country." 22 Then Pharaoh said to him, "But what have you lacked with me, that, see, you seek to go to your own country?" And he answered, "Nothing, but let me go in anyway." 23 And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, who fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah, 24 And he gathered men to him, and became captain over a band, when David killed those of Zobah, and they went to Damascus, and lived in it, and ruled in Damascus. 25 And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did, and he hated Israel, and ruled over Syria. 26 And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman, he lifted up his hand against the king. 27 And this was the reason that he lifted up his hand against the king, Solomon built Millo, and repaired the damaged parts of the city of David his father. 28 And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor, and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph. 29 And at the time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way, and he had clothed himself with a new garment, and the two of them were alone in the field, 30 And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and tore it in twelve pieces, 31 And he said to Jeroboam, "Take ten pieces, for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, see, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to you, 32 (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city that I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel,) 33 Because they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh, the god of the Moabites, and Milcom, the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in my eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father. 34 But I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes, 35 But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it to you, ten tribes. 36 And to his son I will give one tribe, so that David my servant will have a light always before me in Jerusalem, the city that I have chosen to put my name there. 37 And I will take you, and you shall rule according to all that your soul desires, and shall be king over Israel. 38 And it shall be, if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in my ways, and do what is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, like David my servant did, that I will be with you, and build you a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you. 39 And for this I will afflict the descendants of David, but not forever." 40 Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam got up, and fled into Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon. 41 And 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? 42 And the time that Solomon ruled in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. 43 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father, and Rehoboam his son ruled instead of him. ___1_Kings chapter 12 1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. 2 And when Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he had fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam lived in Egypt,) 3 They sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 4 "Your father made our yoke grievous, now therefore make the grievous service of your father, and his heavy yoke that he put on us lighter, and we will serve you." 5 And he said to them, "Depart for three days, then come back to me." And the people departed. 6 And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, "How do you advise me to answer these people?" 7 And they spoke to him, saying, "If you will be a servant to these people this day, and will serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever." 8 But he forsook the advice of the old men, that they had given him, and consulted with the young men that had grown up with him, and who stood before him, 9 And he said to them, what advice do you give that we may answer these people, who have spoken to me, saying, "Make the yoke that your father put on us lighter?" 10 And the young men that had grown up with him said to him, "Thus shall you speak to this people that spoke to you, saying, your father made our yoke heavy, but make it lighter for us, thus shall you say to them, my little finger shall be thicker than my father's midsection. 11 And now whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke, my father has chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions." 12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day. 13 And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's advice that they gave him, 14 And spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, who said, "My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke, my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions." 15 So the king didn't listen to the people, for the cause was from the Lord, so that he would perform his saying, that the Lord spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. 16 So when all Israel saw that the king didn't listen to them, the people answered the king, "What portion do we have in David? Nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse, to your tents, O Israel, now see to your own house, David." So Israel departed to their tents. 17 But as for the children of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam ruled over them. 18 Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the taxes, and all Israel stoned him with stones, so that he died. Therefore, king Rehoboam made speed to get up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel rebelled against the house of David until this day. 20 And when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had come back, they sent and called him to the congregation, and made him king over all Israel, there was no one that followed the house of David except for only the tribe of Judah. 21 And when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, one hundred eighty thousand chosen men, who were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. 22 But the word of God came to Shemaiah, the man of God, saying, 23 "Speak to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying, 24 Thus says the Lord, you shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers the children of Israel, return every man to his house, for this thing is from me." They listened therefore to the word of the Lord, and returned, according to the word of the Lord. 25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in Mount Ephraim, and lived in it, and went out from there, and built Penuel. 26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, "Now the kingdom shall return to the house of David, 27 If these people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of these people shall turn back to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go back to Rehoboam king of Judah." 28 About which the king took advice, and made two calves of gold, and said to them, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem, see your gods, O Israel, that brought you up out of the land of Egypt." 29 And he set one in Bethel, and he put the other one in Dan. 30 And this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one in Dan. 31 And he made a house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, that were not of the sons of Levi. 32 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast that is in Judah, and he offered on the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made, and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made. 33 So he offered on the altar that he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the month that he had devised of his own heart, and ordained a feast to the children of Israel, and he offered on the altar, and burned incense. ___1_Kings chapter 13 1 And see, a man of God came out of Judah by the word of the Lord to Bethel, and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. 2 And he shouted against the altar in the word of the Lord, "O altar, altar, thus says the Lord, see, a child shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name, and on you he shall offer the priests of the high places that burn incense on you, and men's bones shall be burned on you." 3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, "This is the sign that the Lord has spoken, see, the altar shall be torn, and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out." 4 And when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, that had shouted against the altar in Bethel, he put out his hand from the altar, and said, "Take hold of him." And his hand, that he put out against him, dried up, so that he couldn't pull it in again to himself. 5 The altar also was torn, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign that the man of God had given by the word of the Lord. 6 And the king said to the man of God, "Entreat now the face of the Lord your God, and pray for me, so that my hand will be restored me again." And the man of God besought the Lord, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became like it was before. 7 And the king said to the man of God, "Come home with me, and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward." 8 And the man of God said to the king, "If you will give me half your house, I will not go in with you, nor will I eat bread nor drink water in this place, 9 For so was it charged me by the word of the Lord, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor return back by the same way that you came." 10 So he went a different way, and didn't return by the way that he came to Bethel. 11 Now an old prophet lived in Bethel, and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel, the words that he had spoken to the king, they told also to their father. 12 And their father said to them, which way did he go? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, who came from Judah. 13 And he said to his sons, "Saddle me the donkey." So they saddled the donkey for him, and he rode on it, 14 And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak, and he said to him, "Are you the man of God that came from Judah?" And he said, "I am." 15 Then he said to him, come home with me, and eat bread. 16 And he said, "I may not return with you, nor go in with you, nor will I eat bread nor drink water with you in this place, 17 For it was said to me by the word of the Lord, you shall eat no bread nor drink water there, nor return back to go by the way that you came." 18 He said to him, "I am a prophet also like you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with you into your house, so that he can eat bread and drink water." But he lied to him. 19 So he went back with him, and ate bread in his house, and drank water. 20 And as they sat at the table, the word of the Lord came to the prophet that brought him back, 21 And he cried to the man of God that came from Judah, saying, "Thus says the Lord, since you have disobeyed the mouth of the Lord, and have not kept the commandment that the Lord your God commanded you, 22 But came back, and have eaten bread and drunk water in the place, about which the Lord said to you, eat no bread, and drink no water, your carcass shall not come to the tomb of your fathers." 23 And after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, he saddled for him the donkey, for the prophet whom he had brought back. 24 And when he had gone, a lion met him by the way, and killed him, and his carcass was thrown in the way, and the donkey stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcass. 25 And see, men passed by, and saw the carcass thrown in the way, and the lion standing by the carcass, and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet lived. 26 And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard about it, he said, it is the man of God, who was disobedient to the word of the Lord, therefore the Lord has delivered him to the lion that has torn him, and killed him, according to the word of the Lord, that he spoke to him. 27 And he spoke to his sons, saying, "Saddle me the donkey." And they saddled him. 28 And he went and found his carcass thrown in the way, and the donkey and the lion standing by the carcass, the lion had not eaten the carcass, nor torn the donkey. 29 And the prophet took up the dead body of the man of God, and laid it on the donkey, and brought it back, and the old prophet came to the city, to mourn and to bury him. 30 And he laid his dead body in his own grave, and they mourned over him, saying, "Alas, my brother!" 31 And after he had buried him, he said to his sons, "When I am dead, then bury me in the tomb in which the man of God is buried, lay my bones beside his bones, 32 For the saying that he shouted by the word of the Lord against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places that are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely happen." 33 After this thing Jeroboam didn't return from his evil way, but again made priests of the high places from the lowest of the people, whoever was willing, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places. 34 And this thing became sin to the house of Jeroboam, to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth. ___1_Kings chapter 14 1 At that time, Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. 2 And Jeroboam said to his wife, "Please get up, and disguise yourself, so that you're not known to be the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh, see, Ahijah the prophet is there, who told me that I would be king over these people. 3 And take with you ten loaves, and cracknels, and a cruse of honey, and go to him, he shall tell you what shall become of the child." 4 And Jeroboam's wife did so, and got up, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah couldn't see, for his eyes were set because of his age. 5 And the Lord said to Ahijah, "See, the wife of Jeroboam is coming to ask a thing of you for her son, for he is sick, thus and thus shall you say to her, for it shall be, when she comes in, that she shall pretend to be a different woman. 6 And it was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, that he said, "Come in, you wife of Jeroboam, why do you pretend to be someone else? For I am sent to you with heavy news. 7 Go tell Jeroboam, thus says the Lord God of Israel, since I exalted you from among the people, and made you prince over my people Israel, 8 And tore the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it you, and yet you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do only that which was right in my eyes, 9 But have done evil more than all that were before you, for you have gone and made other gods, and images cast in foundry, to provoke me to anger, and have thrown me behind your back, 10 Therefore see, I will bring evil on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisses against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, like a man takes away dung, 'til it's all gone. 11 Him that dies of Jeroboam in the city the dogs shall eat, and him that dies in the field the fowls of the air shall eat, for the Lord has spoken it. 12 Arise therefore, get yourself to your own house, and when your feet enter the city, the child shall die. 13 And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him, for only he of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam. 14 Also the Lord shall raise himself up a king over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam that day, but what? Even now. 15 For the Lord shall strike Israel, like a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall uproot Israel out of this good land, that he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the Lord to anger. 16 And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who sinned, and who made Israel to sin." 17 And Jeroboam's wife got up, and departed, and came to Tirzah, and when she came to the threshold of the door, the child died, 18 And they buried him, and all Israel mourned for him, according to the word of the Lord, that he spoke by the hand of his servant Ahijah the prophet. 19 And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred, and how he ruled, see, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. 20 And the days that Jeroboam ruled were twenty two years, and he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son ruled instead of him. 21 And Rehoboam the son of Solomon ruled in Judah. Rehoboam was forty one years old when he began to rule, and he ruled seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city that the Lord chose out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess. 22 And Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins that they had committed, more than all that their fathers had done. 23 For they also built themselves high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree. 24 And there were also Sodomites in the land, and they did according to all the dirty things of the nations that the Lord had thrown out before the children of Israel. 25 And in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, 26 And he took away the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house, he took away all, and he took away all the shields of gold that Solomon had made. 27 And king Rehoboam made brass shields instead of them, and committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard, who kept the door of the king's house. 28 And it was so, that when the king went into the house of the Lord, that the guard carried them, and brought them back into the guard room. 29 Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 30 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days. 31 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess. And Abijam his son ruled instead of him. ___1_Kings chapter 15 1 Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam ruled over Judah. 2 He ruled three years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. 3 And he walked in all the sins of his father, that he had done before him, and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, like the heart of David his father. 4 But for David's sake, the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem, 5 Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and didn't turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. 6 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life. 7 Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all 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. 8 And Abijam slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and Asa his son ruled instead of him. 9 And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel Asa ruled over Judah. 10 And he ruled forty one years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. 11 And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, like David his father. 12 And he took away the Sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. 13 And also he removed Maachah his mother from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove, and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron. 14 But the high places were not removed, but Asa's heart was perfect with the Lord all his days. 15 And he brought in the things that his father had dedicated, and the things that he himself had dedicated, into the house of the Lord, silver, and gold, and containers. 16 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 17 And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, so that he would not allow any to go out or come in to Asa, king of Judah. 18 Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants, and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that lived at Damascus, saying, 19 "There is a league between me and you, and between my father and your father, see, I have sent to you a present of silver and gold, come and break your league with Baasha, king of Israel, so that he will depart from me." 20 So Benhadad listened to king Asa, and sent the captains of the armies that he had against the cities of Israel, and struck Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. 21 And when Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah, and lived in Tirzah. 22 Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah, no one was exempted, and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber from it, that Baasha had built with, and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah. 23 The rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? But in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet. 24 And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Jehoshaphat his son ruled instead of him. 25 And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to rule over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and ruled over Israel two years. 26 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin. 27 And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him, and Baasha struck him at Gibbethon, that belonged to the Philistines, for Nadab and all Israel laid siege against Gibbethon. 28 Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha killed him, and ruled instead of him. 29 And when he ruled, he struck all the house of Jeroboam, he didn't leave to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the Lord, that he spoke by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite, 30 Because of the sins of Jeroboam that he sinned, and with which he made Israel sin, by his provocation with which he provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger. 31 Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 32 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 33 In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah began to rule over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty four years. 34 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin. ___1_Kings chapter 16 1 Then the word of the Lord came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying, 2 "Since I exalted you out of the dust, and made you prince over my people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam, and have made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins, 3 See, I will take away the descendants of Baasha, and the descendants of his house, and will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 4 Him that dies of Baasha in the city, the dogs shall eat, and him that dies of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat." 5 Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 6 So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah, and Elah his son ruled instead of him. 7 And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu, the son of Hanani, the word of the Lord came against Baasha, and against his house, for all the evil that he did in the sight of the Lord, in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and because he killed him. 8 In the twenty sixth year of Asa, king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha began to rule over Israel in Tirzah, two years. 9 And his servant, Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, steward of his house in Tirzah. 10 And Zimri went in and struck him, and killed him, in the twenty seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and ruled instead of him. 11 And when he began to rule, as soon as he sat on his throne, he killed all the house of Baasha, he didn't leave him anyone that pisses against a wall, neither of his kinsfolk, nor of his friends. 12 Thus Zimri destroyed all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the Lord, that he spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet, 13 For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger with their vanities. 14 Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 15 In the twenty seventh year of Asa, king of Judah, Zimri ruled seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, that belonged to the Philistines. 16 And the people that were encamped heard that Zimri has conspired, and had also killed the king, so all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp. 17 And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah. 18 And when Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the palace of the king's house, and burned the king's house over him with fire, and died, 19 For his sins that he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the Lord, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin that he did, to make Israel to sin. 20 Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he made, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 21 Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts, half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king, and half followed Omri. 22 But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath, so Tibni died, and Omri ruled. 23 In the thirty first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri began to rule over Israel, twelve years, six years he ruled in Tirzah. 24 And he bought the hill Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city that he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria. 25 But Omri did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and did worse than all that were before him. 26 For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin, to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger with their vanities. 27 Now the rest of the acts of Omri that he did, and his might that he showed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 28 So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria, and Ahab his son ruled instead of him. 29 And in the thirty eighth year of Asa, king of Judah, Ahab, the son of Omri began to rule over Israel, and Ahab, the son of Omri ruled over Israel in Samaria for twenty two years. 30 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all that were before him. 31 And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, he took as wife Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. 32 And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, that he had built in Samaria. 33 And Ahab made a grove, and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. 34 In his days, Hiel the Bethelite, built Jericho, he laid the foundation of it in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates of it in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, that he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun. ___1_Kings chapter 17 1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word." 2 And the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 3 "Get from here, and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith that is before Jordan. 4 And it shall be, that you shall drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." 5 So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening, and he drank from the brook. 7 And after a while, the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. 8 And the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 9 "Get up and go to Zarephath, that belongs to Zidon, and live there, see, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain you." 10 So he got up and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, see, the widow woman was there gathering sticks, and he called to her, and said, "Fetch me, please, a little water in a container, so I can drink." 11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, "Bring me, please, a morsel of bread in your hand." 12 And she said, "As the Lord your God lives, I don't have a cake, but a handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse, and see, I am gathering two sticks, so I can go in and dress it for me and my son, so we can eat it, and die." 13 And Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid, go and do as you have said, but make of it for me a little cake first, and bring it to me, and afterward make for you and for your son. 14 For thus says the Lord God of Israel, the barrel of meal shall not run out, nor shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth." 15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah, and she, and he, and her family, ate many days. 16 And the barrel of meal didn't run out, nor did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, that he spoke by Elijah. 17 And after these things, the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, got sick, and his sickness was so severe, that there was no breath left in him. 18 And she said to Elijah, "What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to call my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?" 19 And he said to her, "Give me your son." And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he lived, and laid him on his own bed. 20 And he called to the Lord, and said, "O Lord my God, have you also brought evil on the widow with whom I'm staying, by killing her son?" 21 And he stretched himself on the child three times, and called to the Lord, and said, "O Lord my God, please, let this child's soul come into him again." 22 And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah, and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23 And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the room to the house, and delivered him to his mother, and Elijah said, "See, your son lives." 24 And the woman said to Elijah, "Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth." ___1_Kings chapter 18 1 And after many days, 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 earth." 2 And Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. And there was a severe famine in Samaria. 3 And Ahab called Obadiah, who was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly, 4 For it was so that when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord that Obadiah took a hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.) 5 And Ahab said to Obadiah, go into the land, to all fountains of water, and to all brooks, perhaps we'll find grass to save the horses and mules alive, so we don't lose all the animals. 6 So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it, Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself. 7 And as Obadiah was on the way, Elijah met him, and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, "Are you my lord Elijah?" 8 And he answered him, "I am, go, tell your lord, see, Elijah is here." 9 And he said, "What have I sinned, that you would deliver your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me? 10 As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom, where my lord has not sent to seek you, and when they said, he is not there, he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they didn't find you. 11 And now you say, go tell your lord, see, Elijah is here. 12 And as soon as I've gone from you, the Spirit of the Lord shall carry you I don't know where, and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he can't find you, he'll kill me, but I your servant fear the Lord since my youth. 13 Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, how I hid a hundred men of the Lord's prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water? 14 And now you say, go, tell your lord, see, Elijah is here, and he'll kill me." 15 And Elijah said, as the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, "I will surely show myself to him today." 16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17 And when Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, "Are you he that troubles Israel?" 18 And he answered, "I have not troubled Israel, but you, and your father's house, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and you have followed Baalim. 19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel to Mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, who eat at Jezebel's table." 20 So Ahab sent to all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together to Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long do you halt between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him, but if Baal, then follow him." And the people didn't answer him a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, "I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord, but Baal's prophets are four hundred fifty men. 23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks, and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under, and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under, 24 And you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord, and the God that answers by fire, let him be God." And all the people answered and said, "It is well spoken." 25 And Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, choose one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first, for you are many, and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. 26 And they took the bullock that was given to them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, "O Baal, hear us." But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they jumped on the altar that was made. 27 And at noon, Elijah mocked them, and said, "Cry out loud, for he is a god, either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or perhaps he's sleeping, and must be awakened." 28 And they cried out loud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, 'til the blood gushed out of them. 29 And when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. 30 And Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been broken down. 31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, Israel shall be your name, 32 And with the stones, he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he made a trench around the altar, as large as would contain two measures of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, "Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood." 34 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 the third time. 35 And the water ran all around the altar, and he filled the trench also with water. 36 And at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near, and said, "Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, so that these people will know that you are the Lord God, and that you have turned their heart back again." 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces, and they said, "The Lord, he is the God, the Lord, he is the God." 40 And Elijah said to them, "Take the prophets of Baal, don't let one of them escape." And they took them, and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and killed them there. 41 And Elijah said to Ahab, "Get up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of abundance of rain." 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel, and he threw himself down on the earth, and put his face between his knees, 43 And said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." And he went up, and looked, and said, "There is nothing." And he said, "Go again seven times." 44 And at the seventh time, he said, "See, there arises a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand." And he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, prepare your chariot, and get down, so that the rain doesn't stop you." 45 And in the mean while, the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. 46 And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. ___1_Kings chapter 19 1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I don't make your life like the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time." 3 And when he saw that, he got up, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree, and he requested for himself that to die, and said, "It is enough, now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am not better than my fathers." 5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, see, then an angel touched him, and said to him, "Get up and eat." 6 And he looked, and, see, there was a cake baked on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he are and drank, and laid down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, "Get up and eat, because the journey is too great for you." 8 And he got up, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mountain of God. 9 And he came to a cave there, and lodged there, and, see, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 10 And he said, "I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts, for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away." 11 And he said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord." And see, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind, and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake, 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire, and after the fire a still, small voice. 13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. And see, a voice came to him, and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 14 And he said, "I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts, because the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away." 15 And the Lord said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you come, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria, 16 And Jehu, the son of Nimshi, you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha, the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah, you shall anoint to be prophet in your office. 17 And him that escapes the sword of Hazael shall Jehu kill, and him that escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha kill. 18 Yet I have left myself seven thousand in Israel, whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him." 19 So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth, and Elijah passed by him, and threw his mantle on him. 20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, "Let me, please, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." And he said to him, "Go back again, for what have I done to you?" 21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and killed them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave to the people, and they ate. Then he got up, and went after Elijah, and ministered to him. ___1_Kings chapter 20 1 And Benhadad, the king of Syria, gathered all his host together, and there were thirty two kings with him, and horses, and chariots, and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it. 2 And he sent messengers to Ahab, king of Israel, into the city, and said to him, "Thus says Benhadad, 3 Your silver and your gold is mine, your wives also and your children, even the best, are mine." 4 And the king of Israel answered and said, "My lord, O king, according to your saying, I am yours, and all that I have." 5 And the messengers came again, and said, thus speaks Benhadad, "Although I have sent to you, saying, you shall deliver me your silver, and your gold, and your wives, and your children, 6 Yet I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house, and the houses of your servants, and it shall be, that whatever is pleasant in your eyes, they shall put it in their hand, and take it away." 7 Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, "Look, please, and see how this man seeks mischief, for he sent to me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold, and I didn't deny him." 8 And all the elders and all the people said to him, don't listen to him, nor consent. 9 So he said to the messengers of Benhadad, "Tell my lord the king, all that you sent for to your servant at the first I will do, but this thing I can't do." And the messengers departed, and brought him word again. 10 And Benhadad sent to him, and said, "The gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria is enough for handfuls for all the people that follow me." 11 And the king of Israel answered, "Tell him, let him that girds on his harness not boast himself like he that puts it off." 12 And when Benhadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, he said to his servants, "Set yourselves in array." And they set themselves in array against the city. 13 And see, a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel, saying, "Thus says the Lord, have you seen all this great multitude? See, I will deliver it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the Lord." 14 And Ahab said, by whom? And he said, "Thus says the Lord, by the young men of the princes of the provinces." Then he said, "Who shall order the battle?" And he answered, "You." 15 Then he numbered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred thirty two, and after them, he counted all the people, all the children of Israel, and there were seven thousand. 16 And they went out at noon. But Benhadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty two kings that helped him. 17 And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first, and Benhadad sent out, and they told him, "Men have come out of Samaria." 18 And he said, "Whether they've come out for peace, take them alive, or whether they've come out for war, take them alive." 19 So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army that followed them. 20 And they killed every one his man, and the Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them, and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with the horsemen. 21 And the king of Israel went out, and struck the horses and chariots, and killed the Syrians with a great slaughter. 22 And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said to him, "Go, strengthen yourself, and watch, and see what you do, for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against you." 23 And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, "Their gods are gods of the hills, therefore they were stronger than we are, but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they are. 24 And do this thing, take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their places, 25 And assemble an army, like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot, and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they are." And he listened to their voice, and did so. 26 And at the return of the year, Benhadad counted the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel. 27 And the children of Israel were counted, and were all present, and went against them, and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids, but the Syrians filled the country. 28 And a man of God came, and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, "Thus says the Lord, because the Syrians have said, the Lord is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore I'll deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord." 29 And they pitched opposite each other seven days. And so it was, that on the seventh day the battle was joined, and the children of Israel killed of the Syrians a hundred thousand footmen on one day. 30 But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city, and there a wall fell on twenty seven thousand of the men that were left. And Benhadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner room. 31 And his servants said to him, "See now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings, let us, please, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel, perhaps he will save your life." 32 So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, your servant Benhadad says, "Please, let me live." And he said, "Is he still alive? He is my brother." 33 Now the men did diligently observe whether anything would come from him, and hastily caught it, and they said, "Your brother Benhadad." Then he said, go, bring him. Then Benhadad came out to him, and he caused him to come up into the chariot. 34 And Benhadad said to him, "The cities, that my father took from your father, I will restore, and you shall make streets for yourself in Damascus, like my father made in Samaria." Then Ahab said, "I will send you away with this covenant." So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away. 35 And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his neighbor in the word of the Lord, "Strike me, please." And the man refused to strike him. 36 Then said he to him, because you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, see, as soon as you've departed from me, a lion shall kill you. And as soon as he'd departed from him, a lion found him, and killed him. 37 Then he found another man, and said, "Strike me, please." And the man struck him, so that in striking he wounded him. 38 So the prophet departed, and waited for the king on the way, and disguised himself with ashes on his face. 39 And as the king passed by, he shouted to the king, and he said, "Your servant went out into the middle of the battle, and see, a man turned aside, and brought a man to me, and said, keep this man, if by any means he's missing, then shall your life be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver. 40 And as your servant was busy here and there, he was gone." And the king of Israel said to him, "So shall your judgment be, you yourself have decided it." 41 And he hurried, and took the ashes away from his face, and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets. 42 And he said to him, "Thus says the Lord, because you have let go out of your hand a man whom I appointed for complete destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people." 43 And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria. ___1_Kings chapter 21 1 And after these things, Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard that was in Jezreel, adjoining the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria. 2 And Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, "Give me your vineyard, so I can have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near my house, and I will give you instead of it a better vineyard than it, or, if it seems good to you, I will give you the worth of it in money." 3 And Naboth said to Ahab, the Lord forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you. 4 And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word that Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him, for he had said, "I won't give you the inheritance of my fathers." And he laid down on his bed, and turned away his face, and wouldn't eat bread. 5 But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said to him, "Why is your spirit so sad, that you eat no bread?" 6 And he said to her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite, and said to him, give me your vineyard for money, or else, if it pleases you, I will give you another vineyard for it, and he answered, I will not give you my vineyard." 7 And Jezebel his wife said to him, "Do you now govern the kingdom of Israel? Get up, and eat bread, and let your heart be merry, I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite." 8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, living with Naboth. 9 And she wrote in the letters, "Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people, 10 And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to testify against him, saying, You blasphemed God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, so that he dies." 11 And the men of his city, the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent to them, and as it was written in the letters that she had sent to them. 12 They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. 13 And two men came in, sons of Belial, and sat before him, and the men of Belial witnessed against him, against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, "Naboth blasphemed God and the king." Then they carried him out of the city, and stoned him with stones, so that he died. 14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, "Naboth has been stoned, and is dead." 15 And when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, get up, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, that he refused to give you for money, for Naboth is not alive, but dead. 16 And when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. 17 And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 18 "Get up, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria, see, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone down to possess it. 19 And you shall speak to him, saying, Thus says the Lord, have you killed, and also taken possession?" And you shall speak to him, saying, "Thus says the Lord, in the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your blood." 20 And Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, O my enemy?" And he answered, "I have found you, because you have sold yourself to work evil in the sight of the Lord. 21 See, I will bring evil on you, and will take away your descendants, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisses against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, 22 And will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation with which you have provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin." 23 And the Lord also spoke about Jezebel, saying, "The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. 24 Him that dies of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat, and him that dies in the field shall the fowls of the air eat." 25 But there was no one like Ahab, who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom his wife Jezebel stirred up. 26 And he did wickedly in following idols, according to all things like the Amorites, whom the Lord threw out before the children of Israel. 27 And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. 28 And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 "Do you see how Ahab humbles himself before me? Because he humbles himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days, but in his son's days I will bring the evil on his house." ___1_Kings chapter 22 1 And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel. 2 And in the third year, Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. 3 And the king of Israel said to his servants, "Do you know that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we are still, and don't take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?" 4 And he said to Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to battle to Ramothgilead?" And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses." 5 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Inquire, please, at the word of the Lord today." 6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I not do so?" And they said, "Go up, for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king." 7 And Jehoshaphat said, "Isn't there here a prophet of the Lord besides, so we can inquire from him?" 8 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, for he doesn't prophesy good concerning me, but evil." And Jehoshaphat said, let the king not say so. 9 Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, "Hasten here Micaiah the son of Imlah." 10 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah each sat on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets prophesied before them. 11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made himself horns of iron, and he said, "Thus says the Lord, with these you shall push the Syrians, until you have consumed them." 12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, "Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper, for the Lord shall deliver it into the king's hand." 13 And the messenger that had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, "See now, the words of the prophets all declare good to the king, let your word, please, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good." 14 And Micaiah said, "As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that's what I'll speak." 15 So he came to the king. And the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we not do so? And he answered him, "Go, and prosper, for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king." 16 And the king said to him, "How many times shall I warn you to tell me nothing except that which is true in the name of the Lord?" 17 And he said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the hills, like sheep that don't have a shepherd, and the Lord said, these have no master, let them return every man to his house in peace." 18 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Didn't I tell you that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?" 19 And he said, "Hear therefore the word of the Lord, I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the army of heaven standing by him at his right hand and at his left. 20 And the Lord said, who shall persuade Ahab, to go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And someone said like this, and another said like that. 21 And a spirit came and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him. 22 And the Lord said to him, how? And he said, I will go out, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, you shall persuade him, and prevail also, go out, and do so. 23 Now therefore, see, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all your prophets, and the Lord has spoken evil concerning you." 24 But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, "Which way did the Spirit of the Lord go from me to speak to you?" 25 And Micaiah said, "See, you shall see on that day when you shall go into an inner room to hide yourself." 26 And the king of Israel said, take Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son, 27 And say, "Thus says the king, put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction until I come in peace." 28 And Micaiah said, "If you return at all in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me." And he said, "Listen, O people, every one of you." 29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead. 30 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle, but put on your robes." And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle. 31 But the king of Syria commanded his thirty two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, "Fight neither with small nor great, except only with the king of Israel." 32 And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, "Surely it is the king of Israel." And they turned aside to fight against him, and Jehoshaphat shouted out. 33 And when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. 34 And a certain man drew a bow by chance, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of the harness, so he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn your hand, and carry me out of the army, for I am wounded." 35 And the battle increased that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at evening, and the blood ran out of the wound into the middle of the chariot. 36 And a proclamation went throughout the army at about the going down of the sun, saying, "Every man to his city, and every man to his own country." 37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria, and they buried the king in Samaria. 38 And someone washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood, and they washed his armor, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke. 39 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house that he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 40 So Ahab slept with his fathers, and Ahaziah his son ruled instead of him. 41 And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to rule over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. 42 Jehoshaphat was thirty five years old when he began to rule, and he ruled twenty five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. 43 And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father, he didn't turn aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, but the high places were not taken away, for the people offered and burned incense still in the high places. 44 And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel. 45 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he showed, and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 46 And the remnant of the Sodomites, who remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land. 47 There was then no king in Edom, a deputy was king. 48 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they didn't go, for the ships were broken at Eziongeber. 49 Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, let my servants go with your servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat wouldn't. 50 And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Jehoram his son ruled instead of him. 51 Ahaziah, the son of Ahab, began to rule over Israel in Samaria the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and ruled two years over Israel. 52 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, 53 For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the Lord God of Israel, according to all that his father had done. ___2_Kings chapter 1 1 Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab. 2 And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper room that was in Samaria, and was sick, and he sent messengers, and said to them, "Go, inquire of Baalzebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover of this disease." 3 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 not because there is not a God in Israel, that you go to inquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron? 4 Now therefore thus says the Lord, you shall not come down from that bed on which you've gone up, but shall surely die." And Elijah departed. 5 And when the messengers turned back to him, he said to them, "Why have you now turned back?" 6 And they said to him, a man came up to meet us, and said to us, "Go, turn back to the king that sent you, and say to him, thus says the Lord, is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that you send to inquire of Baalzebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you shall not come down from that bed on which you've gone up, but shall surely die." 7 And he said to them, "What kind of man was he that came up to meet you, and told you these words?" 8 And they answered him, "He was a hairy man, and girded with a girdle of leather around his loins." And he said, it is Elijah the Tishbite. 9 Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him, and see, he sat on the top of a hill. And he spoke to him, "You man of God, the king has said, come down." 10 And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, "If I'm a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume you and your fifty." And fire came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. 11 Again also he sent him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said to him, "O man of God, thus has the king said, come down quickly." 12 And Elijah answered them, "If I'm a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume you and your fifty." And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. 13 And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said to him, "O man of God, please, let my life, and the life of these fifty, your servants, be precious in your sight. 14 See, fire came down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties, therefore let my life now be precious in your sight." 15 And the angel of the Lord said to Elijah, "Go down with him, don't be afraid of him." And he got up, and went down with him to the king. 16 And he said to him, "Thus says the Lord, since you have sent messengers to inquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word? Therefore you shall not come down from that bed on which you've gone up, but shall surely die." 17 So he died, according to the word of the Lord that Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram ruled instead of him in the second year of Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, because he had no son. 18 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? ___2_Kings chapter 2 1 And when the Lord wanted to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said to Elisha, "Wait here, please, for the Lord has sent me to Bethel." And Elisha said to him, "As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I won't leave you." So they went down to Bethel. 3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from your head today?" And he said, "Yes, I know it, be quiet." 4 And Elijah said to him, Elisha, "Wait here, please, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho." And he said, "As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I won't leave you." So they came to Jericho. 5 And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from your head today?" And he answered, "Yes, I know it, be quiet." 6 And Elijah said to him, "Wait here, please, for the Lord has sent me to Jordan." And he said, as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, "I won't leave you." And the two of them went on. 7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to watch far off, and the two of them stood by Jordan. 8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that the two of them went over on dry ground. 9 And when they had gone over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you, before I'm taken away from you." And Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be on me." 10 And he said, "You have asked a difficult thing, but if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so to you, but if not, it shall not be so." 11 And as they still went on, and talked, see, a chariot of fire appeared, and horses of fire, and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it, and he shouted, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen of it." And he saw him no more, and he took hold of his own clothes, and tore them into two pieces. 13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan, 14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and struck the waters, and said, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" And when he also had struck the waters, they separated here and there, and Elisha went over. 15 And when the sons of the prophets who were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him. 16 And they said to him, "See now, there are with your servants fifty strong men, let them go, please, and seek your master, so that perhaps the Spirit of the Lord didn't take him up, and throw him on some mountain, or into some valley." And he said, you shall not send. 17 And when they urged him 'til he was ashamed, he said, "Send." They sent therefore fifty men, and they looked for him for three days, but didn't find him. 18 And when they came again to him, (for he waited at Jericho,) he said to them, "Didn't I say to you, don't go?" 19 And the men of the city said to Elisha, "Look, please, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees, but the water is nothing, and the ground barren." 20 And he said, "Bring me a new cruse, and put salt in it." And they brought it to him. 21 And he went out to the spring of the waters, and threw the salt in there, and said, "Thus says the Lord, I have healed these waters, there shall not be from there anymore death or barren land." 22 So the waters were healed until this day, according to the saying of Elisha that he spoke. 23 And he went up from there to Bethel, and as he was going up by the way, little children came out of the city, and mocked him, and said to him, "Go up, you bald head, go up, you bald head." 24 And he turned back, and looked at them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And two she bears came out of the woods, and tore forty two children of them. 25 And he went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria. ___2_Kings chapter 3 1 Now Jehoram, the son of Ahab, began to rule over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and ruled twelve years. 2 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, but not like his father, and like his mother, for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made. 3 But he stuck to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, he didn't depart from that. 4 And Mesha king of Moab was a sheep master, and rendered to the king of Israel a hundred thousand lambs, and a hundred thousand rams, with the wool. 5 But when Ahab was dead, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. 6 And king Jehoram went out of Samaria at the same time, and counted all Israel. 7 And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, "The king of Moab has rebelled against me, will you go with me against Moab to battle?" And he said, "I will go up, I am as you are, my people as your people, and my horses as your horses." 8 And he said, "Which way shall we go up?" And he answered, "The way through the wilderness of Edom." 9 So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom, and they circled for seven days' journey, and there was no water for the army, and for the cattle that followed them. 10 And the king of Israel said, "Alas! For the Lord has called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!" 11 But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not a prophet of the Lord here, so that we can inquire of the Lord by him?" And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, "Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, who poured water on the hands of Elijah." 12 And 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 him. 13 And Elisha said to the king of Israel, "What have I to do with you? Get to the prophets of your father, and to the prophets of your mother." And the king of Israel said to him, "No, for the Lord has called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab." 14 And Elisha said, "As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, I would not look toward you, nor see you. 15 But now bring me a minstrel." And when the minstrel played, the hand of the Lord came on him. 16 And he said, "Thus says the Lord, make this valley full of ditches." 17 For thus says the Lord, you shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain, yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you can drink, both you, and your cattle, and your animals. 18 And this is but a light thing in the sight of the Lord, he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand. 19 And you shall strike every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall cut down every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and damage every good piece of land with stones." 20 And in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, see, water came by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water. 21 And when all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armor, and upward, and stood in the border. 22 And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shined on the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood, 23 And they said, this is blood, the kings have surely been killed, and they have struck each other, now therefore, Moab, to the spoil. 24 And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and struck the Moabites, so that they fled before them, but they went forward striking the Moabites, even in their country. 25 And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land every man threw his stone, and filled it, and they stopped all the wells of water, and cut down all the good trees, only in Kirharaseth did they leave the stones of it, but the slingers went around it, and struck it. 26 And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too severe for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through to the king of Edom, but they couldn't. 27 Then he took his eldest son that should have ruled instead of him, and offered him for a burnt offering on the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel, and they departed from him, and returned to their own land. ___2_Kings chapter 4 1 Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, saying, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, and the creditor has come to take my two sons to be bondmen for him." 2 And Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?" And she said, "Your handmaid doesn't have anything in the house, except a pot of oil." 3 Then he said, "Go, borrow containers abroad from all your neighbors, empty containers, don't borrow just a few. 4 And when you've come in, you shall shut the door on you and on your sons, and shall pour out into all those containers, and you shall set aside that which is full." 5 So she went from him, and shut the door on her and on her sons, who brought the containers to her, and she poured out. 6 And when the containers were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another container." And he said to her, "There is not a container more." And the oil stopped. 7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, "Go, sell the oil, and pay your debt, and you and your children live on the rest." 8 And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where there was a great woman, and she urged him to eat bread. And so it was, that as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat bread. 9 And she said to her husband, "See now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us continually. 10 Let us make a little room, please, on the wall, and let us set for him a bed there, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick, and it shall be, when he comes to us, that he shall turn in there." 11 And it fell on a day, that he came there, and he turned into the room, and lay there. 12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, "Call this Shunammite." And when he had called her, she stood before him. 13 And he said to him, say now to her, "See, you have been careful for us with all this care, what is to be done for you? Would you be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the army?" And she answered, "I live among my own people." 14 And he said, "What then is to be done for her?" And Gehazi answered, "Truly she has no child, and her husband is old." 15 And he said, call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the doorway. 16 And he said, "About this season, according to the time of life, you'll embrace a son." And she said, "No, my lord, you man of God, do not lie to your handmaid." 17 And the woman conceived, and bore a son at the season that Elisha had said to her, according to the time of life. 18 And after the child grew bigger, it happened one day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. 19 And he said to his father, "My head, my head. And he said to a young man, carry him to his mother. 20 And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees 'til noon, and then died. 21 And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door on him, and went out. 22 And she called to her husband, and said, "Send me, please, one of the young men, and one of the asses, so I can run to the man of God, and come again." 23 And he said, "Why would you go to him today? It is neither new moon, nor Sabbath." And she said, "It shall be well." 24 Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, "Drive, and go forward, don't slack your riding for me, unless I tell you to." 25 So she went and came to the man of God to Mount Carmel. And when the man of God saw her afar off, he said to Gehazi his servant, "See, over there is that Shunammite, 26 Run now, please, to meet her, and say to her, is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?" And she answered, "It is well." 27 And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet, but Gehazi came near to push her away. And the man of God said, "Let her alone, for her soul is vexed inside her, and the Lord has hidden it from me, and has not told me." 28 Then she said, "Did I desire a son from my lord? Didn't I say, do not deceive me?" 29 Then he said to Gehazi, "Gird up your loins, and take my staff in your hand, and go your way, if you meet any man, don't greet him, and if anyone greets you, don't answer him back, and lay my staff on the face of the child." 30 And the mother of the child said, "As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." And he got up, and followed her. 31 And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff on the face of the child, but there was neither voice, nor hearing. So he went back to meet him, and told him, saying, "The child has not awakened." 32 And when Elisha had come into the house, see, the child was dead, and laid on his bed. 33 He went in therefore, and shut the door on the two of them, and prayed to the Lord. 34 And he went up, and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, and his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands, and he stretched himself on the child, and the flesh of the child grew warm. 35 Then he returned, and walked in the house back and forth, and went up, and stretched himself on him, and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36 And he called Gehazi, and said, "Call this Shunammite." So he called her. And when she had come in to him, he said, "Take up your son." 37 Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out. 38 And Elisha went back to Gilgal, and there was a dearth in the land, and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him, and he said to his servant, "Put a large pot on, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets. 39 And someone went out into the field to gather vegetables, and found a wild vine, and gathered from it wild gourds, his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage, for they didn't know them. 40 So they poured out for the men to eat. And as they were eating the pottage, they shouted out, and said, "O you man of God, there is death in the pot." And they couldn't eat from it. 41 But he said, "Then bring meal." And he threw it into the pot, and he said, pour out for the people, so they can eat. And there was no harm in the pot. 42 And a man came from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in their husks. And he said, "Give to the people, so they can eat." 43 And his helper said, "What, should I set this before a hundred men?" He answered back, "Give the people, so they can eat, for thus says the Lord, they shall eat, and shall have food left over." 44 So he set it before them, and they ate, and some of it was left over, according to the word of the Lord. ___2_Kings chapter 5 1 Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him the Lord had given deliverance to Syria, he was also a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid, and she waited on Naaman's wife. 3 And she said to her mistress, "Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy." 4 And someone went in, and told his lord, saying, "Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel." 5 And the king of Syria said, "Go on, go, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel." And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, "Now when this letter has come to you, see, I have sent with it Naaman my servant to you, so you can heal him of his leprosy." 7 And when the king of Israel had read the letter, he tore his clothes, and said, "Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends to me to heal a man of his leprosy? So consider, please, and see how he seeks a quarrel against me." 8 And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel." 9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall come back to you, and you'll be clean." 11 But Naaman was angry, and went away, and said, "See, I thought, he will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? May I not wash in them, and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 And his servants came near, and spoke to him, and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, wouldn't you have done it? How much rather then, when he says to you, wash, and be clean?" 14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God, and his flesh came back like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 15 And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him, and he said, "See, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel, now therefore, please, take a blessing from your servant." 16 But he said, as the Lord lives, before whom I stand, "I will receive none." And he urged him to take it, but he refused. 17 And Naaman said, "Shall there not then, please, be given to your servant two mules' load of goods? For your servant will from now on offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice to other gods, except to the Lord. 18 In this thing, the Lord pardon your servant, that when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon your servant in this thing." 19 And he said to him, go in peace. So he departed from him a little way. 20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "See, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving from his hands what he brought, but, as the Lord lives, I will run after him, and take something from him." 21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him, and said, "Is all well?" 22 And he said, "All is well. My master has sent me, saying, see, even now, two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from Mount Ephraim. Give them, please, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments." 23 And Naaman said, "Be content, take two talents." And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them on two of his servants, and they carried them before him. 24 And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and put them in the house, and he let the men go, and they departed. 25 But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said to him, "Where have you come from, Gehazi?" And he said, "Your servant didn't go anywhere." 26 And he said to him, "Didn't my heart go with you, when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and olive yards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? 27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall stick to you, and to your descendants forever." And he went out from his presence a leper, as white as snow. ___2_Kings chapter 6 1 And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "See now, the place where we live with you is too small for us. 2 Let's go, please, to Jordan, and take there every man a beam, and let us make ourselves a place there, where we can live." And he answered, "Go." 3 And someone said, "Be content, please, and go with your servants." And he answered, "I will go." 4 So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. 5 But as one of them was cutting down a beam, the axe head fell into the water, and he shouted, and said, "Alas, master! For it was borrowed." 6 And the man of God said, "Where did it fall?" And he showed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and threw it in there, and the iron floated. 7 Therefore he said, "Take it up to you." And he put out his hand, and took it. 8 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took advice with his servants, saying, "In such and such a place shall be my camp." 9 And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, "Beware that you pass not such a place, for the Syrians have come down there." 10 And the king of Israel sent to the place that the man of God told him about and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice. 11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was very troubled for this thing, and he called his servants, and said to them, "Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?" 12 And one of his servants said, "No one, my lord, O king, but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom." 13 And he said, go and spy where he is, so I can send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, "See, he is in Dothan." 14 Therefore, he sent horses and chariots there, and a great army, and they came at night, and surrounded the city. 15 And when the servant of the man of God had risen early, and gone out, see, an army surrounded the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! How shall we do?" 16 And he answered, "Don't be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, "Lord, please, open his eyes, so he can see." And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire around Elisha. 18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, "Strike these people, please, with blindness." And he struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 19 And Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, nor is this the city, follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." But he led them to Samaria. 20 And when they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, "Lord, open the eyes of these men, so that they can see." And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw, and, see, they were in the middle of Samaria. 21 And the king of Israel said to Elisha, when he saw them, "My father, shall I strike them? Shall I strike them?" 22 And he answered, "You shall not strike them, would you strike those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, so they can eat and drink, and go to their master." 23 And he prepared great provision for them, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the armies of Syria didn't come anymore into the land of Israel. 24 And after this, Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his army, and went up, and besieged Samaria. 25 And there was a great famine in Samaria, and, see, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and one fourth of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. 26 And as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman shouted a to him, "Help, my lord, O king." 27 And he said, "If the Lord doesn't help you, how shall I help you? Out of the barn floor, or out of the winepress?" 28 And the king said to her, "What ails you?" And she answered, "This woman said to me, give your son, so we can eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow. 29 So we boiled my son, and ate him, and I said to her on the next day, give your son, so we can eat him, and she has hidden her son." 30 And when the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes, and he passed by on the wall, and the people looked, and see, he had sackcloth inside on his flesh. 31 Then he said, "God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall remain on him this day." 32 But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him, and the king sent a man from before him, but before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, "See how this son of a murderer has sent to take away my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door, and hold him tightly at the door, is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?" 33 And while he yet talked with them, see, the messenger came down to him, and he said, "See, this evil is from the Lord, why should I wait for the Lord any longer?" ___2_Kings chapter 7 1 Then Elisha said, "Hear the word of the Lord, thus says the Lord, tomorrow about this time a measure of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria." 2 Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, "See, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be?" And he said, "See, you'll see it with your eyes, but shall not eat of it." 3 And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate, and they said to each other, "Why do we sit here until we die? 4 If we say, we will enter the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there, and if we continue to sit here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let's fall to the army of the Syrians, if they save us alive, we shall live, and if they kill us, we shall but die." 5 And they rose up in the twilight, to go to the camp of the Syrians, and when they had come to the farthest part of the camp of Syria, see, there was no man there. 6 For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host, and they said to each other, "See, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come against us." 7 So they got up and ran off in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their lives. 8 And when these lepers came to the farthest part of the camp, they went into one tent, and ate and drank, and carried away silver, and gold, and clothing, and went and hid it, and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried from there also, and went and hid it. 9 Then they said to each other, "We don't do well, this day is a day of good news, and we are silent, if we wait 'til the morning light, some mischief will come on us, now therefore come, so we can go and tell the king's household." 10 So they came and called to the porter of the city, and they told them, saying, "We went to the camp of the Syrians, and see, there was no man there, nor voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were." 11 And he called the porters, and they told it to the king's house inside. 12 And the king got up in the night, and said to his servants, "I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we're hungry, therefore they've gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city." 13 And one of his servants answered and said, "Let some people take, please, five of the horses that remain, that are left in the city, (see, they are like all the multitude of Israel that are left in it, see, I say, they are like all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed,) and let us send and see." 14 So they took two chariot horses, and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, "Go and see." 15 And they went after them to Jordan, and see, all the road was full of garments and containers that the Syrians had thrown away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king. 16 And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord. 17 And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate, and the people trampled him in the gate, and he died, like the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him. 18 And it happened like the man of God had said to the king, saying, "Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be the price tomorrow about this time in the gate of Samaria," 19 And that lord answered the man of God, and said, "Now, see, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might such a thing be?" And he said, "See, you shall see it with your eyes, but shall not eat of it." 20 And that's what happened to him, for the people trampled him in the gate, and he died. ___2_Kings chapter 8 1 Then Elisha spoke to the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, "Arise, and go, you and your family, and stay wherever you can stay, for the Lord has called for a famine, and it shall also come on the land seven years." 2 And the woman got up, and did after the saying of the man of God, and she went with her household, and lived in the land of the Philistines seven years. 3 And at the seven years' end, the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines, and she went to call to the king for her house and for her land. 4 And the king talked with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, "Tell me, please, all the great things that Elisha has done." 5 And as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, see, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, called 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." 6 And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed for her a certain officer, saying, "Restore all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, until now." 7 And Elisha went to Damascus, and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick, and it was told him, saying, "The man of God has come here." 8 And the king said to Hazael, "Take a present in your hand, and go, meet the man of God, and inquire of the Lord by him, saying, shall I recover from this disease?" 9 So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' load, and came and stood before him, and said, "Your son Benhadad, king of Syria, has sent me to you, saying, shall I recover of this disease?" 10 And Elisha said to him, "Go, say to him, you can certainly recover, but the Lord has showed me that he shall surely die." 11 And he settled his facial expression steadily, until he was ashamed, and the man of God wept. 12 And Hazael said, "Why does my lord weep? And he answered, because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel, you'll set on fire their strong holds, and their young men you'll kill with the sword, and will dash their children, and rip up their women with child." 13 And Hazael said, "But what, is your servant a dog, that he should do this great thing?" And Elisha answered, "The Lord has shown me that you'll be king over Syria." 14 So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master, who said to him, "What did Elisha say to you?" And he answered, "He told me that you would surely recover." 15 And on the next day, he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died, and Hazael ruled instead of him. 16 And in the fifth year of Joram, the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, began to rule. 17 He was thirty two years old when he began to rule, and he ruled eight years in Jerusalem. 18 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife, and he did evil in the sight of the Lord. 19 Yet the Lord would not destroy Judah for his servant David's sake, as he promised him to give him always a light, and to his children. 20 In his days, Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves. 21 So Joram went over to Zair, and all the chariots with him, and he rose by night, and struck the Edomites who surrounded him, and the captains of the chariots, and the people fled into their tents. 22 Yet Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah until this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time. 23 And the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 24 And Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Ahaziah his son ruled instead of him. 25 In the twelfth year of Joram, the son of Ahab king of Israel, did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to rule. 26 Twenty two years old was Ahaziah when he began to rule, and he ruled one year in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel. 27 And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as did the house of Ahab, for he was the son in law of the house of Ahab. 28 And he went with Joram the son of Ahab to the war against Hazael, king of Syria, in Ramothgilead, and the Syrians wounded Joram. 29 And king Joram went back to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah, the son of Jehoram king of Judah, went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick. ___2_Kings chapter 9 1 And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said to him, "Gird up your loins, and take this box of oil in your hand, and go to Ramothgilead, 2 And when you come there, find Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him get up from among his brothers, and take him to an inner room, 3 Then take the box 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 don't stay." 4 So the young man, the young man the prophet, went to Ramothgilead. 5 And when he came, see, the captains of the army were sitting, and he said, "I have an errand to you, O captain." And Jehu said, "To which of all of us?" And he said, "To you, O captain." 6 And he got up, and went into the house, and he poured the oil on his head, and said to him, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel, I have anointed you king over the people of the Lord, over Israel. 7 And you shall strike the house of Ahab your master, so I can avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord, at the hand of Jezebel. 8 For the whole house of Ahab shall be destroyed, and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisses against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, 9 And 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, 10 And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be no one to bury her." And he opened the door, and fled. 11 Then Jehu came out to the servants of his lord, and someone said to him, "Is all well? Why did this this crazy guy come to you?" And he said to them, "You know the man, and his communication." 12 And they said, "It is false, tell us now." And he said, "Thus and thus did he speak to me, saying, Thus says the Lord, I have anointed you king over Israel." 13 Then they hurried, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew with trumpets, saying, "Jehu is king." 14 So Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram had kept Ramothgilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria. 15 But king Joram had returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael, king of Syria.) And Jehu said, "If it be your minds, then let none go out nor escape out of the city to go to tell it in Jezreel." 16 So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel, for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah, king of Judah, had come down to see Joram. 17 And a watchman stood on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, "I see a company." And Joram said, "Take a horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, is it peace?" 18 So someone went on horseback to meet him, and said, "Thus says the king, is it peace?" And Jehu said, "What do you have to do with peace? Turn behind me." And the watchman said, "The messenger came to them, but he's not coming back." 19 Then he sent out a second on horseback, that came to them, and said, "Thus says the king, is it peace?" And Jehu answered, "What do you have to do with peace? Turn behind me." 20 And the watchman told, saying, "He came to them, and is not coming back, and the driving is like the driving of Jehu, the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously." 21 And Joram said, "Make ready." And his chariot was made ready. And Joram, king of Israel, and Ahaziah, king of Judah, went out, each in his chariot, and they went out against Jehu, and met him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite. 22 And when Joram saw Jehu, he said, "Is it peace, Jehu?" And he answered, "What peace, so long as the whoredoms of your mother, Jezebel, and her witchcrafts are so many?" 23 And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, "There is treachery, O Ahaziah." 24 And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and struck Jehoram between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot. 25 Then Jehu said to Bidkar his captain, "Take up, and throw him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite, for remember how, when you and I rode together after Ahab his father, the Lord laid this burden on him, 26 Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, says the Lord, and I will repay you in this piece of ground, says the Lord. Now therefore take and throw him into the plot of ground, according to the word of the Lord." 27 But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. And Jehu followed after him, and said, "Strike him also in the chariot." And they did so at the going up to Gur, that is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo, and died there. 28 And his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his tomb with his fathers in the city of David. 29 And in the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab, Ahaziah began to rule over Judah. 30 And when Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it, and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out of a window. 31 And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, "Did Zimri have peace, who killed his master?" 32 And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, "Who is on my side? Who?" And two or three eunuchs looked out at him. 33 And he said, "Throw her down." So they threw her down, and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses, and he trampled her under foot. 34 And when he had come in, he ate and drank, and said, "Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her, for she is a king's daughter." 35 And they went to bury her, but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands. 36 So they came back, and told him. And he said, "This is the word of the Lord, that he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel, 37 And the dead body of Jezebel shall be like manure on the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel, so that they shall not say, this is Jezebel." ___2_Kings chapter 10 1 And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to those who brought up Ahab's children, saying, 2 "Now as soon as this letter comes to you, seeing that your master's sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a fenced city also, and armor, 3 Choose out the best and fittest of your master's sons, and set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house." 4 But they were very afraid, and said, "See, two kings couldn't stand before him, how then shall we stand?" 5 And he that was over the house, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and those who were raising the children, sent to Jehu, saying, "We are your servants, and will do all that you shall tell us, we will not make any king, do that which is good in your eyes." 6 Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, "If you are mine, and if you will listen to my voice, take the heads of the men, your master's sons, and come to me to Jezreel by tomorrow this time." Now the king's sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who brought them up. 7 And when the letter came to them, they took the king's sons, and killed seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him in Jezreel. 8 And a messenger came, and told him, saying, "They have brought the heads of the king's sons." And he said, lay them in two heaps at the entering in of the gate until the morning. 9 And in the morning, he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, "You are righteous, see, I conspired against my master, and killed him, but who killed all these? 10 Know now that there shall fall to the earth nothing of the word of the Lord that the Lord spoke concerning the house of Ahab, for the Lord has done that which he spoke by his servant Elijah." 11 So Jehu killed all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolk, and his priests, until he left him none remaining. 12 And he got up and departed, and came to Samaria. And as he was at the shearing house on the way, 13 Jehu met with the brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, "Who are you?" And they answered, "We are the brothers of Ahaziah, and we go down to greet the children of the king and the children of the queen." 14 And he said, "Take them alive." And they took them alive, and killed them at the pit of the shearing house, forty two men, he left none of them. 15 And when he had departed from there, he lighted on Jehonadab, the son of Rechab, coming to meet him, and he greeted him, and said to him, "Is your heart right, as my heart is with your heart?" And Jehonadab answered, "It is." "If it is, give me your hand." And he gave him his hand, and he took him up to him into the chariot. 16 And he said, "Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord." So they made him ride in his chariot. 17 And when he came to Samaria, he killed all that remained to Ahab in Samaria, 'til he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the Lord, that he spoke to Elijah. 18 And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said to them, "Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu shall serve him much. 19 Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests, let none be wanting, for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal, whoever shall be wanting, he shall not live." But Jehu did it in subtlety, so that he could destroy the worshippers of Baal. 20 And Jehu said, "Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal." And they proclaimed it. 21 And Jehu sent through all Israel, and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that didn't come. And they came into the house of Baal, and the house of Baal was full from one end to the other. 22 And he said to him that was over the vestry, bring vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them vestments. 23 And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said to the worshippers of Baal, search, and look so that there are none of the servants of the Lord here with you, but the worshippers of Baal only. 24 And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu appointed eighty men outside, and said, "If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escapes, he that lets him go, his life shall be for the life of him." 25 And as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, "Go in, and kill them, let no one come out." And they struck them with the edge of the sword, and the guard and the captains threw them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal. 26 And they brought the images out of the house of Baal, and burned them. 27 And they broke down the image of Baal, and broke down the house of Baal, and made it a draft house to this day. 28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. 29 But from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu didn't depart from after them, specifically: the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan. 30 And the Lord said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in executing that which is right in my eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, your children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel. 31 But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart, for he didn't depart from the sins of Jeroboam, who made Israel to sin. 32 In those days the Lord began to cut Israel short, and Hazael struck them in all the coasts of Israel, 33 From Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, that is by the river Arnon, Gilead and Bashan. 34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 35 And Jehu slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son ruled instead of him. 36 And the time that Jehu ruled over Israel in Samaria was twenty eight years. ___2_Kings chapter 11 1 And when Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she got up and killed all the royal descendants. 2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons that were killed, and they hid him, him and his nurse, in the bedroom from Athaliah, so that he was not killed. 3 And he was with her hidden in the house of the Lord six years. And Athaliah ruled over the land. 4 And the seventh year, Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the Lord, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the Lord, and showed them the king's son. 5 And he commanded them, saying, "This is the thing that you shall do, one third of you that enter in on the Sabbath shall be keepers of the watch of the king's house, 6 And one third shall be at the gate of Sur, and one third at the gate behind the guard, so you shall keep the watch of the house, so that it's not broken down. 7 And two parts of all you that go out on the Sabbath, they shall keep the watch of the house of the Lord around the king. 8 And you shall surround the king, every man with his weapons in his hand, and he that comes too close, let him be killed, and be with the king as he goes out and as he comes in. 9 And the captains over the hundreds did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest commanded, and they took every man his men that were supposed to come in on the Sabbath, with those who should go out on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 And the priest gave king David's spears and shields to the captains over hundreds, that were in the temple of the Lord. 11 And the guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, around the king, from the right corner of the temple to the left corner of the temple, along by the altar and the temple. 12 And he brought out the king's son, and put the crown on him, and gave him the testimony, and they made him king, and anointed him, and they clapped their hands, and said, "God save the king." 13 And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the Lord. 14 And when she looked, see, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets, and Athaliah tore her clothes, and shouted, "Treason, treason." 15 But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the army, and said to them, take her out of range, and him that follows her, kill with the sword." For the priest had said, "Let her not be killed in the house of the Lord." 16 And they laid hands on her, and she went by the way by which the horses came into the king's house, and she was killed there. 17 And Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people, so that they would be the Lord's people, between the king also and the people. 18 And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal, and broke it down, they broke in pieces his altars and his images thoroughly, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the Lord. 19 And he took the rulers over hundreds, and the captains, and the guard, and all the people of the land, and they brought down the king from the house of the Lord, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king's house. And he sat on the throne of the kings. 20 And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet, and they killed Athaliah with the sword beside the king's house. 21 Jehoash was seven years old when he began to rule. ___2_Kings chapter 12 1 In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash began to rule, and he ruled forty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 3 But the high places were not taken away, the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places. 4 And Jehoash said to the priests, all the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the Lord, the money of everyone that passes the account, the money that every man is set at, and all the money that comes into any man's heart to bring into the house of the Lord, 5 Let the priests take it to them, every man of his acquaintance, and let them repair the holes in the house, wherever any hole is found. 6 But it was so, that in the twenty third year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the holes of the house. 7 Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the other priests, and said to them, "Why haven't you repaired the breaches of the house? Now therefore receive no more money from your acquaintance, but deliver it for the holes of the house. 8 And the priests consented to receive no more money from the people, nor to repair the holes of the house. 9 But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as you come into the house of the Lord, and the priests that kept the door put all the money that was brought into the house of the Lord into it. 10 And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags, and gave the sum of the money that was found in the house of the Lord. 11 And they gave the money, being told, into the hands of those who did the work, that had the oversight of the house of the Lord, and they paid it out to the carpenters and builders, that worked on the house of the Lord, 12 And to masons, and cutters of stone, and to buy timber and cut stone to repair the holes of the house of the Lord, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it. 13 But there were not made for the house of the Lord bowls of silver, snuffers, basins, trumpets, any containers of gold, or containers of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of the Lord, 14 But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired the house of the Lord with that. 15 Also they didn't reckon with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen, for they dealt faithfully. 16 The trespass money and sin money was not brought into the house of the Lord, it was the priests' money. 17 Then Hazael, king of Syria, went up, and fought against Gath, and took it, and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem. 18 And Jehoash, king of Judah, took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the Lord, and in the king's house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria, and he went away from Jerusalem. 19 And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 20 And his servants got up, and made a conspiracy, and killed Joash in the house of Millo, that goes down to Silla. 21 For Jozachar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, struck him, and he died, and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David, and Amaziah his son ruled instead of him. ___2_Kings chapter 13 1 In the twenty third year of Joash, the son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, began to rule over Israel in Samaria, and ruled seventeen years. 2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, he didn't depart from them. 3 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael, king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, all their days. 4 And Jehoahaz besought the Lord, and the Lord listened to him, for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them. 5 (And the Lord gave Israel a savior, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians, and the children of Israel lived in their tents, as previously. 6 But they didn't depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked in them, and the grove remained also in Samaria.) 7 Nor did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz except fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand infantry, for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by threshing. 8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 9 And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria, and Joash his son ruled instead of him. 10 In the thirty seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz, began to rule over Israel in Samaria, and ruled sixteen years. 11 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, he didn't depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin, but he walked in them. 12 And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all 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? 13 And Joash slept with his fathers, and Jeroboam sat on his throne, and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. 14 Now Elisha had fallen sick of his sickness by which he died. And Joash, the king of Israel, came down to him, and wept over his face, and said, "O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen of it." 15 And Elisha said to him, "Take bow and arrows." And he took to himself bow and arrows. 16 And 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. 17 And he said, "Open the window eastward." And he opened it. Then Elisha said, "Shoot." And he shot. And he said, "The arrow of the Lord's deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria, for you shall strike the Syrians in Aphek, 'til you have consumed them." 18 And he said, "Take the arrows." And he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, "Strike the ground." And he struck three times, and stopped. 19 And the man of God was angry with him, and said, "You should have struck five or six times, then you would have struck Syria 'til you had consumed it, but now you'll strike Syria only three times." 20 And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. 21 And as they were burying a man, see, they spied a band of men, and they threw the man into the tomb of Elisha, and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet. 22 But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. 23 And the Lord was gracious to them, and had compassion on them, and had respect to them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, nor did he throw them from his presence yet. 24 So Hazael king of Syria died, and Benhadad his son ruled instead of him. 25 And Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz, took again out of the hand of Benhadad, the son of Hazael, the cities, that he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Joash beat him three times, and recovered the cities of Israel. ___2_Kings chapter 14 1 In the second year of Joash, son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, Amaziah, the son of Joash king of Judah ruled. 2 He was twenty five years old when he began to rule, and ruled twenty nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. 3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, yet not like David his father, he did according to everything like Joash his father did. 4 But the high places were not taken away, and the people still sacrificed and burnt incense on the high places. 5 And as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, he killed his servants that had killed the king, his father. 6 But the children of the murderers he didn't kill, according to 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 children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers, but every man shall be put to death for his own sin." 7 He killed of Edom, in the valley of salt, ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel until this day. 8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, "Come, let's look each other in the face." 9 And Jehoash, the king of Israel, sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "The thorn that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give your daughter to my son as wife, and a wild beast passed by that was in Lebanon, and trampled down the thorn. 10 You have indeed struck Edom, and your heart has lifted you up, glory about this, and stay home, for why should you meddle to your hurt, so that you'll fall, you, and Judah with you?" 11 But Amaziah would not listen. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked each other in the face at Bethshemesh, that belongs to Judah. 12 And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to their tents. 13 And Jehoash, king of Israel, took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, two hundred yards. 14 And he took all the gold and silver, and all the containers that were found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria. 15 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash that he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 16 And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel, and Jeroboam his son ruled instead of him. 17 And Amaziah, the son of Joash king of Judah, lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years. 18 And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 19 Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish, but they sent after him to Lachish, and killed him there. 20 And they brought him on horses, and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David. 21 And all the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah. 22 He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers. 23 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah, the son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, began to rule in Samaria, and ruled forty one years. 24 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, he didn't depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin. 25 He restored the border of Israel from the entering of Hamath to the sea of the plain, according to the word of the Lord God of Israel, that he spoke by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was of Gathhepher. 26 For the Lord saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter, for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel. 27 And the Lord didn't say that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam, the son of Joash. 28 Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, that belonged to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 29 And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, with the kings of Israel, and Zachariah his son ruled instead of him. ___2_Kings chapter 15 1 In the twenty seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah, son of Amaziah king of Judah, began to rule. 2 He was sixteen years old when he began to rule, and he ruled fifty two years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem. 3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done, 4 Except that the high places were not removed, the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places. 5 And the Lord struck the king, so that he was a leper until the day of his death, and lived in a several house. And Jotham, the king's son, was over the house, judging the people of the land. 6 And the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 7 So Azariah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David, and Jotham his son ruled instead of him. 8 In the thirty eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zachariah the son of Jeroboam ruled over Israel in Samaria six months. 9 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like his fathers had done, he didn't depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. 10 And Shallum, the son of Jabesh, conspired against him, and struck him before the people, and killed him, and ruled instead of him. 11 And the rest of the acts of Zachariah, see, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. 12 This was the word of the Lord that he spoke to Jehu, saying, "Your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation." And that's what happened. 13 Shallum, the son of Jabesh, began to rule in the thirty ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah, and he ruled a full month in Samaria. 14 For Menahem, the son of Gadi, went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and struck Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and killed him, and ruled instead of him. 15 And the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy that he made, see, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. 16 Then Menahem struck Tiphsah, and all that were in it, and the borders of it from Tirzah, because they didn't open to him, therefore he struck it, and he ripped up all the pregnant women in it. 17 In the thirty ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi began to rule over Israel, and ruled ten years in Samaria. 18 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, he didn't depart all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. 19 And Pul, the king of Assyria, came against the land, and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, so that his hand would be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand. 20 And Menahem exacted the money from Israel, from all the mighty men of wealth, from each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and didn't stay there in the land. 21 And the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 22 And Menahem slept with his fathers, and Pekahiah his son ruled instead of him. 23 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to rule over Israel in Samaria, and ruled two years. 24 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, he didn't depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. 25 But Pekah, the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and struck him in Samaria, in the palace of the king's house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites, and he killed him, and ruled instead of him. 26 And the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, see, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. 27 In the fifty second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah, the son of Remaliah, began to rule over Israel in Samaria, and ruled twenty years. 28 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, he didn't depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin. 29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglathpileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria. 30 And Hoshea, the son of Elah, made a conspiracy against Pekah, the son of Remaliah, and struck him, and killed him, and ruled instead of him, in the twentieth year of Jotham, the son of Uzziah. 31 And the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, see, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. 32 In the second year of Pekah, the son of Remaliah king of Israel, Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah began to rule. 33 He was twenty five years old when he began to rule, and he ruled sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok. 34 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done. 35 But the high places were not removed, the people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places. He built the higher gate of the house of the Lord. 36 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 37 In those days, the Lord began to send against Judah, Rezin, the king of Syria, and Pekah, the son of Remaliah. 38 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Ahaz his son ruled instead of him. ___2_Kings chapter 16 1 In the seventeenth year of Pekah, the son of Remaliah, Ahaz, the son of Jotham king of Judah began to rule. 2 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to rule, and ruled sixteen years in Jerusalem, and didn't do what was right in the sight of the Lord his God, like David his father. 3 But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yes, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the dirty things of the heathen, whom the Lord threw out from before the children of Israel. 4 And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. 5 Then Rezin, king of Syria, and Pekah, son of Remaliah king of Israel, came up to Jerusalem to war, and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him. 6 At that time Rezin, king of Syria, recovered Elath for Syria, and drove the Jews from Elath, and the Syrians came to Elath, and live there until this day. 7 So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, saying, "I am your servant and your son, come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, that rise up against me." 8 And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria. 9 And the king of Assyria listened to him, for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and killed Rezin. 10 And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser, king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus, and king Ahaz sent the design of the altar to Urijah the priest, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship of it. 11 And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus, so Urijah the priest made it for when king Ahaz would return from Damascus. 12 And when the king had come from Damascus, the king saw the altar, and the king approached to the altar, and offered on it. 13 And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, on the altar. 14 And he brought also the brass altar, that was before the Lord, from the front of the house, from between the altar and the house of the Lord, and put it on the north side of the altar. 15 And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, "On the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings, and sprinkle on it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice, and the brass altar shall be for me to inquire by." 16 Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded. 17 And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the wash basin from off them, and took down the sea from off the brass oxen that were under it, and put it on a pavement of stones. 18 And the covert for the Sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry outside, he turned from the house of the Lord for the king of Assyria. 19 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 20 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Hezekiah his son ruled instead of him. ___2_Kings chapter 17 1 In the twelfth year of Ahaz, king of Judah, Hoshea, the son of Elah, began to rule in Samaria over Israel nine years. 2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, but not like the kings of Israel that were before him. 3 Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against him, and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents. 4 And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea, for he had sent messengers to So, king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year, therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison. 5 Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years. 6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. 7 For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and had feared other gods, 8 And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the Lord threw out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, that they had made. 9 And the children of Israel secretly did the things that were not right against the Lord their God, and they built themselves high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. 10 And they set themselves up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree, 11 And there they burned incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the Lord carried away before them, and made wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger, 12 For they served idols, about which the Lord had said to them, you shall not do this thing. 13 Yet the Lord testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, "Turn from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law that I commanded your fathers, and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets." 14 But they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like the necks of their fathers, that did not believe in the Lord their God. 15 And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies that he testified against them, and they followed foolishness, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them, that they should not do like them. 16 And they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made themselves images cast in the foundry, two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. 17 And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. 18 Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight, there was no one left but the tribe of Judah only. 19 Also, Judah didn't keep the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel that they made. 20 And the Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had thrown them out of his sight. 21 For he tore Israel from the house of David, and they made Jeroboam, the son of Nebat king, and Jeroboam drove Israel from following the Lord, and made them sin a great sin. 22 For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam that he did, they didn't depart from them, 23 Until the Lord removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So Israel was carried away out of their own land to Assyria until this day. 24 And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel, and they possessed Samaria, and lived in the cities of it. 25 And so it was, at the beginning of their living there, that they didn't fear the Lord, therefore the Lord sent lions among them, that killed some of them. 26 So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, "The nations that you have removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, don't know the manner of the God of the land, therefore he has sent lions among them, and see, they kill them, because they don't know the manner of the God of the land." 27 Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, carry there one of the priests whom you brought from there, and let them go and live there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land. 28 Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the Lord. 29 But every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places that the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities in which they lived. 30 And the men of Babylon made Succothbenoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima, 31 And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. 32 So they feared the Lord, and made for themselves priests of the high places from the lowest of them, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places. 33 They feared the Lord, and served their own gods, like the nations whom they carried away from there. 34 Until this day they do after the former manner, they don't fear the Lord, nor do they do according to statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment that the Lord commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel, 35 With whom the Lord had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, "You shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them, 36 But the Lord, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, him shall you fear, and him shall you worship, and to him shall you do sacrifice. 37 And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the commandment, that he wrote for you, you shall observe to do forever, and you shall not fear other gods. 38 And the covenant that I have made with you, you shall not forget, nor shall you fear other gods. 39 But you shall fear the Lord your God, and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies." 40 But they did not listen, but they did after their former manner. 41 So these nations feared the Lord, and served their engraved images, both their children, and their children's children, like their fathers did, so do they until this day. ___2_Kings chapter 18 1 Now in the third year of Hoshea, son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz king of Judah, began to rule. 2 He was twenty five years old when he began to rule, and he ruled twenty nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah. 3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father did. 4 He removed the high places, and broke the images, and cut down the groves, and broke in pieces the brass serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and he called it Nehushtan. 5 He trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him, there was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. 6 For he stuck to the Lord, and didn't depart from following him, but kept his commandments, that the Lord commanded Moses. 7 And the Lord was with him, and he prospered wherever he went out, and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and didn't serve him. 8 He struck the Philistines, even to Gaza, and the borders of it, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. 9 And in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, came up against Samaria, and besieged it. 10 And at the end of three years they took it, in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken. 11 And the king of Assyria carried away Israel to Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes, 12 Because they didn't obey the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them. 13 Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them. 14 And Hezekiah, king of Judah, sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, "I have offended, go back from me, that which you put on me I will accept." And the king of Assyria appointed to Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. 15 And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king's house. 16 At that time, Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the Lord, and from the pillars that Hezekiah king of Judah had plated, and gave it to the king of Assyria. 17 And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great army against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they had come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, that is in the highway of the fuller's field. 18 And when they had called to the king, Eliakim the son of Hilkiah came out to them, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder. 19 And Rabshakeh said to them, "Speak now to Hezekiah, thus says the great king, the king of Assyria, what confidence is this in which you trust? 20 You say, (but they are just vain words,) I have advice and strength for the war. Now on whom do you trust, that you rebel against me? 21 Now see, you trust on the staff of this bruised reed, on Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will pierce his hand, so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all those who trust on him. 22 But if you say to me, we trust in the Lord our God, isn't that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and has said to Judah and Jerusalem, you shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem? 23 Now therefore, please give security deposits to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver to you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them. 24 How then will you turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put your trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen? 25 Have I now come up without the Lord against this place to destroy it? The Lord said to me, go up against this land, and destroy it." 26 Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, to Rabshakeh, "Please speak to your servants in the Syrian language, for we understand it, and don't talk with us in the Jews' language in the ears of the people that are on the wall." 27 But Rabshakeh said to them, "Has my master sent me to your master, and to you, to speak these words? Hasn't he sent me to the men who sit on the wall, so that they can eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?" 28 Then Rabshakeh stood and shouted with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spoke, saying, "Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria, 29 Thus says the king, don't Hezekiah deceive you, for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand, 30 Nor let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, the Lord will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. 31 Don't listen to Hezekiah, for thus says the king of Assyria, make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat every man of his own vine, and everyone of his fig tree, and drink everyone the waters of his cistern, 32 Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive oil and of honey, so you can live, and not die, and don't listen to Hezekiah, when he persuades you, saying, the Lord will deliver us. 33 Have any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? 34 Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? 35 Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of my hand, so that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?" 36 But the people were quiet, and didn't answer him a word, for the king's commandment was, saying, "Don't answer him." 37 Then Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, went to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of Rabshakeh. ___2_Kings chapter 19 1 And when king Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord. 2 And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah, the prophet, the son of Amoz. 3 And they said to him, "Thus says Hezekiah, this day is a day of trouble, and of reprimand, and blasphemy, for the children have come to the birth, and there is not enough strength to give birth. 4 It may be that the Lord your God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria, his master, has sent to reproach the living God, and will reprove the words that the Lord your God has heard, so lift up your prayer for the remnant that are left." 5 So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah. 6 And Isaiah said to them, "Thus shall you say to your master, thus says the Lord, don't be afraid of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. 7 See, I will send a blast on him, and he shall hear a rumor, and shall return to his own land, and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land." 8 So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah, for he had heard that he had departed from Lachish. 9 And when he heard say about Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, see, he has come out to fight against you, he sent messengers again to Hezekiah, saying, 10 "Thus shall you speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, don't let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. 11 See, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them completely, and shall you be delivered? 12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them that my fathers have destroyed, as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden that were in Thelasar? 13 Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivah?" 14 And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it, and Hezekiah went up into the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. 15 And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said, O Lord God of Israel, who lives between the cherubims, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth, you have made heaven and earth. 16 Lord, bow down your ear, and hear, open, Lord, your eyes, and see, and hear the words of Sennacherib, who has sent to reproach the living God. 17 Of a truth, Lord, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands, 18 And have thrown their gods into the fire, for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone, therefore they have destroyed them. 19 Now therefore, O Lord our God, I beg of you, save us out of his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you are the Lord God, you only." 20 Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel, that which you have prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard. 21 This is the word that the Lord has spoken concerning him, the virgin the daughter of Zion has despised you, and laughed at you scornfully, the daughter of Jerusalem has shaken her head at you. 22 Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? And against whom have you exalted your voice, and lifted up yours eyes on high? Against the Holy one of Israel. 23 By your messengers, you have reproached the Lord, and have said, with the multitude of my chariots I've come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down the tall cedar trees from it, and the choice fir trees from it, and I will enter into the lodgings of his borders, and into the forest of his Carmel. 24 I have dug and drunk strange waters, and with the sole of my feet I've dried up all the rivers of besieged places. 25 Have you not heard long ago how I have done it, and of ancient times that I have formed it? Now I've made it happen, that you should be to lay waste fenced cities into ruinous heaps. 26 Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were discouraged and confused, they were like the grass of the field, and like the green herb, like the grass on the housetops, and like corn blasted before it's grown up. 27 But I know your dwelling, and your going out, and your coming in, and your rage against me. 28 Because your rage against me and your tumult has come up into my ears, therefore I will put my hook in your nose, and my bridle in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way by which you came. 29 And this shall be a sign to you, you shall eat this year such things as grow of themselves, and in the second year that which springs of the same, and in the third year plant, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruits from them. 30 And the remnant that has escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. 31 For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and those who escape out of Mount Zion, the zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this. 32 Therefore, thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, he shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor throw a bank against it. 33 By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, says the Lord. 34 For I will defend this city, to save it, for my own sake, and for my servant David's sake." 35 And that night, the angel of the Lord went out, and struck in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred eighty five thousand, and when they got up early in the morning, see, they were all dead corpses. 36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and lived at Nineveh. 37 And as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons struck him with the sword, and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son ruled instead of him. ___2_Kings chapter 20 1 In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, came to him, and said to him, "Thus says the Lord, set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live." 2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying, 3 "I beg of you, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight." And Hezekiah wept severely. 4 And before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 5 "Turn back, and tell Hezekiah, the captain of my people, thus says the Lord, the God of David your father, I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears, see, I will heal you, on the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord. 6 And I will add to your days fifteen years, and I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake, and for my servant David's sake." 7 And Isaiah said, "Take a lump of figs." And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered. 8 And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "What shall be the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the Lord the third day?" 9 And Isaiah said, "You shall have this sign from the Lord that the Lord will do the thing that he has spoken, shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?" 10 And Hezekiah answered, "It is a light thing for the shadow to go forward ten degrees, no, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees." 11 And Isaiah the prophet called to the Lord, and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz. 12 At that time, Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick. 13 And Hezekiah listened to them, and showed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures, there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah didn't show them. 14 Then Isaiah the prophet came to king Hezekiah, and said to him, "What did these men say? And where did they come to you from?" And Hezekiah said, they've come from a far country, from Babylon. 15 And he said, "What have they seen in your house?" And Hezekiah answered, "They have seen all the things that are in my house, there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them." 16 And Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the Lord. 17 See, the days come, that all that is in your house, and what your fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried into Babylon, nothing shall be left, says the Lord. 18 And of your sons that shall issue from you, that you shall father, they'll take away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon." 19 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good." And he said, "Is it not good, if peace and truth are in my days?" 20 And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a aqueduct, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 21 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and Manasseh his son ruled instead of him. ___2_Kings chapter 21 1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to rule, and ruled fifty five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hephzibah. 2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the dirty things of the heathen, whom the Lord threw out before the children of Israel. 3 For he built up again the high places that Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. 4 And he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said, "I will put my name in Jerusalem." 5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. 6 And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards, he made much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. 7 And he set an engraved image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the Lord said to David, and to Solomon his son, "In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever, 8 Nor will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land that I gave their fathers, only if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them." 9 But they didn't listen, and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than the nations did whom the Lord destroyed before the children of Israel. 10 And the Lord spoke by his servants the prophets, saying, 11 "Because Manasseh, king of Judah, has done these dirty things, and has done wickedly more than all that the Amorites did, that were before him, and has made Judah also to sin with his idols, 12 Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel, see, I am bringing such evil on Jerusalem and Judah, that whoever hears of it, both his ears shall tingle. 13 And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem like a man wipes a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down. 14 And I will forsake the remnant of my inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies, and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies, 15 Because they have done that which was evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came out of Egypt, until this day." 16 Also Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, 'til he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, beside his sin with which he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. 17 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all that he did, and his sin that he sinned, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 18 And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza, and Amon his son ruled instead of him. 19 Amon was twenty two years old when he began to rule, and he ruled two years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. 20 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like his father Manasseh did. 21 And he walked in all the ways that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them, 22 And he forsook the Lord God of his fathers, and didn't walk in the way of the Lord. 23 And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and killed the king in his own house. 24 And the people of the land killed all of those who had conspired against king Amon, and the people of the land made Josiah his son king instead of him. 25 Now the rest of the acts of Amon that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 26 And he was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza, and Josiah his son ruled instead of him. ___2_Kings chapter 22 1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to rule, and he ruled thirty one years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath. 2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of David his father, and didn't turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 3 And 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, 4 "Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, so that he can add up the silver that is brought into the house of the Lord, that the keepers of the door have gathered from the people, 5 And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work, that have the oversight of the house of the Lord, and let them give it to the doers of the work that is in the house of the Lord, to repair the holes of the house, 6 To carpenters, and builders, and masons, and to buy timber and cut stone to repair the house." 7 But there was no reckoning of the money made with them, that was delivered into their hands, because they dealt faithfully. 8 And Hilkiah, the high priest, said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord." And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9 And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought back word to the king, and said, "Your servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of those who do the work, that have the oversight of the house of the Lord." 10 And Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, "Hilkiah the priest has delivered me a book." And Shaphan read it before the king. 11 And when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. 12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying, 13 "Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found, for great is the anger of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that which is written concerning us." 14 So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe, (now she lived in Jerusalem in the college,) and they communed with her. 15 And she said to them, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel, tell the man that sent you to me, 16 Thus says the Lord, see, I will bring evil on this place, and on the inhabitants of it, all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read, 17 Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, so that they would provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore my anger shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched. 18 But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall you say to him, thus says the Lord God of Israel, concerning the words that you have heard, 19 Because your heart was tender, and you have humbled yourself before the Lord, when you heard what I spoke against this place, and against the inhabitants of it, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and have torn your clothes, and wept before me, I also have heard you, says the Lord. 20 See, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the evil that I will bring on this place." And they brought the word back to the king. ___2_Kings chapter 23 1 And the king sent, and they gathered to him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem. 2 And the king went up into the house of the Lord, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great, and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that had been found in the house of the Lord. 3 And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant. 4 And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring out of the temple of the Lord all the containers that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven, and he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them to Bethel. 5 And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places around Jerusalem, those also who burned incense to Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven. 6 And he brought out the grove from the house of the Lord, outside Jerusalem, to the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and stamped it small to powder, and threw the powder of it on the graves of the children of the people. 7 And he broke down the houses of the Sodomites, that were by the house of the Lord, where the women wove hangings for the grove. 8 And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba, and broke down the high places of the gates that were in the entering in of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, that were on a man's left hand at the gate of the city. 9 But the priests of the high places didn't come up to the altar of the Lord in Jerusalem, but they ate of the unleavened bread among their brothers. 10 And he defiled Topheth, that is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, so that no man could make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech. 11 And he took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entering in of the house of the Lord, by the room of Nathanmelech the chamberlain, that was in the suburbs, and burned the chariots of the sun with fire. 12 And the altars that were on the top of the upper room of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the Lord, the king beat down, and broke them down from there, and threw the dust of them into the brook Kidron. 13 And the high places that were before Jerusalem, that were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the dirty thing of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the dirty thing of the Moabites, and for Milcom the dirty thing of the children of Ammon, the king defiled. 14 And he broke in pieces the images, and cut down the groves, and filled their places with the bones of men. 15 Also the altar that was at Bethel, and the high place that had been made by Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, both that altar and the high place, he broke down, and burned the high place, and stamped it small to powder, and burned the grove. 16 And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the tombs that were there in the mount, and sent, and took the bones out of the tombs, and burned them on the altar, and polluted it, according to the word of the Lord that the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words. 17 Then he said, "What title is that that I see?" And the men of the city told him, "It is the tomb of the man of God, who came from Judah, and proclaimed these things that you have done against the altar of Bethel." 18 And he said, "Let him alone, let no man move his bones." So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria. 19 And all the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, that the kings of Israel had made to provoke the Lord to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel. 20 And he killed all the priests of the high places that were there on the altars, and burned men's bones on them, and returned to Jerusalem. 21 And the king commanded all the people, saying, "Keep the Passover to the Lord your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant." 22 Surely there was not held such a Passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah, 23 But in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, in which this Passover was held to the Lord in Jerusalem. 24 Also the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the dirty things that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, so that he would perform the words of the law that were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord. 25 And like him there was no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses, nor after him did anyone come along like him. 26 But the Lord didn't turn from the fierceness of his great anger, with which his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him with. 27 And the Lord said, "I will remove Judah also out of my sight, like I have removed Israel, and will throw off this city Jerusalem that I've chosen, and the house about which I said, my name shall be there." 28 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 29 In his days, Pharaohnechoh, king of Egypt, went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates, and king Josiah went against him, and he killed him at Megiddo, when he had seen him. 30 And his servants carried him in a chariot dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king instead of his father. 31 Jehoahaz was twenty three years old when he began to rule, and he ruled three months in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 32 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done. 33 And Pharaohnechoh put him in bands at Riblah in the land of Hamath, so that he wouldn't rule in Jerusalem, and put the land to a tribute of a hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold. 34 And Pharaohnechoh made Eliakim, the son of Josiah, king in the office of Josiah his father, and changed his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away, and he came to Egypt, and died there. 35 And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh, but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh, he exacted the silver and the gold from the people of the land, of everyone according to his taxation, to give it to Pharaohnechoh. 36 Jehoiakim was twenty five years old when he began to rule, and he ruled eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zebudah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah. 37 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done. ___2_Kings chapter 24 1 In his days, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant for three years, then he turned and rebelled against him. 2 And the Lord sent against him bands of the Chaldeans, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the Lord, that he spoke by his servants the prophets. 3 Surely at the commandment of the Lord did this come on Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did, 4 And also for the innocent blood that he shed, for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, which the Lord would not pardon. 5 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 6 So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers, and Jehoiachin his son ruled instead of him. 7 And the king of Egypt didn't come again anymore out of his land, for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt. 8 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to rule, and he ruled in Jerusalem three months. And his mother's name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. 9 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father had done. 10 At that time, the servants of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. 11 And Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came against the city, and his servants besieged it. 12 And Jehoiachin, the king of Judah, went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers, and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his rule. 13 And he carried out from there all the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the containers of gold that Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the Lord, as the Lord had said. 14 And he carried away all of Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valor, ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths, no one remained, except the poorest sort of the people of the land. 15 And he carried Jehoiachin away to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, he carried them into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon. 16 And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, the king of Babylon brought them captive to Babylon. 17 And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, his father's brother, king instead of him, and changed his name to Zedekiah. 18 Zedekiah was twenty one years old when he began to rule, and he ruled eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 19 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. 20 For through the anger of the Lord in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had thrown them out from his presence, Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. ___2_Kings chapter 25 1 And in the ninth year of his rule, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his army, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and they built forts against it all around. 2 And the city was besieged until the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. 3 And on the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land. 4 And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled at night by the way of the gate between two walls, that is by the king's garden, (now the Chaldeans were against the city all around,) and the king went the way toward the plain. 5 And the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho, and all his army were scattered from him. 6 So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah, and they gave judgment against him. 7 And they killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon. 8 And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, that is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan came, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, to Jerusalem, 9 And he burned the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and he burned every great man's house with fire. 10 And all the army of the Chaldeans, that were with the captain of the guard, broke down the walls of Jerusalem all around. 11 Now the rest of the people that were left in the city, and the fugitives that fell away to the king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, carried away. 12 But the captain of the guard left of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and farmers. 13 And the pillars of brass that were in the house of the Lord, and the bases, and the brass sea that was in the house of the Lord, did the Chaldeans break in pieces, and carried the brass of them to Babylon. 14 And the pots, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the spoons, and all the containers of brass with which they ministered, they took away. 15 And the fire pans, and the bowls, and such things as were of gold, in gold, and of silver, in silver, the captain of the guard took away. 16 The two pillars, one sea, and the bases that Solomon had made for the house of the Lord, the brass of all these containers was without weight. 17 The height of the one pillar was twenty seven feet, and the chapiter on it was brass, and the height of the chapiter four and a half feet, and the wreathen work, and pomegranates on the chapiter all around, all of brass, and like these, had the second pillar with wreathen work. 18 And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door, 19 And out of the city, he took an officer that was set over the men of war, and five men of those who were in the king's presence, who were found in the city, and the principal scribe of the host, who mustered the people of the land, and sixty men of the people of the land that were found in the city, 20 And Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, took these and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah, 21 And the king of Babylon struck them, and killed them at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away out of their land. 22 And as for the people that remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, ruler over them. 23 And when all the captains of the armies, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, there came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Careah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men. 24 And Gedaliah swore to them, and to their men, and said to them, "Don't be afraid to be the servants of the Chaldeans, live in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you." 25 But in the seventh month, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal descendants, came, and ten men with him, and struck Gedaliah, so that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldeans that were with him at Mizpah. 26 And all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the armies, got up, and went to Egypt, for they were afraid of the Chaldeans. 27 And in the thirty seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty seventh day of the month, Evilmerodach, king of Babylon, in the year that he began to rule, lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison, 28 And he spoke kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon, 29 And changed his prison garments, and he ate bread continually before him all the days of his life. 30 And his allowance was a continual allowance given him by the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life. ___1_Chronicles chapter 1 1 Adam, Sheth, Enosh, 2 Kenan, Mahalaleel, Jered, 3 Henoch, Methuselah, Lamech, 4 Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 5 The sons of Japheth, Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. 6 And the sons of Gomer, Ashchenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah. 7 And the sons of Javan, Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. 8 The sons of Ham, Cush, and Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. 9 And the sons of Cush, Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah, Sheba, and Dedan. 10 And Cush fathered Nimrod, he began to be mighty on the earth. 11 And Mizraim fathered Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim, 12 And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (of whom came the Philistines,) and Caphthorim. 13 And Canaan fathered Zidon his firstborn, and Heth, 14 The Jebusite also, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite, 15 And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite, 16 And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite. 17 The sons of Shem, Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech. 18 And Arphaxad fathered Shelah, and Shelah fathered Eber. 19 And to Eber were born two sons, the name of the one was Peleg, because in his days the earth was divided, and his brother's name was Joktan. 20 And Joktan fathered Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah, 21 Hadoram also, and Uzal, and Diklah, 22 And Ebal, and Abimael, and Sheba, 23 And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan. 24 Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah, 25 Eber, Peleg, Reu, 26 Serug, Nahor, Terah, 27 Abram, the same is Abraham. 28 The sons of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael. 29 These are their generations, the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth, then Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, 30 Mishma, and Dumah, Massa, Hadad, and Tema, 31 Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael. 32 Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine, she bore Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan, Sheba, and Dedan. 33 And the sons of Midian, Ephah, and Epher, and Henoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these are the sons of Keturah. 34 And Abraham fathered Isaac. The sons of Isaac, Esau and Israel. 35 The sons of Esau, Eliphaz, Reuel, and Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah. 36 The sons of Eliphaz, Teman, and Omar, Zephi, and Gatam, Kenaz, and Timna, and Amalek. 37 The sons of Reuel, Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. 38 And the sons of Seir, Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, and Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan. 39 And the sons of Lotan, Hori, and Homam, and Timna was Lotan's sister. 40 The sons of Shobal, Alian, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. And the sons of Zibeon, Aiah, and Anah. 41 The sons of Anah, Dishon. And the sons of Dishon, Amram, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran. 42 The sons of Ezer, Bilhan, and Zavan, and Jakan. The sons of Dishan, Uz, and Aran. 43 Now these are the kings that ruled in the land of Edom, before any king ruled over the children of Israel, Bela the son of Beor, and the name of his city was Dinhabah. 44 And when Bela was dead, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah ruled instead of him. 45 And when Jobab was dead, Husham of the land of the Temanites ruled instead of him. 46 And when Husham was dead, Hadad the son of Bedad, who struck Midian in the field of Moab, ruled instead of him, and the name of his city was Avith. 47 And when Hadad was dead, Samlah of Masrekah ruled instead of him. 48 And when Samlah was dead, Shaul of Rehoboth by the river ruled instead of him. 49 And when Shaul was dead, Baalhanan the son of Achbor ruled instead of him. 50 And when Baalhanan was dead, Hadad ruled instead of him, and the name of his city was Pai, and his wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab. 51 Hadad died also. And the dukes of Edom were, duke Timnah, duke Aliah, duke Jetheth, 52 Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon, 53 Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar, 54 Duke Magdiel, duke Iram. These are the dukes of Edom. ___1_Chronicles chapter 2 1 These are the sons of Israel, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, 2 Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 3 The sons of Judah, Er, and Onan, and Shelah, which three were born to him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the Lord, and he killed him. 4 And Tamar, his daughter in law, bore him Pharez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five. 5 The sons of Pharez, Hezron, and Hamul. 6 And the sons of Zerah, Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara, five of them in all. 7 And the sons of Carmi, Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the thing accursed. 8 And the sons of Ethan, Azariah. 9 The sons also of Hezron, that were born to him, Jerahmeel, and Ram, and Chelubai. 10 And Ram fathered Amminadab, and Amminadab fathered Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah, 11 And Nahshon fathered Salma, and Salma fathered Boaz, 12 And Boaz fathered Obed, and Obed fathered Jesse, 13 And Jesse fathered his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimma the third, 14 Nethaneel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, 15 Ozem the sixth, David the seventh, 16 Whose sisters were Zeruiah, and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah, Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three. 17 And Abigail bore Amasa, and the father of Amasa was Jether, the Ishmeelite. 18 And Caleb, the son of Hezron, fathered children of Azubah his wife, and of Jerioth, her sons are these, Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon. 19 And when Azubah was dead, Caleb took to him Ephrath, who bore him Hur. 20 And Hur fathered Uri, and Uri fathered Bezaleel. 21 And afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir, the father of Gilead, whom he married when he was sixty years old, and she bore him Segub. 22 And Segub fathered Jair, who had twenty three cities in the land of Gilead. 23 And he took Geshur, and Aram, with the towns of Jair, from them, with Kenath, and the towns of it, sixty cities. All these belonged to the sons of Machir the father of Gilead. 24 And after Hezron was dead in Calebephratah, then Abiah, Hezron's wife, bore him Ashur, the father of Tekoa. 25 And the sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron were, Ram the firstborn, and Bunah, and Oren, and Ozem, and Ahijah. 26 Jerahmeel had also another wife, whose name was Atarah, she was the mother of Onam. 27 And the sons of Ram, the firstborn of Jerahmeel, were, Maaz, and Jamin, and Eker. 28 And the sons of Onam were, Shammai, and Jada. And the sons of Shammai, Nadab, and Abishur. 29 And the name of the wife of Abishur was Abihail, and she bore him Ahban, and Molid. 30 And the sons of Nadab, Seled, and Appaim, but Seled died without children. 31 And the sons of Appaim, Ishi. And the sons of Ishi, Sheshan. And the children of Sheshan, Ahlai. 32 And the sons of Jada the brother of Shammai, Jether, and Jonathan, and Jether died without children. 33 And the sons of Jonathan, Peleth, and Zaza. These were the sons of Jerahmeel. 34 Now Sheshan had no sons, but daughters. And Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Jarha. 35 And Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant to wife, and she bore him Attai. 36 And Attai fathered Nathan, and Nathan fathered Zabad, 37 And Zabad fathered Ephlal, and Ephlal fathered Obed, 38 And Obed fathered Jehu, and Jehu fathered Azariah, 39 And Azariah fathered Helez, and Helez fathered Eleasah, 40 And Eleasah fathered Sisamai, and Sisamai fathered Shallum, 41 And Shallum fathered Jekamiah, and Jekamiah fathered Elishama. 42 Now the sons of Caleb, the brother of Jerahmeel were, Mesha his firstborn, who was the father of Ziph, and the sons of Mareshah, the father of Hebron. 43 And the sons of Hebron, Korah, and Tappuah, and Rekem, and Shema. 44 And Shema fathered Raham, the father of Jorkoam, and Rekem fathered Shammai. 45 And the son of Shammai was Maon, and Maon was the father of Bethzur. 46 And Ephah, Caleb's concubine, bore Haran, and Moza, and Gazez, and Haran fathered Gazez. 47 And the sons of Jahdai, Regem, and Jotham, and Geshan, and Pelet, and Ephah, and Shaaph. 48 Maachah, Caleb's concubine, bore Sheber, and Tirhanah. 49 She also bore Shaaph, the father of Madmannah, Sheva, the father of Machbenah, and the father of Gibea, and the daughter of Caleb was Achsah. 50 These were the sons of Caleb the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah, Shobal the father of Kirjathjearim, 51 Salma the father of Bethlehem, Hareph the father of Bethgader. 52 And Shobal the father of Kirjathjearim had sons, Haroeh, and half of the Manahethites. 53 And the families of Kirjathjearim, the Ithrites, and the Puhites, and the Shumathites, and the Mishraites, of them came the Zareathites, and the Eshtaulites. 54 The sons of Salma, Bethlehem, and the Netophathites, Ataroth, the house of Joab, and half of the Manahethites, the Zorites. 55 And the families of the scribes who lived at Jabez, the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab. ___1_Chronicles chapter 3 1 Now these were the sons of David that were born to him in Hebron, the firstborn Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, the second Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess, 2 The third, Absalom the son of Maachah, the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur, the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith, 3 The fifth, Shephatiah of Abital, the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife. 4 These six were born to him in Hebron, and there he ruled seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he ruled thirty three years. 5 And these were born to him in Jerusalem, Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel, 6 Ibhar also, and Elishama, and Eliphelet, 7 And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia, 8 And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine. 9 These were all the sons of David, beside the sons of the concubines, and Tamar their sister. 10 And Solomon's son was Rehoboam, Abia his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son, 11 Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son, 12 Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son, 13 Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son, 14 Amon his son, Josiah his son. 15 And the sons of Josiah were, the firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum. 16 And the sons of Jehoiakim, Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son. 17 And the sons of Jeconiah, Assir, Salathiel his son, 18 Malchiram also, and Pedaiah, and Shenazar, Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah. 19 And the sons of Pedaiah were, Zerubbabel, and Shimei, and the sons of Zerubbabel, Meshullam, and Hananiah, and Shelomith their sister, 20 And Hashubah, and Ohel, and Berechiah, and Hasadiah, Jushabhesed, five. 21 And the sons of Hananiah, Pelatiah, and Jesaiah, the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shechaniah. 22 And the sons of Shechaniah, Shemaiah, and the sons of Shemaiah, Hattush, and Igeal, and Bariah, and Neariah, and Shaphat, six. 23 And the sons of Neariah, Elioenai, and Hezekiah, and Azrikam, three. 24 And the sons of Elioenai were, Hodaiah, and Eliashib, and Pelaiah, and Akkub, and Johanan, and Dalaiah, and Anani, seven. ___1_Chronicles chapter 4 1 The sons of Judah, Pharez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal. 2 And Reaiah, the son of Shobal, fathered Jahath, and Jahath fathered Ahumai, and Lahad. These are the families of the Zorathites. 3 And these were of the father of Etam, Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash, and the name of their sister was Hazelelponi, 4 And Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These are the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah, the father of Bethlehem. 5 And Ashur, the father of Tekoa, had two wives, Helah and Naarah. 6 And Naarah bore him Ahuzam, and Hepher, and Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah. 7 And the sons of Helah were, Zereth, and Jezoar, and Ethnan. 8 And Coz fathered Anub, and Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum. 9 And Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, "Because I bore him with sorrow." 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that your hand would be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, so that it won't grieve me!" And God granted him what he requested. 11 And Chelub the brother of Shuah fathered Mehir, who was the father of Eshton. 12 And Eshton fathered Bethrapha, and Paseah, and Tehinnah, the father of Irnahash. These are the men of Rechah. 13 And the sons of Kenaz, Othniel, and Seraiah, and the sons of Othniel, Hathath. 14 And Meonothai fathered Ophrah, and Seraiah fathered Joab, the father of the valley of Charashim, for they were craftsmen. 15 And the sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh, Iru, Elah, and Naam, and the sons of Elah, Kenaz. 16 And the sons of Jehaleleel, Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asareel. 17 And the sons of Ezra were, Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon, and she bore Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa. 18 And his wife Jehudijah bore Jered, the father of Gedor, and Heber, the father of Socho, and Jekuthiel, the father of Zanoah. And these are the sons of Bithiah, the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered took. 19 And the sons of his wife Hodiah, the sister of Naham, the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maachathite. 20 And the sons of Shimon were, Amnon, and Rinnah, Benhanan, and Tilon. And the sons of Ishi were, Zoheth, and Benzoheth. 21 The sons of Shelah the son of Judah were, Er the father of Lecah, and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of those who made fine linen, of the house of Ashbea, 22 And Jokim, and the men of Chozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who had the dominion in Moab, and Jashubilehem. And these are ancient things. 23 These were the potters, and those that lived among plants and hedges, they lived there with the king for his work. 24 The sons of Simeon were, Nemuel, and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul, 25 Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son. 26 And the sons of Mishma, Hamuel his son, Zacchur his son, Shimei his son. 27 And Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters, but his brothers didn't have many children, neither did all their family multiply, like the children of Judah. 28 And they lived at Beersheba, and Moladah, and Hazarshual, 29 And at Bilhah, and at Ezem, and at Tolad, 30 And at Bethuel, and at Hormah, and at Ziklag, 31 And at Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusim, and at Bethbirei, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities until the rule of David. 32 And their villages were, Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and Tochen, and Ashan, five cities, 33 And all their villages that were around the same cities, to Baal. These were their habitations, and their genealogy. 34 And Meshobab, and Jamlech, and Joshah the son of Amaziah, 35 And Joel, and Jehu the son of Josibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel, 36 And Elioenai, and Jaakobah, and Jeshohaiah, and Asaiah, and Adiel, and Jesimiel, and Benaiah, 37 And Ziza, the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah, 38 These mentioned by their names were princes in their families, and the house of their fathers increased greatly. 39 And they went to the entrance of Gedor, to the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks. 40 And they found fat pasture and good, and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceable, for those of Ham had lived there of old. 41 And these written by name, came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and struck their tents, and the habitations that were found there, and destroyed them completely until this day, and lived in their place, because there was pasture there for their flocks. 42 And some of them, of the sons of Simeon, five hundred men, went to Mount Seir, having for their captains Pelatiah, and Neariah, and Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi. 43 And they struck the rest of the Amalekites that had escaped, and lived there until this day. ___1_Chronicles chapter 5 1 Now the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn, but, since he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, and the genealogy is not to be reckoned according to the birthright. 2 For Judah prevailed above his brothers, and of him came the chief ruler, but the birthright was Joseph's,) 3 The sons, I say, of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel were, Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 4 The sons of Joel, Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son, 5 Micah his son, Reaia his son, Baal his son, 6 Beerah his son, whom Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria carried away captive, he was prince of the Reubenites. 7 And his brothers by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned, were the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah, 8 And Bela, the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who lived in Aroer, to Nebo and Baalmeon, 9 And eastward, he inhabited to the entering in of the wilderness from the river Euphrates, because their cattle multiplied in the land of Gilead. 10 And in the days of Saul, they made war with the Hagarites, who fell by their hand, and they lived in their tents throughout all the east land of Gilead. 11 And the children of Gad lived opposite them, in the land of Bashan to Salchah, 12 Joel the chief, and Shapham the next, and Jaanai, and Shaphat in Bashan. 13 And their brothers of the house of their fathers were, Michael, and Meshullam, and Sheba, and Jorai, and Jachan, and Zia, and Heber, seven. 14 These are the children 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, 15 Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, chief of the house of their fathers. 16 And they lived in Gilead in Bashan, and in her towns, and in all the suburbs of Sharon, on their borders. 17 All these were reckoned by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel. 18 The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to carry buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were forty four thousand seven hundred sixty, that went out to the war. 19 And they made war with the Hagarites, with Jetur, and Nephish, and Nodab. 20 And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them, for they shouted to God in the battle, and he was entreated by them, because they put their trust in him. 21 And they took away their cattle, of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men a hundred thousand. 22 For many fell down killed, because the war was of God. And they lived instead of them until the captivity. 23 And the children of the half tribe of Manasseh lived in the land, they increased from Bashan to Baalhermon and Senir, and to Mount Hermon. 24 And these were the heads of the house of their fathers, Epher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valor, famous men, and heads of the house of their fathers. 25 And they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and went whoring after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them. 26 And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river Gozan, until this day. ___1_Chronicles chapter 6 1 The sons of Levi, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 2 And the sons of Kohath, Amram, Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel. 3 And the children of Amram, Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam. The sons also of Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 4 Eleazar fathered Phinehas, Phinehas fathered Abishua, 5 And Abishua fathered Bukki, and Bukki fathered Uzzi, 6 And Uzzi fathered Zerahiah, and Zerahiah fathered Meraioth, 7 Meraioth fathered Amariah, and Amariah fathered Ahitub, 8 And Ahitub fathered Zadok, and Zadok fathered Ahimaaz, 9 And Ahimaaz fathered Azariah, and Azariah fathered Johanan, 10 And Johanan fathered Azariah, (he it is that executed the priest's office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem,) 11 And Azariah fathered Amariah, and Amariah fathered Ahitub, 12 And Ahitub fathered Zadok, and Zadok fathered Shallum, 13 And Shallum fathered Hilkiah, and Hilkiah fathered Azariah, 14 And Azariah fathered Seraiah, and Seraiah fathered Jehozadak, 15 And Jehozadak went into captivity, when the Lord carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. 16 The sons of Levi, Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. 17 And these are the names of the sons of Gershom, Libni, and Shimei. 18 And the sons of Kohath were, Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel. 19 The sons of Merari, Mahli, and Mushi. And these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers. 20 Of Gershom, Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, 21 Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeaterai his son. 22 The sons of Kohath, Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, 23 Elkanah his son, and Ebiasaph his son, and Assir his son, 24 Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son. 25 And the sons of Elkanah, Amasai, and Ahimoth. 26 As for Elkanah, the sons of Elkanah, Zophai his son, and Nahath his son, 27 Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son. 28 And the sons of Samuel, the firstborn Vashni, and Abiah. 29 The sons of Merari, Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzza his son, 30 Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, Asaiah his son. 31 And these are those whom David set over the service of song in the house of the Lord, after the ark had rest. 32 And they ministered before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing, until Solomon had built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, and then they waited on their office, according to their order. 33 And these are those who waited with their children. Of the sons of the Kohathites, Heman a singer, the son of Joel, the son of Shemuel, 34 The son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah, 35 The son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai, 36 The son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah, 37 The son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, 38 The son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel. 39 And his brother Asaph, who stood at his right hand, Asaph the son of Berachiah, the son of Shimea, 40 The son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchiah, 41 The son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah, 42 The son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei, 43 The son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi. 44 And their brothers, the sons of Merari, stood on the left hand, Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch, 45 The son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah, 46 The son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shamer, 47 The son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi. 48 Their brothers also, the Levites, were appointed to all kinds of service of the tabernacle of the house of God. 49 But Aaron and his sons offered on the altar of the burnt offering, and on the altar of incense, and were appointed for all the work of the most holy place, and to make an atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses, the servant of God, had commanded. 50 And these are the sons of Aaron, Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son, 51 Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son, 52 Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son, 53 Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son. 54 Now these are their dwelling places throughout their castles in their borders, of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites, for theirs was the lot. 55 And they gave them Hebron in the land of Judah, and the suburbs around it. 56 But the fields of the city, and the villages of it, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh. 57 And to the sons of Aaron, they gave the cities of Judah, specifically, Hebron, the city of refuge, and Libnah with her suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa, with their suburbs, 58 And Hilen with her suburbs, Debir with her suburbs, 59 And Ashan with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs, 60 And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Geba with her suburbs, and Alemeth with her suburbs, and Anathoth with her suburbs. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities. 61 And to the sons of Kohath, that were left of the family of that tribe, were cities given out of the half tribe, specifically, out of the half tribe of Manasseh, by drawing straws, ten cities. 62 And to the sons of Gershom, throughout their families out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities. 63 To the sons of Merari were given by drawing straws, throughout their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities. 64 And the children of Israel gave to the Levites these cities with their suburbs. 65 And they gave by drawing straws out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, these cities, that are called by their names. 66 And the remainder of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their borders out of the tribe of Ephraim. 67 And they gave to them, of the cities of refuge, Shechem in Mount Ephraim with her suburbs, they gave also Gezer with her suburbs, 68 And Jokmeam with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs, 69 And Aijalon with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs, 70 And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Aner with her suburbs, and Bileam with her suburbs, for the family of the remnant of the sons of Kohath. 71 To the sons of Gershom were given out of the family of the half tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, and Ashtaroth with her suburbs, 72 And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kedesh with her suburbs, Daberath with her suburbs, 73 And Ramoth with her suburbs, and Anem with her suburbs, 74 And out of the tribe of Asher, Mashal with her suburbs, and Abdon with her suburbs, 75 And Hukok with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs, 76 And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, and Hammon with her suburbs, and Kirjathaim with her suburbs. 77 To the rest of the children of Merari were given out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmon with her suburbs, Tabor with her suburbs, 78 And on the other side Jordan by Jericho, on the east side of Jordan, were given them out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness with her suburbs, and Jahzah with her suburbs, 79 Kedemoth also with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs, 80 And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, and Mahanaim with her suburbs, 81 And Heshbon with her suburbs, and Jazer with her suburbs. ___1_Chronicles chapter 7 1 Now the sons of Issachar were, Tola, and Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, four. 2 And the sons of Tola, Uzzi, and Rephaiah, and Jeriel, and Jahmai, and Jibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their father's house, so you'll know, of Tola, they were valiant men of might in their generations, whose number, in the days of David, was twenty two thousand six hundred. 3 And the sons of Uzzi, Izrahiah, and the sons of Izrahiah, Michael, and Obadiah, and Joel, Ishiah, five, all of them chief men. 4 And with them, by their generations, after the house of their fathers, were bands of soldiers for war, thirty six thousand men, for they had many wives and sons. 5 And their brothers among all the families of Issachar were valiant men of might, reckoned in all by their genealogies eighty seven thousand. 6 The sons of Benjamin, Bela, and Becher, and Jediael, three. 7 And the sons of Bela, Ezbon, and Uzzi, and Uzziel, and Jerimoth, and Iri, five, heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valor, and were reckoned by their genealogies twenty two thousand thirty four. 8 And the sons of Becher, Zemira, and Joash, and Eliezer, and Elioenai, and Omri, and Jerimoth, and Abiah, and Anathoth, and Alameth. All these are the sons of Becher. 9 And the number of them, after their genealogy by their generations, heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valor, was twenty thousand two hundred. 10 The sons also of Jediael, Bilhan, and the sons of Bilhan, Jeush, and Benjamin, and Ehud, and Chenaanah, and Zethan, and Tharshish, and Ahishahar. 11 All these the sons of Jediael, by the heads of their fathers, mighty men of valor, were seventeen thousand two hundred soldiers, fit to go out for war and battle. 12 Shuppim also, and Huppim, the children of Ir, and Hushim, the sons of Aher. 13 The sons of Naphtali, Jahziel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah. 14 The sons of Manasseh, Ashriel, whom she bore, (but his concubine, the Aramitess, bore Machir the father of Gilead, 15 And Machir took to wife the sister of Huppim and Shuppim, whose sister's name was Maachah,) and the name of the second was Zelophehad, and Zelophehad had daughters. 16 And Maachah, the wife of Machir, bore a son, and she called his name Peresh, and the name of his brother was Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rakem. 17 And the sons of Ulam, Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh. 18 And his sister Hammoleketh bore Ishod, and Abiezer, and Mahalah. 19 And the sons of Shemida were, Ahian, and Shechem, and Likhi, and Aniam. 20 And the sons of Ephraim, Shuthelah, and Bered his son, and Tahath his son, and Eladah his son, and Tahath his son, 21 And Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son, and Ezer, and Elead, whom the men of Gath that were born in that land killed, because they came down to take away their cattle. 22 And Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brothers came to comfort him. 23 And when he went in to his wife, she conceived, and bore a son, and he called his name Beriah, because it went evil with his house. 24 (And his daughter was Sherah, who built Bethhoron the lower, and the upper, and Uzzensherah.) 25 And Rephah was his son, also Resheph, and Telah his son, and Tahan his son, 26 Laadan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son, 27 Non his son, Jehoshua his son. 28 And their possessions and habitations were, Bethel and the towns of it, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with the towns of it, Shechem also and the towns of it, to Gaza and the towns of it, 29 And by the borders of the children of Manasseh, Bethshean and her towns, Taanach and her towns, Megiddo and her towns, Dor and her towns. The children of Joseph, the son of Israel, lived In those. 30 The sons of Asher, Imnah, and Isuah, and Ishuai, and Beriah, and Serah their sister. 31 And the sons of Beriah, Heber, and Malchiel, who is the father of Birzavith. 32 And Heber fathered Japhlet, and Shomer, and Hotham, and Shua their sister. 33 And the sons of Japhlet, Pasach, and Bimhal, and Ashvath. These are the children of Japhlet. 34 And the sons of Shamer, Ahi, and Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram. 35 And the sons of his brother Helem, Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal. 36 The sons of Zophah, Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah, 37 Bezer, and Hod, and Shamma, and Shilshah, and Ithran, and Beera. 38 And the sons of Jether, Jephunneh, and Pispah, and Ara. 39 And the sons of Ulla, Arah, and Haniel, and Rezia. 40 All these were the children of Asher, heads of their father's house, choice and mighty men of valor, chief of the princes. And the number, throughout the genealogy of those who were apt to the war and to battle, was twenty six thousand men. ___1_Chronicles chapter 8 1 Now Benjamin fathered Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third, 2 Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth. 3 And the sons of Bela were, Addar, and Gera, and Abihud, 4 And Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah, 5 And Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram. 6 And these are the sons of Ehud, these are the heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Geba, and they removed them to Manahath, 7 And Naaman, and Ahiah, and Gera, he removed them, and fathered Uzza, and Ahihud. 8 And Shaharaim fathered children in the country of Moab, after he had sent them away, Hushim and Baara were his wives. 9 And he fathered from Hodesh his wife, Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcham, 10 And Jeuz, and Shachia, and Mirma. These were his sons, heads of the fathers. 11 And of Hushim he fathered Abitub, and Elpaal. 12 The sons of Elpaal, Eber, and Misham, and Shamed, who built Ono, and Lod, with the towns of it, 13 Beriah also, and Shema, who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who drove away the inhabitants of Gath, 14 And Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth, 15 And Zebadiah, and Arad, and Ader, 16 And Michael, and Ispah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah, 17 And Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hezeki, and Heber, 18 Ishmerai also, and Jezliah, and Jobab, the sons of Elpaal, 19 And Jakim, and Zichri, and Zabdi, 20 And Elienai, and Zilthai, and Eliel, 21 And Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimhi, 22 And Ishpan, and Heber, and Eliel, 23 And Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan, 24 And Hananiah, and Elam, and Antothijah, 25 And Iphedeiah, and Penuel, the sons of Shashak, 26 And Shamsherai, and Shehariah, and Athaliah, 27 And Jaresiah, and Eliah, and Zichri, the sons of Jeroham. 28 These were heads of the fathers, by their generations, chief men. These lived in Jerusalem. 29 And at Gibeon lived the father of Gibeon, whose wife's name was Maachah, 30 And his firstborn son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Nadab, 31 And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zacher. 32 And Mikloth fathered Shimeah. And these also lived with their brothers in Jerusalem, opposite them. 33 And Ner fathered Kish, and Kish fathered Saul, and Saul fathered Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal. 34 And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal, and Meribbaal fathered Micah. 35 And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz. 36 And Ahaz fathered Jehoadah, and Jehoadah fathered Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri, and Zimri fathered Moza, 37 And Moza fathered Binea, Rapha was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son, 38 And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel. 39 And the sons of Eshek, his brother, were Ulam his firstborn, Jehush the second, and Eliphelet the third. 40 And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, archers, and had many sons, and sons' sons, one hundred fifty. All these are of the sons of Benjamin. ___1_Chronicles chapter 9 1 So all of Israel was reckoned by genealogies, and see, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon for their transgression. 2 Now the first inhabitants that lived in their possessions in their cities were, the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims. 3 And in Jerusalem there were living of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim, and Manasseh, 4 Uthai, the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the children of Pharez, the son of Judah. 5 And of the Shilonites, Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons. 6 And of the sons of Zerah, Jeuel, and their brothers, six hundred ninety. 7 And of the sons of Benjamin, Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hasenuah, 8 And Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephathiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah, 9 And their brothers, according to their generations, nine hundred fifty six. All these men were chief of the fathers in the house of their fathers. 10 And of the priests, Jedaiah, and Jehoiarib, and Jachin, 11 And Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God, 12 And Adaiah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasiai, the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer, 13 And their brothers, heads of the house of their fathers, one thousand seven hundred sixty, very able men for the work of the service of the house of God. 14 And of the Levites, Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari, 15 And Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph, 16 And Obadiah, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, that lived in the villages of the Netophathites. 17 And the porters were, Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brothers, Shallum was the chief, 18 Who until now, waited in the king's gate eastward, they were porters in the companies of the children of Levi. 19 And Shallum, the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brothers, of the house of his father, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle, and their fathers, being over the host of the Lord, were keepers of the entry. 20 And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and the Lord was with him. 21 And Zechariah, the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 22 All these that were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel, the prophet, ordained in their set office. 23 So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of the Lord, specifically, the house of the tabernacle, by wards. 24 In four quarters were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south. 25 And their brothers, that were in their villages, were to come after seven days from time to time with them. 26 For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their set office, and were over the rooms and treasuries of the house of God. 27 And they lodged around the house of God, because the charge was on them, and the opening of it every morning pertained to them. 28 And certain of them had the charge of the ministering containers, that they should bring them in and out by tale. 29 Some of them also were appointed to oversee the containers, and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices. 30 And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment out of the spices. 31 And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were made in the pans. 32 And some of their other brothers, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the showbread, to prepare it every Sabbath. 33 And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the rooms, were free, for they were employed in that work day and night. 34 These chief fathers of the Levites were chief throughout their generations, these lived at Jerusalem. 35 And in Gibeon, lived the father of Gibeon, Jehiel, whose wife's name was Maachah, 36 And his firstborn son Abdon, then Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab, 37 And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth. 38 And Mikloth fathered Shimeam. And they also lived with their brothers at Jerusalem, opposite their brothers. 39 And Ner fathered Kish, and Kish fathered Saul, and Saul fathered Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal. 40 And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal, and Meribbaal fathered Micah. 41 And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea, and Ahaz. 42 And Ahaz fathered Jarah, and Jarah fathered Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri, and Zimri fathered Moza, 43 And Moza fathered Binea, and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. 44 And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan, these were the sons of Azel. ___1_Chronicles chapter 10 1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down dead in Mount Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines followed hard after Saul, and after his sons, and the Philistines killed Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul. 3 And the battle went severely against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded by the archers. 4 Then Saul said to his armor bearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, so that these uncircumcised don't come and abuse me. But his armor bearer would not, for he was very afraid." So Saul took a sword, and fell on it. 5 And when his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise on the sword, and died. 6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house died together. 7 And when all the men of Israel that were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, then they forsook their cities, and fled, and the Philistines came and lived in them. 8 And on the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead soldiers, they found Saul and his sons fallen in Mount Gilboa. 9 And when they had stripped him, they took his head, and his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines all around, to carry news to their idols, and to the people. 10 And they put his armor in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon. 11 And when all Jabeshgilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 They got up, all the valiant men, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days. 13 So Saul died for his transgression that he committed against the Lord, against the word of the Lord, that he didn't keep, and also for asking advice of someone that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it, 14 And didn't inquire of the Lord, therefore he killed him, and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse. ___1_Chronicles chapter 11 1 Then all Israel gathered themselves to David to Hebron, saying, "See, we are your bone and your flesh. 2 And also in the past, even when Saul was king, you were he that led out and brought in Israel, and the Lord your God said to you, you shall feed my people Israel, and you shall be ruler over my people Israel." 3 Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron, and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel. 4 And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. 5 And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, "You shall not come here." But David took the castle of Zion, which is the city of David. 6 And David said, "Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain." So Joab, the son of Zeruiah, went up first, and was chief. 7 And David lived in the castle, therefore they called it the city of David. 8 And he built the city all around, from Millo all around, and Joab repaired the rest of the city. 9 So David became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him. 10 These also are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel. 11 And this is the number of the mighty men that David had, Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, the chief of the captains, he lifted up his spear against three hundred killed by him at one time. 12 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighties. 13 He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where was a parcel of ground full of barley, and the people fled from before the Philistines. 14 And they set themselves in the middle of that parcel, and delivered it, and killed the Philistines, and the Lord saved them by a great deliverance. 15 Now three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam, and the army of the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim. 16 And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines' garrison was then at Bethlehem. 17 And David longed, and said, "Oh that someone would give me drink from the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate!" 18 And the three broke through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David, but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the Lord, 19 And said, "My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing, shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in danger? For with the danger of their lives they brought it." Therefore he would not drink it. These three mightiest did these things. 20 And Abishai, the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three, for lifting up his spear against three hundred, he killed them, and had a name among the three. 21 Of the three, he was more honorable than the two, for he was their captain, but he didn't attain to the first three. 22 Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he killed two lion-like men of Moab, also he went down and killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day. 23 And he killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature, seven and a half feet tall, and in the Egyptian's hand there was a spear like a weaver's beam, and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear. 24 These things did Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among the three mighties. 25 See, he was honorable among the thirty, but didn't attain to the first three, and David set him over his guard. 26 Also the valiant men of the armies were, Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 27 Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite, 28 Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Antothite, 29 Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, 30 Maharai the Netophathite, Heled, the son of Baanah the Netophathite, 31 Ithai, the son of Ribai of Gibeah, that pertained to the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, 32 Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, 33 Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, 34 The sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite, 35 Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur, 36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, 37 Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai, 38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Haggeri, 39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, 40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai, 42 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him, 43 Hanan the son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite, 44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel the sons of Hothan the Aroerite, 45 Jediael, the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, 46 Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, 47 Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite. ___1_Chronicles chapter 12 1 Now here are those who came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish, and they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war. 2 They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, of Saul's brothers of Benjamin. 3 The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite, and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth, and Berachah, and Jehu the Antothite, 4 And Ismaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty, and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad, the Gederathite, 5 Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite, 6 Elkanah, and Jesiah, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korhites, 7 And Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor. 8 And of the Gadites, there separated themselves to David into the hold to the wilderness, men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes on the mountains, 9 Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third, 10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, 11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, 12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, 13 Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh. 14 These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the host, one of the least was over a hundred, and the greatest was over a thousand. 15 These are they that went over Jordan in the first month, when it had overflowed all its banks, and they put to flight all of those of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west. 16 And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold to David. 17 And David went out to meet them, and said to them, "If you've come peaceably to me to help me, my heart shall be knit to you, but if you've come to betray me to my enemies, seeing there is no wrong in my hands, the God of our fathers look at it, and reprimand it." 18 Then the spirit came on Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, "Yours are we, David, and on your side, you son of Jesse, peace, peace be to you, and peace be to your helpers, for your God helps you." Then David received them, and made them captains of the band. 19 And there fell some of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle, but they didn't help them, for the lords of the Philistines on advisement sent him away, saying, "He will fall to his master Saul to the danger of our heads." 20 As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh. 21 And they helped David against the band of the rovers, for they were all mighty men of valor, and were captains in the army. 22 For at that time, day by day, there came to David to help him, until it was a great army, like the army of God. 23 And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the war, and came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the Lord. 24 The children of Judah that carried shield and spear were six thousand eight hundred, ready armed to the war. 25 Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valor for the war, seven thousand one hundred. 26 Of the children of Levi four thousand six hundred. 27 And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand seven hundred, 28 And Zadok, a young man mighty of valor, and of his father's house twenty two captains. 29 And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand, for until now the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul. 30 And of the children of Ephraim, twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty men of valor, famous throughout the house of their fathers. 31 And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, who were expressed by name, to come and make David king. 32 And of the children of Issachar, who were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, the heads of them were two hundred, and all their brothers were at their command. 33 Of Zebulun, such as went out to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, who could keep rank, they were not of double heart. 34 And of Naphtali, a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty seven thousand. 35 And of the Danites, expert in war twenty eight thousand six hundred. 36 And of Asher, such as went out to battle, expert in war, forty thousand. 37 And on the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all kinds of instruments of war for the battle, one hundred twenty thousand. 38 All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel, and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king. 39 And they were there with David three days, eating and drinking, for their brothers had prepared for them. 40 Also those who were near them, to Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly, for there was joy in Israel. ___1_Chronicles chapter 13 1 And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader. 2 And David said to all the congregation of Israel, "If it seems good to you, and that it be of the Lord our God, let us send abroad to our brothers everywhere, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites who are in their cities and suburbs, so they can gather themselves to us, 3 And let us bring again the ark of our God to us, for we didn't inquire at it in the days of Saul." 4 And all the congregation said they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. 5 So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even to the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim. 6 And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjathjearim, that belonged to Judah, to take up there the ark of God the Lord, who lives between the cherubims, whose name is called on it. 7 And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart. 8 And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets. 9 And when they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to steady the ark, for the oxen stumbled. 10 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzza, and He struck him, because he put his hand on the ark, and there he died before God. 11 And David was displeased, because the Lord had caused Uzza to perish, so that place is called Perezuzza until this day. 12 And David was afraid of God that day, saying, "How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?" 13 So David didn't bring the ark home to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obededom, the Gittite. 14 And the ark of God remained with the family of Obededom in his house three months. And the Lord blessed the house of Obededom, and all that he had. ___1_Chronicles chapter 14 1 Now Hiram, king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars, with masons and carpenters, to build a house for him. 2 And David perceived that the Lord had confirmed him king over Israel, for his kingdom was lifted up on high, because of his people Israel. 3 And David took more wives at Jerusalem, and David fathered more sons and daughters. 4 Now these are the names of his children that he had in Jerusalem, Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon, 5 And Ibhar, and Elishua, and Elpalet, 6 And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia, 7 And Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphalet. 8 And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David. And David heard of it, and went out against them. 9 And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 10 And David inquired of God, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? And will you deliver them into my hand?" And the Lord said to him, "Go up, for I will deliver them into your hand." 11 So they came up to Baalperazim, and David struck them there. Then David said, "God has broken in on my enemies by my hand like the gushing forth of waters," therefore they called the name of that place Baalperazim. 12 And when they had left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire. 13 And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley. 14 Therefore David inquired again of God, and God said to him, "Don't go up after them, turn away from them, and come at them opposite the mulberry trees. 15 And it shall be, when you hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then you shall go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines." 16 David therefore did like God commanded him, and they struck the army of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer. 17 And the fame of David went out into all lands, and the Lord brought the fear of him on all nations. ___1_Chronicles chapter 15 1 And David made houses for himself in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched a tent for it. 2 Then David said, "No one ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites, for the Lord has chosen them to carry the ark of God, and to minister to him forever." 3 And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the Lord to its place that he had prepared for it. 4 And David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites, 5 Of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, and his brothers one hundred twenty, 6 Of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and his brothers two hundred twenty, 7 Of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and his brothers one hundred thirty, 8 Of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and his brothers two hundred, 9 Of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, and his brothers eighty, 10 Of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and his brothers one hundred twelve. 11 And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab, 12 And said to them, "You are the chief of the fathers of the Levites, make yourselves holy, both you and your brothers, so that you can bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place that I have prepared for it. 13 Since because you didn't do it before, the Lord our God made a hole in us, because we didn't seek him after the due order." 14 So the priests and the Levites made themselves holy to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel. 15 And the children of the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with its staves, like Moses commanded according to the word of the Lord. 16 And David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brothers to be the singers with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy. 17 So the Levites appointed Heman, the son of Joel, and of his brothers, Asaph, the son of Berechiah, and of the sons of Merari their brothers, Ethan, the son of Kushaiah, 18 And with them their brothers of the second degree, Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, the porters. 19 So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass, 20 And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth, 21 And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel. 22 And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song, he instructed about the song, because he was skilful. 23 And Berechiah and Elkanah were door keepers for the ark. 24 And Shebaniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nethaneel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, blew with the trumpets before the ark of God, and Obededom and Jehiah were door keepers for the ark. 25 So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the house of Obededom with joy. 26 And when God helped the Levites that bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, they offered seven bullocks and seven rams. 27 And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that carried the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers, David also had on himself a ephod of linen. 28 Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps. 29 And as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looking out of a window saw king David dancing and playing, and she despised him in her heart. ___1_Chronicles chapter 16 1 So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the the tent that David had pitched for it, and they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God. 2 And when David had made an end of offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord. 3 And he dealt to everyone of Israel, both man and woman, to everyone a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. 4 And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, and to record, and to thank and praise the Lord God of Israel, 5 Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps, but Asaph made a sound with cymbals, 6 Benaiah also and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God. 7 Then on that day, David delivered first this psalm to thank the Lord into the hand of Asaph and his brothers. 8 Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the people. 9 Sing to him, sing psalms to him, talk of all his wondrous works. 10 Glory in his holy name, let the heart of those rejoice who seek the Lord. 11 Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually. 12 Remember his marvelous works that he has done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth, 13 O you descendants of Israel his servant, you children of Jacob, his chosen ones. 14 He is the Lord our God, his judgments are in all the earth. 15 Be mindful always of his covenant, the word that he commanded to a thousand generations, 16 Even of the covenant that he made with Abraham, and of his oath to Isaac, 17 And has confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant, 18 Saying, To you I will give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance, 19 When you were but few, even a few, and strangers in it. 20 And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people, 21 He allowed no man to do them wrong, yes, he reproved kings for their sakes, 22 Saying, Don't touch my anointed, and do my prophets no harm. 23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth, show forth from day to day his salvation. 24 Declare his glory among the heathen, his marvelous works among all nations. 25 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, he also is to be feared above all gods. 26 For all the gods of the people are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. 27 Glory and honor are in his presence, strength and gladness are in his place. 28 Give to the Lord, you kindreds of the people, give to the Lord glory and strength. 29 Give to the Lord the glory due to his name, bring an offering, and come before him, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. 30 Fear before him, all the earth, the world also shall be stable, so that it's not moved. 31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let men say among the nations, the Lord rules. 32 Let the sea roar, and the fullness of it, let the fields rejoice, and all that is in them. 33 Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the Lord, because he comes to judge the earth. 34 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. 35 And say, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, so that we can give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise. 36 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel forever and always. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the Lord. 37 So he left Asaph and his brothers before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to minister before the ark continually, as every day's work required, 38 And Obededom with their brothers, sixty eight, Obededom also, the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be porters, 39 And Zadok the priest, and his brothers the priests, before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place that was at Gibeon, 40 To offer burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of the burnt offering continually morning and evening, and to do according to all that is written in the law of the Lord, that he commanded Israel, 41 And with them, Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest of those who were chosen, who were expressed by name, to give thanks to the Lord, because his mercy endures forever, 42 And with them, Heman and Jeduthun, with trumpets and cymbals for those who were to make a sound, and with musical instruments of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were porters. 43 And all the people departed every man to his house, and David returned to bless his house. ___1_Chronicles chapter 17 1 Now as David sat in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, "See, I live in a house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord remains under curtains." 2 Then Nathan said to David, "Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you." 3 And the same night, the word of God came to Nathan, saying, 4 "Go and tell David my servant, Thus says the Lord, you shall not build me a house to live in, 5 For I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought up Israel to this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another. 6 Wherever I have walked with all Israel, did I speak a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, Why haven't you built me a house of cedars? 7 Now therefore thus shall you say to my servant David, thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, that you should be ruler over my people Israel, 8 And I have been with you wherever you have walked, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth. 9 Also, I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall live in their place, and shall be moved no more, nor shall the children of wickedness waste them anymore, as at the beginning, 10 And since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Also, I will subdue all your enemies. Furthermore I tell you that the Lord will build you a house. 11 And when your days are expired that you must go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your descendants after you, that shall be of your sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build me a house, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be his father, and he shall be my son, and I will not take my mercy away from him, like I took it from him that was before you, 14 But I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever." 15 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak to David. 16 And David the king came and sat before the Lord, and said, "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me to this? 17 And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O God, for you have also spoken of your servant's house for a great while to come, and have regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O Lord God. 18 What can David speak more to you for the honor of your servant? For you know your servant. 19 O Lord, for your servant's sake, and according to your own heart, you've done all this greatness, in making known all these great things. 20 O Lord, there is no one like you, nor is there any God beside you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 21 And what nation in the earth is like your people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make yourself a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before your people, whom you have redeemed out of Egypt? 22 For you made your people Israel your own people forever, and you, Lord, became their God. 23 Therefore now, Lord, let the thing that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house be established forever, and do as you have said. 24 Let it be established, so that your name will be magnified forever, saying, the Lord of hosts is the God of Israel, a God to Israel, and let the house of David your servant be established before you. 25 For you, O my God, have told your servant that you will build him a house, therefore your servant has found in his heart to pray before you. 26 And now, Lord, you are God, and have promised this goodness to your servant, 27 Now therefore let it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it will be before you forever, for you bless, O Lord, and it shall be blessed forever." ___1_Chronicles chapter 18 1 Now after this David struck the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and its towns out of the hand of the Philistines. 2 And he struck Moab, and the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts. 3 And David struck Hadarezer king of Zobah to Hamath, as he went to establish his dominion by the river Euphrates. 4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand infantry, David also hacked all the chariot horses, but reserved of them a hundred chariots. 5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David killed of the Syrians twenty two thousand men. 6 Then David put garrisons in Syriadamascus, and the Syrians became David's servants, and brought gifts. Thus the Lord preserved David wherever he went. 7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 Likewise from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, David brought very much brass, with which Solomon made the brass sea, and the pillars, and the containers of brass. 9 Now when Tou king of Hamath heard how David had struck all the host of Hadarezer king of Zobah, 10 He sent Hadoram his son to king David, to inquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadarezer, and struck him, (for Hadarezer had war with Tou,) and with him all kinds of containers of gold and silver and brass. 11 King David dedicated those also to the Lord, with the silver and the gold that he brought from all these nations, from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek. 12 Also Abishai the son of Zeruiah killed of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand. 13 And he put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David's servants. Thus the Lord preserved David wherever he went. 14 So David ruled over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all his people. 15 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, recorder. 16 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests, and Shavsha was scribe, 17 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and the sons of David were chief around the king. ___1_Chronicles chapter 19 1 Now after this, Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son ruled instead of him. 2 And David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me." And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him. 3 But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, "Do you think that David does honor your father, because he has sent comforters to you? Haven't his servants come to you to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land?" 4 So Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle hard by their buttocks, and sent them away. 5 Then some people went, and told David how the men were treated. And he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, "Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return." 6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves stink to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire for them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syriamaachah, and out of Zobah. 7 So they hired thirty two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people, who came and pitched before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle. 8 And when David heard about it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. 9 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array before the gate of the city, and the kings that had come were by themselves in the field. 10 Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose out of all the choice of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians. 11 And the rest of the people he delivered to the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon. 12 And he said, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you. 13 Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God, and let the Lord do that which is good in his sight." 14 So Joab and the people that were with him went near before the Syrians to the battle, and they fled before him. 15 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem. 16 And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew out the Syrians that were beyond the river, and Shophach the captain of the army of Hadarezer went before them. 17 And it was told David, and he gathered all Israel, and passed over Jordan, and came against them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him. 18 But the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed of the Syrians seven thousand men who fought in chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the army. 19 And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and became his servants, nor would the Syrians help the children of Ammon anymore. ___1_Chronicles chapter 20 1 And after the year had expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led out the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. And Joab struck Rabbah, and destroyed it. 2 And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it, and it was set on David's head, and he brought also very much spoil out of the city. 3 And he brought out the people that were in it, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. Thus did David deal with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. 4 And after this, there was war at Gezer with the Philistines, at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Sippai, that was of the children of the giant, and they were subdued. 5 And there was war again with the Philistines, and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver's beam. 6 And yet again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great height, who had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot, and he also was the son of the giant. 7 But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David's brother killed him. 8 These were born to the giant in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants. ___1_Chronicles chapter 21 1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to count the people of Israel. 2 And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, "Go, count Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and bring the number of them to me, so that I will know it." 3 And Joab answered, "The Lord make his people a hundred times as many more as they are, but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? Why then does my lord require this thing? Why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?" 4 But the king's word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem. 5 And Joab gave the total of the number of the people to David. And all of those of Israel were one million one hundred thousand men that drew sword, and Judah was four hundred seventy thousand men that drew sword. 6 But Levi and Benjamin he didn't count among them, for the king's word stank to Joab. 7 And God was displeased with this thing, therefore he struck Israel. 8 And David said to God, "I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing, but now, I beg of you, put away the sin of your servant, for I have done very foolishly." 9 And the Lord spoke to Gad, David's seer, saying, 10 "Go and tell David, saying, thus says the Lord, I offer you three things, choose one of them, so I can do it to you." 11 So Gad came to David, and said to him, thus says the Lord, make your choice of, 12 Either three years' famine, or three months to be destroyed before your enemies while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days the sword of the Lord, the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise yourself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me." 13 And David said to Gad, "I am in great distress, let me fall now into the hand of the Lord, for very great are his mercies, but let me not fall into the hand of man." 14 So the Lord sent pestilence on Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell. 15 And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, and as he was destroying, the Lord saw, and he changed his mind about the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, "It is enough, stop your hand now." And the angel of the Lord stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 16 And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the Lord stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces. 17 And David said to God, "Is it not I that commanded the people to be counted? It is I that has sinned and done evil indeed, but as for these sheep, what have they done? Let your hand, please, O Lord my God, be on me, and on my father's house, but not on your people, that they should be plagued." 18 Then the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 19 And David went up at the saying of Gad, that he spoke in the name of the Lord. 20 And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel, and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat. 21 And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshing floor, and bowed himself to David, with his face to the ground. 22 Then David said to Ornan, "Grant me the place of this threshing floor, so I can build an altar in it to the Lord, you shall grant it me for the full price, so that the plague will be stopped from the people." 23 And Ornan said to David, "Take it, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes, see, I give you the oxen also for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat offering, I give it all." 24 And king David said to Ornan, "No, but I will truly buy it for the full price, for I will not take that which is yours for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings without cost." 25 So David gave to Ornan six hundred shekels of gold by weight for the place. 26 And David built an altar to the Lord there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called on the Lord, and he answered him from heaven by fire on the altar of burnt offering. 27 And the Lord commanded the angel, and he put up his sword again into its sheath. 28 At that time, when David saw that the Lord had answered him in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there. 29 For the tabernacle of the Lord, that Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that season in the high place at Gibeon. 30 But David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the Lord. ___1_Chronicles chapter 22 1 Then David said, "This is the house of the Lord God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel." 2 And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel, and he set masons to cut stones to build the house of God. 3 And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings, and brass in abundance, unweighed, 4 Also cedar trees in abundance, for the Zidonians and inhabitants of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David. 5 And David said, "Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be very magnificent, of fame and of glory throughout all countries, I will therefore now make preparation for it." So David prepared abundantly before his death. 6 Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build a house for the Lord God of Israel. 7 And David said to Solomon, "My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house to the name of the Lord my God, 8 But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, You have shed blood abundantly, and have made great wars, you shall not build a house to my name, because you've shed much blood on the earth in my sight. 9 See, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies all around, for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days. 10 He shall build a house for my name, and he shall be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever. 11 Now, my son, the Lord be with you, and prosper you, and build the house of the Lord your God, as he has said about you. 12 Only the Lord give you wisdom and understanding, and give you charge concerning Israel, so that you'll keep the law of the Lord your God. 13 Then you'll prosper, if you're careful to fulfill the statutes and judgments that the Lord charged Moses with concerning Israel, be strong, and of good courage, don't be afraid, nor be discouraged. 14 Now see, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the Lord a hundred thousand talents of gold, and a million talents of silver, and of brass and iron without weight, for it is in abundance, I've also prepared timber and stone, and you can add to that. 15 Also, there are workmen with you in abundance, cutters and workers of stone and timber, and all kinds of cunning men for every kind of work. 16 Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise therefore, and be doing, and the Lord be with you." 17 David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, 18 "Is not the Lord your God with you? And hasn't he given you rest 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. 19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God, arise therefore, and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the holy containers of God, into the house that is to be built for the name of the Lord." ___1_Chronicles chapter 23 1 So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel. 2 And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites. 3 Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward, and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty eight thousand. 4 Of which, twenty four thousand were to advance the work of the house of the Lord, and six thousand were officers and judges, 5 Also four thousand were porters, and four thousand praised the Lord with the instruments that I made, said David, to praise with them. 6 And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi, specifically, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 7 Of the Gershonites were, Laadan, and Shimei. 8 The sons of Laadan, the chief was Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three. 9 The sons of Shimei, Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the chief of the fathers of Laadan. 10 And the sons of Shimei were, Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei. 11 And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second, but Jeush and Beriah didn't have many sons, therefore they were in one reckoning, according to their father's house. 12 The sons of Kohath, Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four. 13 The sons of Amram, Aaron and Moses, and Aaron was separated, so that he should make holy the most holy things, he and his sons forever, to burn incense before the Lord, to minister to him, and to bless in his name forever. 14 Now concerning Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi. 15 The sons of Moses were, Gershom, and Eliezer. 16 Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief. 17 And the sons of Eliezer were, Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very many. 18 Of the sons of Izhar, Shelomith the chief. 19 Of the sons of Hebron, Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. 20 Of the sons of Uzziel, Michah the first, and Jesiah the second. 21 The sons of Merari, Mahli, and Mushi. The sons of Mahli, Eleazar, and Kish. 22 And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters, and their brothers, the sons of Kish, took them. 23 The sons of Mushi, Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three. 24 These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers, even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their polls, that did the work for the service of the house of the Lord, from the age of twenty years and older. 25 For David said, "The Lord God of Israel has given rest to his people, so they can live in Jerusalem forever, 26 And also to the Levites, they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any containers of it for the service of it." 27 For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and older, 28 Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the Lord, in the courts, and in the rooms, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God, 29 Both for the showbread, and for the fine flour for meat offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all kinds of measure and size, 30 And to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at evening, 31 And to offer all burnt sacrifices to the Lord in the Sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded to them, continually before the Lord, 32 And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brothers, in the service of the house of the Lord. ___1_Chronicles chapter 24 1 Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children, therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office. 3 And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service. 4 And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar, and thus they were divided. Among the sons of Eleazar, there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers. 5 Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another, for the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God, were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar. 6 And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe, one of the Levites, wrote them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites, one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar. 7 Now the first drawing of straws came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah, 8 The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, 9 The fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin, 10 The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah, 11 The ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah, 12 The eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim, 13 The thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab, 14 The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer, 15 The seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Aphses, 16 The nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel, 17 The twenty first to Jachin, the twenty second to Gamul, 18 The twenty third to Delaiah, the twenty fourth to Maaziah. 19 These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the Lord, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded him. 20 And the rest of the sons of Levi were these, of the sons of Amram, Shubael, of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah. 21 Concerning Rehabiah, of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah. 22 Of the Izharites, Shelomoth, of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath. 23 And the sons of Hebron, Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth. 24 Of the sons of Uzziel, Michah, of the sons of Michah, Shamir. 25 The brother of Michah was Isshiah, of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah. 26 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi, the sons of Jaaziah, Beno. 27 The sons of Merari by Jaaziah, Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri. 28 Of Mahli came Eleazar, who had no sons. 29 Concerning Kish, the son of Kish was Jerahmeel. 30 The sons also of Mushi, Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after the house of their fathers. 31 These likewise drew straws opposite their brothers the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites, the principal fathers opposite their younger brothers. ___1_Chronicles chapter 25 1 Also David and the captains of the army separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who would prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals, and the number of the workmen according to their service was, 2 Of the sons of Asaph, Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, who prophesied according to the order of the king. 3 Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun, Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the Lord. 4 Of Heman, the sons of Heman, Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth, 5 All these were the sons of Heman, the king's seer, in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. 6 All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the Lord, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman. 7 So the number of them, with their brothers that were instructed in the songs of the Lord, all that were cunning, was two hundred eighty eight. 8 And they drew straws, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar. 9 Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph, the second to Gedaliah, who with his brothers and sons were twelve, 10 The third to Zaccur, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve, 11 The fourth to Izri, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve, 12 The fifth to Nethaniah, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve, 13 The sixth to Bukkiah, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve, 14 The seventh to Jesharelah, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve, 15 The eighth to Jeshaiah, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve, 16 The ninth to Mattaniah, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve, 17 The tenth to Shimei, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve, 18 The eleventh to Azareel, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve, 19 The twelfth to Hashabiah, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve, 20 The thirteenth to Shubael, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve, 21 The fourteenth to Mattithiah, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve, 22 The fifteenth to Jeremoth, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve, 23 The sixteenth to Hananiah, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve, 24 The seventeenth to Joshbekashah, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve, 25 The eighteenth to Hanani, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve, 26 The nineteenth to Mallothi, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve, 27 The twentieth to Eliathah, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve, 28 The twenty first to Hothir, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve, 29 The twenty second to Giddalti, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve, 30 The twenty third to Mahazioth, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve, 31 The twenty fourth Romamtiezer, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve. ___1_Chronicles chapter 26 1 Concerning the divisions of the porters, of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph. 2 And the sons of Meshelemiah were, Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, 3 Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh. 4 Also the sons of Obededom were, Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth, 5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth, for God blessed him. 6 Also to Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled throughout the house of their father, for they were mighty men of valor. 7 The sons of Shemaiah, Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brothers were strong men, Elihu, and Semachiah. 8 All these of the sons of Obededom, they and their sons and their brothers, able men for strength for the service, were sixty two of Obededom. 9 And Meshelemiah had sons and brothers, strong men, eighteen. 10 Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons, Simri the chief, (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him the chief,) 11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth, all the sons and brothers of Hosah were thirteen. 12 Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men, having wards against each other, to minister in the house of the Lord. 13 And they drew straws, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate. 14 And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counselor, they drew straws, and his lot came out northward. 15 To Obededom southward, and to his sons the house of Asuppim. 16 To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward, with the gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the going up, ward against ward. 17 Eastward, there were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and toward Asuppim two and two. 18 At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar. 19 These are the divisions of the porters among the sons of Kore, and among the sons of Merari. 20 And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things. 21 As concerning the sons of Laadan, the sons of the Gershonite Laadan, chief fathers, even of Laadan the Gershonite, were Jehieli. 22 The sons of Jehieli, Zetham, and Joel his brother, who were over the treasures of the house of the Lord. 23 Of the Amramites, and the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites, 24 And Shebuel, the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler of the treasures. 25 And his brothers by Eliezer, Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son. 26 Which Shelomith and his brothers were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, that David the king, and the chief fathers, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the army, had dedicated. 27 Out of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to maintain the house of the Lord. 28 And all that Samuel the prophet, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated, and whoever had dedicated anything, it was under the hand of Shelomith, and of his brothers. 29 Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges. 30 And of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brothers, men of valor, one thousand seven hundred, were officers among them of Israel on this side of Jordan westward in all the business of the Lord, and in the service of the king. 31 Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even among the Hebronites, according to the generations of his fathers. In the fortieth year of the rule of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valor at Jazer of Gilead. 32 And his brothers, men of valor, were two thousand seven hundred chief fathers, whom king David made rulers over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God, and affairs of the king. ___1_Chronicles chapter 27 1 Now the children of Israel after their number, the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers that served the king in any matter of the courses, who came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, of every course were twenty four thousand. 2 Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam, the son of Zabdiel, and in his course were twenty four thousand. 3 Of the children of Perez was the chief of all the captains of the army for the first month. 4 And over the course of the second month was Dodai an Ahohite, and of his course was Mikloth also the ruler, in his course likewise were twenty four thousand. 5 The third captain of the army for the third month was Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a chief priest, and in his course were twenty four thousand. 6 This is that Benaiah, who was mighty among the thirty, and above the thirty, and in his course was Ammizabad his son. 7 The fourth captain for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him, and in his course were twenty four thousand. 8 The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite, and in his course were twenty four thousand. 9 The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, and in his course were twenty four thousand. 10 The seventh captain for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim, and in his course were twenty four thousand. 11 The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites, and in his course were twenty four thousand. 12 The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anetothite, of the Benjamites, and in his course were twenty four thousand. 13 The tenth captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites, and in his course were twenty four thousand. 14 The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim, and in his course were twenty four thousand. 15 The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel, and in his course were twenty four thousand. 16 Furthermore, over the tribes of Israel, the ruler of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri, of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah, 17 Of the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel, of the Aaronites, Zadok, 18 Of Judah, Elihu, one of the brothers of David, of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael, 19 Of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah, of Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel, 20 Of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah, of the half tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah, 21 Of the half tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah, of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner, 22 Of Dan, Azareel the son of Jeroham. These were the princes of the tribes of Israel. 23 But David didn't take the number of them from twenty years old and under, because the Lord had said he would increase Israel like the stars of the heavens. 24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he didn't finish, because anger fell for it against Israel, nor was the number put in the account of the chronicles of king David. 25 And over the king's treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel, and over the storehouses in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the castles, was Jehonathan, the son of Uzziah, 26 And over those who did the work of the field for tilling of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub, 27 And over the vineyards was Shimei, the Ramathite, over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite, 28 And over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the low plains was Baalhanan the Gederite, and over the cellars of oil was Joash, 29 And over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite, and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai, 30 Over the camels also was Obil the Ishmaelite, and over the asses was Jehdeiah the Meronothite, 31 And over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagerite. All these were the rulers of the substance that was king David's. 32 Also Jonathan, David's uncle was a counselor, a wise man, and a scribe, and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons, 33 And Ahithophel was the king's counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the king's companion, 34 And after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar, and the general of the king's army was Joab. ___1_Chronicles chapter 28 1 And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, to Jerusalem. 2 Then David the king stood up on his feet, and said, "Hear me, my brothers, and my people, as for me, I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building, 3 But God said to me, "You shall not build a house for my name, because you have been a man of war, and have shed blood. 4 But the Lord God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever, for he has chosen Judah to be the ruler, and of the house of Judah, the house of my father, and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel, 5 And of all my sons, (for the Lord has given me many sons,) he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. 6 And he said to me, Solomon your son, he shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. 7 Also I will establish his kingdom forever, if he's constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day. 8 Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the Lord, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the Lord your God, so that you'll possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you forever. 9 And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts, if you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will throw you off forever. 10 Take heed now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary, be strong, and do it." 11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses of it, and of the treasuries of it, and of the upper rooms of it, and of the inner parlors of it, and of the place of the mercy seat, 12 And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord, and of all the rooms all around, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things, 13 Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord, and for all the containers of service in the house of the Lord. 14 He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments of all kinds of service, silver also for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service, 15 Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps of it, and for the candlesticks of silver by weight, both for the candlestick, and also for the lamps of it, according to the use of every candlestick. 16 And by weight he gave gold for the tables of showbread, for every table, and likewise silver for the tables of silver, 17 Also, pure gold for the flesh hooks, and the bowls, and the cups, and for the golden basins, he gave gold by weight for every basin, and likewise silver by weight for every basin of silver, 18 And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight, and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord. 19 "All this," David said, "the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand on me, all the works of this pattern." 20 And David said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and of good courage, and do it, don't be afraid, nor be discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, will be with you, he will not fail you, nor forsake you, until you've finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord. 21 And see, the courses of the priests and the Levites, shall be with you for all the service of the house of God, and there shall be with you for all kinds of workmanship every willing skilful man, for any kind of service, also the princes and all the people will be completely at your commandment." ___1_Chronicles chapter 29 1 Furthermore, David the king said to all the congregation, "Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is still young and tender, and the work is great, for the palace is not for man, but for the Lord God. 2 Now I have prepared, with all my might for the house of my God, the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood, onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of various colors, and all kinds of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance. 3 Also, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of my own proper good, of gold and silver, that I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, 4 Three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to plate the walls of the houses with, 5 The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all kinds of work to be made by the hands of craftsmen. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day to the Lord?" 6 Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king's work, offered willingly, 7 And gave for the service of the house of God of gold, five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver, ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron. 8 And those with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the Lord, by the hand of Jehiel, the Gershonite. 9 Then the people rejoiced, because they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord, and David the king also rejoiced with great joy. 10 So David blessed the Lord before all the congregation, and David said, "Blessed be you, Lord God of Israel our father, forever and always. 11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty, for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is yours, yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all, and in your hand is power and might, and in your hand it is to make great, and to give strength to all. 13 Now therefore, our God, we thank you, and praise your glorious name. 14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly like this? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given to you. 15 For we are strangers before you, and visitors, as were all our fathers, our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no one abiding. 16 O Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared to build you a house for your holy name comes from your hand, and is all your own. 17 I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things, and now I've seen with joy your people, who are present here, to offer willingly to you. 18 O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of your people, and prepare their heart toward you, 19 And give to Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for which I have made provision." 20 And David said to all the congregation, "Now bless the Lord your God." And all the congregation blessed the Lord God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the Lord, and the king. 21 And they sacrificed sacrifices to the Lord, and offered burnt offerings to the Lord, on the next day after that day, a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel, 22 And ate and drank before the Lord on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him to the Lord to be the chief governor, and Zadok to be priest. 23 Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king instead of David his father, and prospered, and all Israel obeyed him. 24 And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves to Solomon the king. 25 And the Lord magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed on him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel. 26 Thus David the son of Jesse ruled over all Israel. 27 And the time that he ruled over Israel was forty years, he ruled seven years in Hebron, and he ruled thirty three years in Jerusalem. 28 And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor, and Solomon his son ruled instead of him. 29 Now the acts of David the king, first and last, see, they are written in the book of Samuel the prophet, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer, 30 With all his rule and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries. ___2_Chronicles chapter 1 1 And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly. 2 Then Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers. 3 So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon, for the tabernacle of the congregation of God was there, that Moses, the servant of the Lord, had made in the wilderness. 4 But the ark of God David had brought up from Kirjathjearim to the place that David had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem. 5 Also, the brass altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the Lord, and Solomon and the congregation sought to it. 6 And Solomon went up there to the brass altar before the Lord, that was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it. 7 On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, "Ask what I shall give you." 8 And Solomon said to God, "You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me to rule instead of him. 9 Now, O Lord God, let your promise to David my father be established, for you have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. 10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, so that I can go out and come in before this people, for who can judge these people of yours, that are so many?" 11 And God said to Solomon, "Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor the life of your enemies, nor yet have asked long life, but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, so you can judge my people, over whom I have made you king, 12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted to you, and I will give you riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before you, nor after you shall any have the like." 13 Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and ruled over Israel. 14 And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen, and he had one thousand four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. 15 And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and he made cedar trees as the sycamore trees that are in the vale for abundance. 16 And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn, the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price. 17 And they fetched up, and brought out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty, and so they brought out horses for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, by their means. ___2_Chronicles chapter 2 1 And Solomon determined to build a house for the name of the Lord, and a house for his kingdom. 2 And Solomon chose seventy thousand men to carry burdens, and eighty thousand to cut in the mountain, and three thousand six hundred to oversee them. 3 And Solomon sent to Huram, the king of Tyre, saying, "As you dealt with David my father, and sent him cedars to build him a house to live in, so deal with me. 4 See, I build a house to the name of the Lord my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual showbread, and for the burnt offerings, morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the Lord our God. This is an ordinance forever to Israel. 5 And the house which I build is great, for great is our God above all gods. 6 But who is able to build him a house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens can't contain him? Who am I then, that I should build him a house, except only to burn sacrifice before him? 7 Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to engrave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father provided. 8 Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon, for I know that your servants have skill in cutting timber in Lebanon, and see, my servants shall be with your servants, 9 To prepare me timber in abundance, for the house that I am about to build shall be wonderfully great. 10 And see, I will give to your servants, the cutters that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil." 11 Then Huram, the king of Tyre, answered in writing, that he sent to Solomon, "Because the Lord has loved his people, he has made you king over them." 12 Huram said also, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who has given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, who will build a house for the Lord, and a house for his kingdom. 13 And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father's, 14 The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skillful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson, also to engrave any kind of engraving, and to find out every device that shall be put to him, with your cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord David your father. 15 Now therefore the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and the wine, that my lord has spoken of, let him send to his servants, 16 And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as you shall need, and we will bring it to you in floats by sea to Joppa, and you shall carry it up to Jerusalem." 17 And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering that David his father had numbered them with, and they were found to be one hundred fifty thousand three thousand six hundred. 18 And he set seventy thousand of them to be carriers of burdens, and eighty thousand to be cutters in the mountain, and three thousand six hundred overseers to set the people a work. ___2_Chronicles chapter 3 1 Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem in Mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared to David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 2 And he began to build on the second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his rule. 3 Now these are the things in which Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God. The length by feet after the first measure was ninety, and the breadth thirty feet. 4 And the porch that was in the front of the house, the length of it was according to the breadth of the house, thirty feet, and the height was one hundred eighty feet, and he plated it inside with pure gold. 5 And the greater house, he ceiled with fir tree, which he plated with fine gold, and set on it palm trees and chains. 6 And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty, and the gold was gold of Parvaim. 7 He plated also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls of it, and the doors of it, with gold, and engraved cherubims on the walls. 8 And he made the most holy house, the length of which was according to the breadth of the house, thirty feet, and the breadth of it thirty feet, and he plated it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents. 9 And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. And he plated the upper rooms with gold. 10 And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of image work, and plated them with gold. 11 And the wings of the cherubims were thirty feet long, one wing of the one cherub was seven and a half feet, reaching to the wall of the house, and the other wing was likewise seven and a half feet, reaching to the wing of the other cherub. 12 And one wing of the other cherub was seven and a half feet, reaching to the wall of the house, and the other wing was seven and a half feet also, joining to the wing of the other cherub. 13 The wings of these cherubims spread themselves out thirty feet, and they stood on their feet, and their faces were inward. 14 And he made the veil of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and made cherubims on it. 15 Also, he made before the house two pillars of fifty two and a half feet high, and the chapiter that was on the top of each of them was seven and a half feet. 16 And he made chains, as in the oracle, and put them on the heads of the pillars, and made a hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains. 17 And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left, and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz. ___2_Chronicles chapter 4 1 Also he made an altar of brass, thirty feet the length of it, and thirty feet the breadth of it, and fifteen feet the height of it. 2 Also he made a sea of fifteen feet from brim to brim, cast in the foundry, round in circle, and seven and a half feet the height of it, and a line of forty five feet surrounded it. 3 And under it was the likeness of oxen that surrounded it, ten in eighteen inches, surrounding the sea all around. Two rows of oxen were cast, when it was cast. 4 It stood on twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east, and the sea was set above on them, and all their hind parts were inward. 5 And the thickness of it was a hand breadth, and the brim of it like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies, and it received and held three thousand baths of liquid. 6 He also made ten wash basins, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them, such things as they offered for the burnt offering, they washed in them, but the sea was for the priests to wash in. 7 And he made ten candlesticks of gold according to their form, and set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left. 8 He made also ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right side, and five on the left. And he made a hundred basins of gold. 9 Furthermore, he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and plated the doors of them with brass. 10 And he set the sea on the right side of the east end, opposite the south. 11 And Huram made the pots, and the shovels, and the basins. And Huram finished the work that he was to make for king Solomon for the house of God, 12 Specifically, the two pillars, and the pommels, and the chapiters that were on the top of the two pillars, and the two wreaths to cover the two pommels of the chapiters that were on the top of the pillars, 13 And four hundred pomegranates on the two wreaths, two rows of pomegranates on each wreath, to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were on the pillars. 14 He made also bases, and he made wash basins on the bases, 15 One sea, and twelve oxen under it. 16 The pots also, and the shovels, and the flesh hooks, and all their instruments, did Huram his father make for king Solomon for the house of the Lord of bright brass. 17 The king cast them in the plain of Jordan, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredathah. 18 Thus Solomon made all these containers in great abundance, for the weight of the brass could not be found out. 19 And Solomon made all the containers that were for the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables on which the showbread was set, 20 Also the candlesticks with their lamps, so that they would burn after the manner before the oracle, of pure gold, 21 And the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, he made of gold, and that was perfect gold, 22 And the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the censers, of pure gold, and the entry of the house, the inner doors of it, for the most holy place, and the doors of the house of the temple, were of gold. ___2_Chronicles chapter 5 1 Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the Lord was finished, and Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated, and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments, he put among the treasures of the house of God. 2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion. 3 So all the men of Israel assembled themselves to the king in the feast that was in the seventh month. 4 And all the elders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the ark. 5 And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy containers that were in the tabernacle, these did the priests and the Levites bring up. 6 Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled to him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude. 7 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubims, 8 For the cherubims spread out their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves of it above. 9 And they pulled out the staves of the ark, so that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle, but they were not seen outside. And there it is until this day. 10 There was nothing in the ark except the two tables that Moses put in it at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt. 11 And when the priests had come out of the holy place, (for all the priests that were present were made holy, and did not then wait by course, 12 Also the Levites that were the singers, all of those of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brothers, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them one hundred twenty priests sounding with trumpets,) 13 As the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying, "For he is good, for his mercy endures forever," then the house was filled with a cloud, the house of the Lord, 14 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God. ___2_Chronicles chapter 6 1 Then Solomon said, "The Lord has said that he would live in the thick darkness. 2 But I have built a house of habitation for you, and a place for your dwelling forever. 3 And the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel, and all the congregation of Israel stood. 4 And he said, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who has with his hands fulfilled what he spoke with his mouth to my father David, saying, 5 Since the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build a house in, so that my name would be there, nor did I choose any man to be a ruler over my people Israel, 6 But I have chosen Jerusalem, so that my name would be there, and have chosen David to be over my people Israel. 7 Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 8 But the Lord said to David my father, since it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well in that it was in your heart, 9 But you shall not build the house, but your son who shall come out of your body, he shall build the house for my name. 10 The Lord therefore has performed his word that he has spoken, for I've risen up in the office of David my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built the house for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 11 And I have put in it the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord, that he made with the children of Israel." 12 And he stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread out his hands, 13 For Solomon had made a brass scaffold, of seven and a half feet long, and seven and a half feet broad, and four and a half feet high, and had set it in the middle of the court, and he stood on it, and kneeled down on his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven, 14 And said, "O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like you in the heaven, nor in the earth, who keeps covenant, and showed mercy to your servants, that walk before you with all their hearts, 15 You, who have kept with your servant David my father that which you have promised him, and spoke with your mouth, and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is this day. 16 Now therefore, O Lord God of Israel, keep with your servant David, my father, that which you have promised him, saying, there shall not fail you a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, yet so that your children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as you have walked before me. 17 Now then, O Lord God of Israel, let your word be verified, that you have spoken to your servant David. 18 But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? See, heaven and the heaven of heavens can't contain you, how much less this house that I have built! 19 Have respect therefore to the prayer of your servant, and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to listen to the cry and the prayer that your servant prays before you, 20 So that your eyes will be open on this house, day and night, on the place about which you've said that you would put your name there, to listen to the prayer that your servant prays toward this place. 21 Listen therefore to the supplications of your servant, and of your people Israel, that they shall make toward this place, hear from your dwelling place, from heaven, and when you hear, forgive. 22 If a man sins against his neighbor, and an oath is laid on him to make him swear, and the oath comes before your altar in this house, 23 Then hear from heaven, and do, and judge your servants, by requiting the wicked, by repaying his way on his own head, and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness. 24 And if your people Israel are put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against you, and shall return and confess your name, and pray and make supplication before you in this house, 25 Then hear from the heavens, and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land that you gave to them and to their fathers. 26 When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against you, yet if they pray toward this place, and confess your name, and turn from their sin, when you afflict them, 27 Then hear from heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants, and of your people Israel, when you have taught them the good way, in which they should walk, and send rain on your land, that you have given to your people for an inheritance. 28 If there is drought in the land, if there's pestilence, if there's blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillars, if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land, whatever disease or whatever sickness there is, 29 Then what prayer or whatever supplication shall be made of any man, or of all your people Israel, when everyone shall know his own trouble and his own grief, and shall spread out his hands in this house, 30 Then hear from heaven your dwelling place, and forgive, and give to every man according to all his ways, whose heart you know, (for only you know the hearts of the children of men,) 31 So that they'll fear you, to walk in your ways, so long as they live in the land that you gave to our fathers. 32 Also concerning the stranger, that is not of your people Israel, but has come from a far country for your great name's sake, and your mighty hand, and your stretched out arm, if they come and pray in this house, 33 Then hear from the heavens, from your dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calls to you for, so that all people of the earth will know your name, and fear you, as do your people Israel, and will know that this house, that I have built, is called by your name. 34 If your people go out to war against their enemies by the way that you shall send them, and they pray to you toward this city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name, 35 Then hear from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause. 36 If they sin against you, (for there is no man who doesn't sin,) and you are angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives to a land far off or near, 37 Yet if they think themselves in the land where they've been carried captive, and turn and pray to you in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt wickedly, 38 If they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, that you gave to their fathers, and toward the city that you have chosen, and toward the house that I have built for your name, 39 Then hear from the heavens, from your dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive your people who have sinned against you. 40 Now, my God, let, I beg of you, your eyes be open, and let your ears be attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. 41 Now therefore arise, O Lord God, into your resting place, you, and the ark of your strength, let your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let your saints rejoice in goodness. 42 O Lord God, don't turn away the face of your anointed, remember the mercies of David your servant." ___2_Chronicles chapter 7 1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house. 2 And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house. 3 And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord on the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying, "For he is good, for his mercy endures forever." 4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord. 5 And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty two thousand oxen, and one hundred twenty thousand sheep, so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. 6 And the priests waited on their offices, the Levites also with instruments of music of the Lord, that David the king had made to praise the Lord, because his mercy endures forever, when David praised by their ministry, and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood. 7 Also Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord, for he offered burnt offerings there, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brass altar that Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat. 8 Also at the same time, Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath to the river of Egypt. 9 And on the eighth day, they made a solemn assembly, for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days. 10 And on the twenty third day of the seventh month, he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the Lord had shown to David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people. 11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the Lord, and in his own house, he prospered. 12 And the Lord appeared to Solomon at night, and said to him, "I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for a house of sacrifice. 13 If I shut up heaven so that there's no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people, 14 If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes shall be open, and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. 16 For now I've chosen and made this house holy, so that my name will be there forever, and my eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually. 17 And as for you, if you'll walk before me, like David your father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and shall observe my statutes and my judgments, 18 Then I'll establish the throne of your kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David your father, saying, there shall not fail you a man to be ruler in Israel. 19 But if you turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, that I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them, 20 Then I'll pluck them up by the roots out of my land that I have given them, and this house, that I have made holy for my name, I'll throw out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations. 21 And this house, that is high, shall be an astonishment to everyone that passes by it, so that he shall say, why has the Lord done thus to this land, and to this house? 22 And it shall be answered, because they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them, therefore he has brought all this evil on them." ___2_Chronicles chapter 8 1 And at the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the house of the Lord, and his own house, 2 The cities that Huram had restored to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to live there. 3 And Solomon went to Hamathzobah, and prevailed against it. 4 And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities, that he built in Hamath. 5 Also he built Bethhoron the upper, and Bethhoron the lower, fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars, 6 And Baalath, and all the store cities that Solomon had, and all the chariot cities, and the cities of the horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion. 7 As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, that were not of Israel, 8 But of their children, who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel didn't consume, Solomon made them pay tribute until this day. 9 But of the children of Israel, Solomon didn't make any servants for his work, but they were men of war, and chief of his captains, and captains of his chariots and horsemen. 10 And these were the chief of king Solomon's officers, two hundred fifty, that bore rule over the people. 11 And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David to the house that he had built for her, for he said, "My wife shall not live in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy, to which the ark of the Lord has come." 12 Then Solomon offered burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of the Lord, that he had built before the porch, 13 After a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the Sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times a year, in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles. 14 And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required, the porters also by their courses at every gate, for so had David, the man of God, commanded. 15 And they didn't depart from the commandment of the king to the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures. 16 Now all the work of Solomon was prepared to the day of the foundation of the house of the Lord, and until it was finished. So the house of the Lord was perfected. 17 Then Solomon went to Eziongeber, and to Eloth, at the sea side, in the land of Edom. 18 And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea, and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took from there four hundred fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon. ___2_Chronicles chapter 9 1 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to test Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very large company of people, and camels that carried spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones, and when she had come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. 2 And Solomon told her all her questions, and there was nothing hidden from Solomon that he didn't tell her. 3 And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built, 4 And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, his cupbearers also, and their apparel, and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her. 5 And she said to the king, "It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts, and of your wisdom, 6 But I didn't believe their words, until I came, and my eyes had seen it, and see, the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me, for you exceed the fame that I heard. 7 Happy are your men, and happy are these, your servants, that stand continually before you, and hear your wisdom. 8 Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you to set you on his throne, to be king for the Lord your God, because your God loved Israel, to establish them forever, therefore he made you king over them, to do judgment and justice." 9 And she gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, and of spices great abundance, and precious stones, nor was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon. 10 And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones. 11 And the king made from the algum trees terraces to the house of the Lord, and to the king's palace, and harps and psalteries for singers, and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah. 12 And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, beside that which she had brought to the king. So she turned, and went away to her own land, she and her servants. 13 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty six talents of gold, 14 Beside that which chapmen and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia, and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon. 15 And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold, six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one target. 16 And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold, three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield. And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. 17 Also the king made a great throne of ivory, and plated it with pure gold. 18 And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, that were fastened to the throne, and stays on each side of the sitting place, and two lions standing by the stays, 19 And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other on the six steps. There was not the like made in any kingdom. 20 And all the drinking containers of king Solomon were of gold, and all the containers of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold, none were of silver, it was not anything accounted of in the days of Solomon. 21 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. 22 And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. 23 And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom that God had put in his heart. 24 And every man brought his present, containers of silver, and containers of gold, and clothing, harnesses, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year. 25 And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. 26 And he ruled over all the kings from the river to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. 27 And the king made silver in Jerusalem like stones, and he made cedar trees like the sycamore trees that are in the low plains in abundance. 28 And they brought to Solomon horses out of Egypt, and out of all lands. 29 Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat? 30 And Solomon ruled in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. 31 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father, and Rehoboam his son ruled instead of him. ___2_Chronicles chapter 10 1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king. 2 And when Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard it, Jeroboam returned out of Egypt. 3 And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 4 "Your father made our yoke grievous, now therefore ease somewhat the grievous servitude of your father, and his heavy yoke that he put on us, and we will serve you." 5 And he said to them, "Come back to me after three days." And the people departed. 6 And king Rehoboam got advice from the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he still lived, saying, "What advice do you give me to answer these people?" 7 And they said, "If you'll be kind to these people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be your servants forever." 8 But he forsook the advice that the old men gave him, and got advice from the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him. 9 And he said to them, "What do you advise me to answer these people, who have spoken to me, saying, ease somewhat the yoke that your father put on us?" 10 And the young men that were brought up with him spoke to him, saying, "Thus shall you answer the people that spoke to you, saying, your father made our yoke heavy, but make it somewhat lighter for us, thus shall you say to them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. 11 For whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will put more to your yoke, my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions." 12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, like the king said, saying, "Come back to me on the third day." 13 And the king answered them roughly, and king Rehoboam forsook the advice of the old men, 14 And answered them according to the advice of the young men, saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it, my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions." 15 So the king didn't listen to the people, for the cause was from God, so that the Lord would perform his word, that he spoke by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 16 And when all Israel saw that the king would not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, "What portion do we have in David? And we have no inheritance in the son of Jesse, every man to your tents, O Israel, and now, David, see to your own house." So all Israel went to their tents. 17 But as for the children of Israel that lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam ruled over them. 18 Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the taxes, and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, so that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. 19 And Israel rebelled against the house of David to this day. ___2_Chronicles chapter 11 1 And when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin one hundred eighty thousand chosen men, who were warriors, to fight against Israel, so he could bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam. 2 But the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 3 "Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, 4 Thus says the Lord, You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers, return every man to his house, for this thing is done by me." And they obeyed the words of the Lord, and returned from going against Jeroboam. 5 And Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah. 6 He built Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa, 7 And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam, 8 And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph, 9 And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah, 10 And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin, fenced cities. 11 And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of food, and of oil and wine. 12 And in every several city, he put shields and spears, and made them very strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side. 13 And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts. 14 For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had thrown them out from executing the priest's office to the Lord, 15 And he ordained himself priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves that he had made. 16 And after them, out of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice to the Lord God of their fathers. 17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, strong, three years, for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon. 18 And Rehoboam took Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, as his wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse, 19 Who bore him children, Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham. 20 And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. 21 And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines, (for he took eighteen wives, and sixty concubines, and fathered twenty eight sons, and sixty daughters.) 22 And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brothers, for he thought to make him king. 23 And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, to every fenced city, and he gave them food in abundance. And he desired many wives. ___2_Chronicles chapter 12 1 And when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him. 2 And in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the Lord, 3 With twelve hundred chariots, and sixty thousand horsemen, and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt, the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians. 4 And he took the fenced cities that pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem. 5 Then came Shemaiah, the prophet, to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, "Thus says the Lord, you have forsaken me, and therefore I've also left you in the hand of Shishak." 6 So then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves, and they said, "The Lord is righteous." 7 And when the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying, "They have humbled themselves, therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my anger shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. 8 But they shall be his servants, so that they'll know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries." 9 So Shishak, king of Egypt, came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house, he took all, he carried away also the shields of gold that Solomon had made. 10 Instead of which, king Rehoboam made shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard, that kept the entrance of the king's house. 11 And when the king entered into the house of the Lord, the guard came and fetched them, and brought them back into the guard room. 12 And when he humbled himself, the anger of the Lord turned from him, so that he would not destroy him completely, and also in Judah things went well. 13 So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and ruled, for Rehoboam was forty one years old when he began to rule, and he ruled seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city that the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess. 14 And he did evil, because he didn't prepare his heart to seek the Lord. 15 Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo, the seer, concerning genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually. 16 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David, and Abijah his son ruled instead of him. ___2_Chronicles chapter 13 1 Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam, Abijah began to rule over Judah. 2 He ruled three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. 3 And Abijah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, four hundred thousand chosen men, Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, being mighty men of valor. 4 And Abijah stood up on Mount Zemaraim, which is in Mount Ephraim, and said, "Hear me, Jeroboam, and all Israel, 5 Ought you not to know that the Lord God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David forever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt? 6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, has risen up, and has rebelled against his lord. 7 And there are gathered to him vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tender hearted, and could not withstand them. 8 And now you think to withstand the kingdom of the Lord in the hand of the sons of David, and you are a great multitude, and there are with you golden calves, that Jeroboam made you for gods. 9 Have you not thrown out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made yourselves priests after the manner of the nations of other lands? So that whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same can be a priest of those that are not gods. 10 But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken him, and the priests, who minister to the Lord, are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait on their business, 11 And they burn to the Lord every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense, the showbread also they set in order on the pure table, and the candlestick of gold with the lamps of it, to burn every evening, for we keep the charge of the Lord our God, but you have forsaken him. 12 And see, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, don't fight against the Lord God of your fathers, for you shall not prosper." 13 But Jeroboam caused an ambush to come behind them, so they were before Judah, and the ambush was behind them. 14 And when Judah looked back, see, the battle was before and behind, and they shouted to the Lord, and the priests sounded with the trumpets. 15 Then the men of Judah gave a shout, and as the men of Judah shouted, God struck Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. 16 And the children of Israel fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hand. 17 And Abijah and his people killed them with a great slaughter, so there fell down killed of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men. 18 Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied on the Lord God of their fathers. 19 And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with the towns of it, and Jeshanah with the towns of it, and Ephrain with the towns of it. 20 Nor did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah, and the Lord struck him, and he died. 21 But Abijah grew mighty, and married fourteen wives, and fathered twenty two sons, and sixteen daughters. 22 And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo. ___2_Chronicles chapter 14 1 So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and Asa his son ruled instead of him. In his days the land was quiet ten years. 2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God, 3 For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and broke down the images, and cut down the groves, 4 And commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandments. 5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images, and the kingdom was quiet before him. 6 And he built fenced cities in Judah, for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years, because the Lord had given him rest. 7 Therefore he said to Judah, "Let us build these cities, and make walls around them, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us, because we have sought the Lord our God, we have sought him, and he has given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered. 8 And Asa had an army of men that carried targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand, and out of Benjamin, that carried shields and drew bows, two hundred eighty thousand, all these were mighty men of valor. 9 And Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them, with an army of a million, and three hundred chariots, and came to Mareshah. 10 Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. 11 And Asa called to the Lord his God, and said, "Lord, it is nothing with you to help, whether with many, or with those who have no power, help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on you, and in your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, you are our God, don't let man prevail against you." 12 So the Lord struck the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. 13 And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them to Gerar, and the Ethiopians were overthrown, so that they could not recover themselves, for they were destroyed before the Lord, and before his host, and they carried away very much spoil. 14 And they struck all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the Lord came on them, and they spoiled all the cities, for there was very much spoil in them. 15 They struck also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem. ___2_Chronicles chapter 15 1 And the Spirit of God came on Azariah, the son of Oded, 2 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, and if you seek him, he will be found of you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. 3 Now for a long season Israel has been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law. 4 But when they in their trouble did turn to the Lord God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them. 5 And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were on all the inhabitants of the countries. 6 And nation was destroyed by nation, and city by city, for God vexed them with all adversity. 7 Be strong therefore, and don't let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded." 8 And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded, the prophet, he took courage, and put away the dirty idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities that he had taken from Mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the Lord, that was before the porch of the Lord. 9 And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon, for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the Lord his God was with him. 10 So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the rule of Asa. 11 And they offered to the Lord the same time, of the spoil that they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep. 12 And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul, 13 So that whoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. 14 And they swore to the Lord with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets. 15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by them, and the Lord gave them rest all around. 16 And also concerning Maachah, the mother of Asa, the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove, and Asa cut down her idol, and stomped on it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron. 17 But the high places were not taken away out of Israel, but the heart of Asa was perfect all his days. 18 And he brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and containers. 19 And there was no more war until the thirty fifth year of the rule of Asa. ___2_Chronicles chapter 16 1 In the thirty sixth year of the rule of Asa, Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah for the purpose of not letting anyone go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 2 Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the Lord and of the king's house, and sent to Benhadad king of Syria, that lived at Damascus, saying, 3 "There is a league between me and you, as there was between my father and your father, see, I have sent you silver and gold, go, break your league with Baasha king of Israel, so he will depart from me." 4 And Benhadad listened to king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel, and they struck Ijon, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the store cities of Naphtali. 5 And when Baasha heard it, he stopped building Ramah, and let his work stop. 6 Then Asa the king took all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber of it, with which Baasha was building, and he built with that Geba and Mizpah. 7 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him, "Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the Lord your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped out of your hand. 8 Weren't the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the Lord, he delivered them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the Lord run back and forth throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong for those whose heart is perfect toward him. In this you have done foolishly, therefore from now on you shall have wars." 10 Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in a prison house, for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time. 11 And see, the acts of Asa, first and last are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 12 And Asa in the thirty ninth year of his rule was diseased in his feet, until his disease was very serious, yet in his disease he didn't seek to the Lord, but to the doctors. 13 And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the forty first year of his rule. 14 And they buried him in his own tomb that he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed that was filled with sweet odors and various kinds of spices prepared by the apothecary's art, and they made a very great burning for him. ___2_Chronicles chapter 17 1 And Jehoshaphat his son ruled instead of him, and strengthened himself against Israel. 2 And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, that Asa his father had taken. 3 And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and didn't seek to Baalim, 4 But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. 5 Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought presents to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance. 6 And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord, also, he took away the high places and groves out of Judah. 7 Also, in the third year of his rule he sent to his princes, to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah. 8 And with them he sent Levites, Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, Levites, and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests. 9 And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went around throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people. 10 And the fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Also, some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver, and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams, and seven thousand seven hundred he goats. 12 And Jehoshaphat grew very great, and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store. 13 And he had much business in the cities of Judah, and the men of war, mighty men of valor, were in Jerusalem. 14 And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers, of Judah, the captains of thousands, Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valor three hundred thousand. 15 And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred eighty thousand. 16 And next to him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to the Lord, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor. 17 And of Benjamin, Eliada a mighty man of valor, and with him, armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand. 18 And next to him was Jehozabad, and with him one hundred eighty thousand ready, prepared for the war. 19 These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah. ___2_Chronicles chapter 18 1 Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab. 2 And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramothgilead. 3 And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, "Will you go with me to Ramothgilead?" And he answered him, "I am as you are, and my people as your people, and we will be with you in the war." 4 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Inquire, please, at the word of the Lord today." 5 Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I not go?" And they said, "Go up, for God will deliver it into the king's hand." 6 But Jehoshaphat said, "Isn't there another prophet of the Lord here, so we can inquire from him?" 7 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man, by whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, for he never prophesied good to me, but always evil, the same is Micaiah the son of Imla." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let the king not say so." 8 And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, "Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla." 9 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat both of them on their thrones, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets prophesied before them. 10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made for himself horns of iron, and said, "Thus says the Lord, with these you shall push Syria until they are consumed." 11 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, "Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper, for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king." 12 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah said to him, "See, the words of the prophets declare good to the king unanimously, please let your word therefore, be like one of theirs, and speak good." 13 And Micaiah said, "As the Lord lives, what my God says, that's will I'll say." 14 And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I refrain from going?" And he said, "Go up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand." 15 And the king said to him, "How many times shall I warn you to say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the Lord?" 16 Then he said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep that have no shepherd, and the Lord said, These have no master, let them return therefore every man to his house in peace." 17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Didn't I tell you that he would not prophesy good to me, but evil?" 18 Again he said, "Therefore hear the word of the Lord, I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing at his right hand and on his left. 19 And the Lord said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, to go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spoke saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner. 20 Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will entice him. And the Lord said to him, how? 21 And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said, you shall entice him, and you shall also prevail, go out, and do so. 22 Now therefore, see, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours, and the Lord has spoken evil against you." 23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, "Which way did the Spirit of the Lord go from me to speak to you?" 24 And Micaiah said, "See, you'll know on the day when you shall go into an inner room to hide yourself." 25 Then the king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son, 26 And say, thus says the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace." 27 And Micaiah said, "If you return in peace, then the Lord has not spoken by me." And he said, "Listen, all you people." 28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead. 29 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle, but you put on your robes." So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went to the battle. 30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, saying, "Don't fight with small or great, but only with the king of Israel." 31 And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, "It is the king of Israel." Therefore they surrounded him to fight, but Jehoshaphat shouted out, and the Lord helped him, and God moved them to depart from him. 32 For when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. 33 And a certain man drew a bow by chance, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of the harness, therefore he said to his chariot man, "Turn your hand, so you can carry me out of the host, for I am wounded." 34 And the battle increased that day, but the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the evening, and about the time of the sun going down he died. ___2_Chronicles chapter 19 1 And Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem. 2 And 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? Therefore there is anger against you from before the Lord. 3 But there are good things found in you, in that you have taken away the groves out of the land, and have prepared your heart to seek God." 4 And Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem, and he went out again through the people from Beersheba to Mount Ephraim, and brought them back to the Lord God of their fathers. 5 And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city, 6 And said to the judges, "Watch what you're doing, for you're not judging for man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the judgment. 7 So now let the fear of the Lord be on you, take heed and do it, for there is no sin with the Lord our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes." 8 Also in Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat set some of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the Lord, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem. 9 And he charged them, saying, "Thus shall you do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. 10 And whatever cause shall come to you of your brothers that live in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, you shall warn them not to trespass against the Lord, and so anger would come against you, and on your brothers, do this, and you won't trespass. 11 And see, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the Lord, and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters, also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and the Lord shall be with the good." ___2_Chronicles chapter 20 1 After this also, the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them others beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. 2 Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea on this side of Syria, and see, they are in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi." 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord, out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. 5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, 6 And said, "O Lord God of our fathers, aren't you God in heaven? And don't you rule over all the kingdoms of the heathen? And in your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand you? 7 Aren't you our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of your friend Abraham forever? 8 And they lived in it, and have built you a sanctuary in it for your name, saying, 9 If, when evil comes on us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in your presence, (for your name is in this house,) and cry to you in our affliction, then you will hear and help. 10 And now, see, the children of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and didn't destroy them, 11 See, I say, how they repay us, to come to throw us out of your possession that you've given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no might against this large company that comes against us, nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on you." 13 And all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 14 Then on Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, the Spirit of the Lord came among the congregation, 15 And he said, "Listen all Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you king Jehoshaphat, thus says the Lord to you, don't be afraid nor discouraged because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's. 16 Tomorrow go down against them, see, they come up by the cliff of Ziz, and you shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You shall not need to fight in this battle, set yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem, don't be afraid, nor be discouraged, tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord will be with you." 18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord. 19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high. 20 And they rose 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 in the Lord your God, so shall you be established, believe his prophets, so shall you prosper." 21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers to the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, "Praise the Lord, for his mercy endures forever." 22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, and they were struck. 23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, to completely kill and destroy them, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, everyone helped to destroy each other. 24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked to the multitude, and see, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and no one escaped. 25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away, and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much. 26 And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah, for there they blessed the Lord, therefore the name of the same place was called, the valley of Berachah, until this day. 27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in front of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies. 28 And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets to the house of the Lord. 29 And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God had given him rest all around. 31 And Jehoshaphat ruled over Judah, he was thirty five years old when he began to rule, and he ruled twenty five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. 32 And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and didn't depart from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the Lord. 33 But the high places were not taken away, for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts to the God of their fathers. 34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, see, they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel. 35 And after this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly, 36 And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they made the ships in Eziongeber. 37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because you have joined yourself with Ahaziah, the Lord has broken your works." And the ships were broken, so that they were not able to go to Tarshish. ___2_Chronicles chapter 21 1 Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son ruled instead of him. 2 And he had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah, all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat, king of Israel. 3 And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah, but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn. 4 Now when Jehoram had risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and killed all his brothers with the sword, and various also of the princes of Israel. 5 Jehoram was thirty two years old when he began to rule, and he ruled eight years in Jerusalem. 6 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like the house of Ahab, for he had the daughter of Ahab as wife, and he did that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord. 7 But the Lord would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons forever. 8 In his days, the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king. 9 Then Jehoram went out with his princes, and all his chariots with him, and he rose up at night, and struck the Edomites that had surrounded him, and the captains of the chariots. 10 So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah until this day. At the same time, Libnah also revolted from under his hand, because he had forsaken the Lord God of his fathers. 11 Also, he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah to do that. 12 And a writing came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, "Thus says the Lord God of David your father, because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah, 13 But have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also have killed your brothers of your father's house, who were better than you, 14 See, the Lord will strike your people with a great plague, and your children, and your wives, and all your goods, 15 And you shall have great sickness by disease of your bowels, until your bowels fall out because of the sickness day by day. 16 Also, the Lord stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians that were near the Ethiopians, 17 And they came up into Judah, and broke into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and his sons also, and his wives, so that there was no son left to him except Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons. 18 And after all this the Lord struck him in his bowels with an incurable disease. 19 And in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out because of his sickness, so he died of severe diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers. 20 He was thirty two years old when he began to rule, and he ruled in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. But they buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. ___2_Chronicles chapter 22 1 And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, his youngest son, king instead of him, for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had killed all the eldest. So Ahaziah, the son of Jehoram king of Judah ruled. 2 Ahaziah was forty two years old when he began to rule, and he ruled one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri. 3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor to do wickedly. 4 So he did evil in the sight of the Lord like the house of Ahab, for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction. 5 He walked also, following their advice, and went with Jehoram, the son of Ahab king of Israel, to war against Hazael, king of Syria, at Ramothgilead, and the Syrians struck Joram. 6 And he returned to be healed in Jezreel because of the wounds that were given him at Ramah, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah, the son of Jehoram king of Judah, went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was sick. 7 And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to Joram, for when he had come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the Lord had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab. 8 And when Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brothers of Ahaziah, that ministered to Ahaziah, he killed them. 9 And he sought Ahaziah, and they caught him, (for he was hidden in Samaria,) and brought him to Jehu, and when they had killed him, they buried him, "Because," they said, "He is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart." So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep the kingdom. 10 But when Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she got up and destroyed all the royal descendants of the house of Judah. 11 But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons that were killed, and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she didn't kill him. 12 And he was with them hidden in the house of God six years, and Athaliah ruled over the land. ___2_Chronicles chapter 23 1 And in the seventh year, Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah, the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him. 2 And they went around in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. 3 And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said to them, "See, the king's son shall rule, as the Lord has said about the sons of David. 4 This is the thing that you shall do, one third of you entering on the Sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the doors, 5 And one third shall be at the king's house, and one third at the gate of the foundation, and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord. 6 But let no one come into the house of the Lord, except the priests, and those who minister of the Levites, they shall go in, for they are holy, but all the people shall keep the watch of the Lord. 7 And the Levites shall surround the king, every man with his weapons in his hand, and whoever else comes into the house, he shall be put to death, but be with the king when he comes in, and when he goes out." 8 So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the Sabbath, with those who were to go out on the Sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest didn't dismiss the courses. 9 Also Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David's, who were in the house of God. 10 And he set all the people, every man having his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the king all around. 11 Then they brought out the king's son, and put the crown on him, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, "God save the king." 12 Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the Lord, 13 And she looked, and see, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of music, and those who taught the singing of praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes, and said, "Treason, treason." 14 Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds that were set over the army, and said to them, "Take her out of range, and whoever follows her, let him be killed with the sword." For the priest said, "Don't kill her in the house of the Lord." 15 So they laid hands on her, and when she had come to the entering of the horse gate by the king's house, they killed her there. 16 And Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, and all the people, and with the king, that they would be the Lord's people. 17 Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and broke it down, and broke his altars and his images in pieces, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. 18 Also, Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the Lord by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in 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 with singing, as it was ordained by David. 19 And he set the door keepers at the gates of the house of the Lord, so that no one who was unclean in any way would enter in. 20 And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors 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 high gate into the king's house, and set the king on the throne of the kingdom. 21 And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet, after they had killed Athaliah with the sword. ___2_Chronicles chapter 24 1 Joash was seven years old when he began to rule, and he ruled forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3 And Jehoiada took two wives for him, and he fathered sons and daughters. 4 And after this, Joash was minded to repair the house of the Lord. 5 And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, "Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather from all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and make sure you hasten the matter. But the Levites didn't hasten it. 6 And the king called for Jehoiada, the chief, and said to him, "Why haven't you required of the Levites to bring in from Judah and from Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses, the servant of the Lord, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?" 7 For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God, and also they bestowed all the dedicated things of the house of the Lord on Baalim. 8 And at the king's commandment, they made a chest, and set it outside at the gate of the house of the Lord. 9 And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to the Lord the collection that Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness. 10 And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and threw into the chest, until they had made an end. 11 Now at the time the chest was brought to the king's office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was a lot of money, the king's scribe and the high priest's officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it back to its place. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance. 12 And the king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of the Lord, and hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the Lord, and also such as made iron and brass to mend the house of the Lord. 13 So the workmen worked, and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in its state, and strengthened it. 14 And when they had finished it, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, from which containers were made for the house of the Lord, containers to minister, and to offer with, and spoons, and containers of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the Lord continually all the days of Jehoiada. 15 But Jehoiada grew old, and was full of days when he died, he was one hundred thirty years old when he died. 16 And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good things in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house. 17 Now after the death of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah came, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king listened to them. 18 And they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served groves and idols, and anger came on Judah and Jerusalem for this trespass of theirs. 19 Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them back to the Lord, and they testified against them, but they would not listen. 20 And the Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, "Thus says God, why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord, so that you can't prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has also forsaken you." 21 And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the Lord. 22 Thus Joash the king didn't remember the kindness that Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son. And when he died, he said, "The Lord look at it, and require it." 23 And at the end of the year, the army of Syria came up against him, and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all the spoil of them to the king of Damascus. 24 For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the Lord delivered a very large army into their hand, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash. 25 And when they had departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed, and he died, and they buried him in the city of David, but they didn't bury him in the tombs of the kings. 26 And these are those who conspired against him, Zabad, the son of Shimeath, an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad, the son of Shimrith, a Moabitess. 27 Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the burdens laid on him, and the repairing of the house of God, see, they are written in the story of the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son ruled instead of him. ___2_Chronicles chapter 25 1 Amaziah was twenty five years old when he began to rule, and he ruled twenty nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. 2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart. 3 Now when the kingdom was established for him, he killed his servants that had killed the king his father. 4 But he didn't kill their children, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, where the Lord commanded, saying, "The fathers shall not die for the children, nor shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin." 5 Also, Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin, and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield. 6 He hired also one hundred thousand mighty men of valor out of Israel for a hundred talents of silver. 7 But a man of God came to him, saying, "O king, don't let the army of Israel go with you, for the Lord is not with Israel, specifically, with all the children of Ephraim. 8 But if you will go, do it, be strong for the battle, God shall make you fall before the enemy, for God has power to help, and to throw down." 9 And Amaziah said to the man of God, "But what shall we do for the hundred talents that I have given to the army of Israel?" And the man of God answered, "The Lord is able to give you much more than this." 10 Then Amaziah separated them, specifically, the army that had come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again, and so their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in great anger. 11 And Amaziah strengthened himself, and led out his people, and went to the valley of salt, and struck of the children of Seir ten thousand. 12 And another ten thousand left alive did the children of Judah carry away captive, and brought them to the top of the rock, and threw them down from the top of the rock, so that they were all broken in pieces. 13 But the soldiers of the army that Amaziah sent back, so that they wouldn't go with him to battle, fell on the cities of Judah, from Samaria to Bethhoron, and struck three thousand of them, and took much spoil. 14 Now after Amaziah had returned from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense to them. 15 So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent to him a prophet, who said to him, "Why have you sought after the gods of the people that could not deliver their own people out of your hand?" 16 And as he talked with him, the king said to him, "Are you made of the king's counsel? Stop, why should you be struck?" Then the prophet stopped, and said, "I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this, and have not listened to my advice." 17 Then Amaziah, king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, "Come, let us look at each other face to face." 18 And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "The thorn that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, give your daughter to my son as wife, and a wild animal passed by that was in Lebanon, and trampled the thistle. 19 You say, see, you have struck the Edomites, and your heart lifts you up to boast. Stay at home now, why should you meddle to your hurt, so that you'll fall, you, and Judah with you?" 20 But Amaziah would not listen, for it came of God, so that he would deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom. 21 So Joash, the king of Israel, went up and they saw each other face to face, both he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Bethshemesh, that belongs to Judah. 22 And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to his tent. 23 And Joash, the king of Israel, took Amaziah, king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Bethshemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, two hundred yards. 24 And he took all the gold and the silver, and all the containers that were found in the house of God with Obededom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria. 25 And Amaziah, the son of Joash king of Judah, lived after the death of Joash, son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, fifteen years. 26 Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, see, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel? 27 Now after the time that Amaziah turned away from following the Lord, they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish, but they sent to Lachish after him, and killed him there. 28 And they brought him on horses, and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah. ___2_Chronicles chapter 26 1 Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah. 2 He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers. 3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to rule, and he ruled fifty two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. 4 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah did. 5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God, and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper. 6 And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities around Ashdod, and among the Philistines. 7 And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that lived in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims. 8 And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah, and his name spread around even to the entering in of Egypt, for he strengthened himself very much. 9 Also, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them. 10 Also he built towers in the desert, and dug many wells, for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains, farmers also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel, for he loved farming. 11 Also, Uzziah had an army of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains. 12 The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valor was two thousand six hundred. 13 And there was an army under their hand, three hundred thousand seven thousand five hundred soldiers, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy. 14 And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the army shields, and spears, and helmets, and chain mail vests, and bows, and slings for throwing stones. 15 And he made engines in Jerusalem, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and on the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and boulders with. And his name spread far abroad, for he was marvelously helped, 'til he was strong. 16 But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him eighty priests of the Lord, that were valiant men, 18 And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said to him, "It doesn't pertain to you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but to the priests, the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense, go out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed, nor shall it be for your honor from the Lord God." 19 Then Uzziah was angry, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense, and while he was angry with the priests, the leprosy rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord, from beside the incense altar. 20 And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked at him, and see, he was leprous in his forehead, and they threw him out of there, yes, he himself hurried also to go out, because the Lord had struck him. 21 And Uzziah the king was a leper until the day of his death, and lived in a several house, being a leper, for he was cut off from the house of the Lord, and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land. 22 Now Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, wrote the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last. 23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial that belonged to the kings, for they said, "He is a leper," and Jotham his son ruled instead of him. ___2_Chronicles chapter 27 1 Jotham was twenty five years old when he began to rule, and he ruled sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok. 2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Uzziah did, but he didn't enter into the temple of the Lord. And the people still did corruptly. 3 He built the high gate of the house of the Lord, and on the wall of Ophel, he built much. 4 Also he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests, he built castles and towers. 5 He fought also with the king of the Ammonites, and prevailed against them. And the same year, the children of Ammon gave him a hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. So much did the children of Ammon pay to him, both the second year, and the third. 6 So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God. 7 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways, see, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. 8 He was twenty five years old when he began to rule, and ruled sixteen years in Jerusalem. 9 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and Ahaz his son ruled instead of him. ___2_Chronicles chapter 28 1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to rule, and he ruled sixteen years in Jerusalem, but he didn't do that which was right in the sight of the Lord, like David his father, 2 For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and also made images for Baalim, cast in the foundry. 3 Also he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, according to the dirty things of the heathen whom the Lord had thrown out before the children of Israel. 4 He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. 5 So the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria, and they struck him, and carried a great multitude of them away captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with a great slaughter. 6 For Pekah, the son of Remaliah, killed in Judah one hundred twenty thousand in one day, who were all valiant men, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers. 7 And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam, the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king. 8 And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brothers two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and also took away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria. 9 But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded, and he went out before the army that came to Samaria, and said to them, "See, because the Lord God of your fathers was angry with Judah, he has delivered them into your hand, and you have killed them in a rage that reaches up to heaven. 10 And now you purpose to oppress the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen for you, but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the Lord your God? 11 Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives back that you have taken captive of your brothers, for the fierce anger of the Lord is on you." 12 Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah, the son of Johanan, Berechiah, the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah, the son of Shallum, and Amasa, the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who came from the war, 13 And said to them, "You shall not bring in the captives here, for whereas we have offended against the Lord already, you intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass, for our trespass is great, and there is fierce anger against Israel." 14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation. 15 And the men who were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and put shoes on them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them on asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers, then they returned to Samaria. 16 At that time king Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to help him. 17 For again the Edomites had come and struck Judah, and carried away captives. 18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages of it, and Timnah with the villages of it, Gimzo also and the villages of it, and they lived there. 19 For the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he made Judah naked, and transgressed severely against the Lord. 20 And Tilgathpilneser, king of Assyria, came to him, and distressed him, but didn't strengthen him. 21 For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the Lord, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it to the king of Assyria, but he didn't help him. 22 And in the time of his distress he trespassed yet more against the Lord, this is that king Ahaz. 23 For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, who struck him, and he said, "Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, so they will help me." But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel. 24 And Ahaz gathered together the containers of the house of God, and cut in pieces the containers of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and he made himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem. 25 And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked to anger the Lord God of his fathers. 26 Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and last, see, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem, but they didn't bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel, and Hezekiah his son ruled instead of him. ___2_Chronicles chapter 29 1 Hezekiah began to rule when he was twenty five years old, and he ruled twenty nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. 2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. 3 In the first year of his rule, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord, and repaired them. 4 And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street, 5 And said to them, "Hear me, you Levites, make yourselves holy now, and make the house of the Lord God of your fathers holy, and carry the filthiness out of the holy place. 6 For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned their faces away from the habitation of the Lord, and turned their backs. 7 Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel. 8 So the anger of the Lord was on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as you see with your eyes. 9 For see, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. 10 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us. 11 My sons, don't be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that you should minister to him, and burn incense. 12 Then the Levites got up, Mahath, the son of Amasai, and Joel, the son of Azariah of the sons of the Kohathites, and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah, the son of Jehalelel, and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah, 13 And of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri, and Jeiel, and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah, and Mattaniah, 14 And of the sons of Heman, Jehiel, and Shimei, and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah, and Uzziel. 15 And they gathered their brothers, and made themselves holy, and came, according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord. 16 And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the Lord into the court of the house of the Lord. And the Levites took it, to carry it out into the brook Kidron. 17 Now they began on the first day of the first month to make holy, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the porch of the Lord, so they made the house of the Lord holy in eight days, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished. 18 Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, "We have cleansed all the house of the Lord, and the altar of burnt offering, with all the containers of it, and the showbread table, with all the containers of it. 19 Also all the containers that king Ahaz in his rule threw away in his transgression, we have prepared and made holy, and see, they are before the altar of the Lord. 20 Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the Lord. 21 And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the Lord. 22 So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar, likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood on the altar, they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood on the altar. 23 And they brought the he goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation, and they laid their hands on them, 24 And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood on the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel, for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel. 25 And he set the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet, for so was the commandment of the Lord by his prophets. 26 And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. 27 And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the Lord began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David, king of Israel. 28 And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded, and all of this continued until the burnt offering was finished. 29 And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped. 30 Also, Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise to the Lord with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped. 31 Then Hezekiah responded by saying, "Now you have consecrated yourselves to the Lord, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the Lord." And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings, and as many as were of a free heart, burnt offerings. 32 And the number of the burnt offerings that the congregation brought, was seventy bullocks, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs, all these were for a burnt offering to the Lord. 33 And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep. 34 But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings, so their brothers the Levites helped them, 'til the work had ended, and until the other priests had made themselves holy, for the Levites were more upright in heart to make themselves holy than the priests. 35 And also, the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings, and the drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the house of the Lord was set in order. 36 And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people, for the thing was done suddenly. ___2_Chronicles chapter 30 1 And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to the Lord God of Israel. 2 For the king had taken advice, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the Passover in the second month. 3 For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sufficiently made themselves holy, nor had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem. 4 And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation. 5 So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover to the Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem, for they had not done it for a long time the way that it was written. 6 So the messengers went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, "You children of Israel, turn again to the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 And don't be like your fathers, and like your brothers, who trespassed against the Lord God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as you see. 8 Now don't be stiff necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the Lord, and enter into his sanctuary that he has made holy forever, and serve the Lord your God, so that the fierceness of his anger will turn away from you. 9 For if you turn back to the Lord, your brothers and your children shall find compassion before those who lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land, for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him. 10 So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh to Zebulun, but they laughed at them scornfully, and mocked them. 11 But various of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem. 12 Also, in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the Lord. 13 And many people assembled at Jerusalem to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation. 14 And they got up and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and they took away all the altars for incense, and threw them into the brook Kidron. 15 Then they killed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the second month, and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and made themselves holy, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the Lord. 16 And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses, the man of God, the priests sprinkled the blood that they received from the hand of the Levites. 17 For there were many in the congregation that were not made holy, therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the Passovers for everyone that was not clean, to make them holy to the Lord. 18 For a multitude of the people, many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, "The good Lord pardon everyone 19 That prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he's not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary." 20 And the Lord listened to Hezekiah, and healed the people. 21 And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness, and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day, singing with loud instruments to the Lord. 22 And Hezekiah spoke comfortably to all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the Lord, and they ate throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the Lord God of their fathers. 23 And the whole assembly took advice to keep another seven days, and they kept another seven days with gladness. 24 For Hezekiah, king of Judah, gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep, and the princes gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep, and a great number of priests made themselves holy. 25 And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and that lived in Judah, rejoiced. 26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon, the son of David king of Israel, there was not the like in Jerusalem. 27 Then the priests the Levites got up and blessed the people, and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, to heaven. ___2_Chronicles chapter 31 1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and broke the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had completely destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities. 2 And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, 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 tents of the Lord. 3 He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, specifically, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the Lord. 4 Also, he commanded the people that lived in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, so that they would be encouraged in the law of the Lord. 5 And as soon as the commandment came around, the children of Israel brought in abundance the first fruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field, and the ten percent of all things they brought in abundantly. 6 And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that lived in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the ten percent of oxen and sheep, and the ten percent of holy things that were consecrated to the Lord their God, and laid them in heaps. 7 In the third month, they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month. 8 And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord, and his people Israel. 9 Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. 10 And Azariah the chief 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, and have left plenty, for the Lord has blessed his people, and what is left is this great storage of goods." 11 Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare rooms in the house of the Lord, and they prepared them, 12 And brought in the offerings and the tenths and the dedicated things faithfully, over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was next after him. 13 And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God. 14 And Kore, the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the offerings of the Lord, and the most holy things. 15 And next to him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their brothers by courses, as well to the great as to the small, 16 Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, to everyone that enters into the house of the Lord, his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses, 17 Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their charges by their courses, 18 And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation, for in their set office they made themselves holy in holiness, 19 Also, of the sons of Aaron the priests, that were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every several city, the men that were expressed by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites. 20 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and did that which was good and right and truth before the Lord his God. 21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered. ___2_Chronicles chapter 32 1 After these things, and the establishment of it, Sennacherib, king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to take them for himself. 2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come, and that he purposed to fight against Jerusalem, 3 He took advice with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains that were outside the city, and they helped him. 4 So many people were gathered together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the middle of the land, saying, "Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?" 5 Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall outside, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance. 6 And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spoke comfortably to them, saying, 7 "Be strong and courageous, don't be afraid nor discouraged for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him, for there are more with us than with him, 8 With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles." And the people rested themselves on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. 9 After this Sennacherib, king of Assyria, sent his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) to Hezekiah king of Judah, and to all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying, 10 "Thus says Sennacherib, king of Assyria, on what do you trust, that you stay in the siege in Jerusalem? 11 Doesn't Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The Lord our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria? 12 Hasn't the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, You shall worship before one altar, and burn incense on it? 13 Don't you know what I and my fathers have done to all the people of other lands? Were the gods of the nations of those lands in any way able to deliver their lands out of my hand? 14 Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers completely destroyed, that could deliver his people out of my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of my hand? 15 Now therefore don't let Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you this way, nor believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of my hand, and out of the hand of my fathers, how much less shall your God deliver you out of my hand?" 16 And his servants spoke yet more against the Lord God, and against his servant Hezekiah. 17 He also wrote letters to rail at the Lord God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, "As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of my hand, so the God of Hezekiah shall not deliver his people out of my hand." 18 Then they shouted with a loud voice in the Jews' language to the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to make afraid them, and to trouble them, so that they would take the city. 19 And they spoke against the God of Jerusalem, like against the gods of the people of the earth, who were the work of the hands of men. 20 And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and called to heaven. 21 And the Lord sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he had come into the house of his god, those who came out of his own body killed him there with the sword. 22 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 guided them on every side. 23 And many brought gifts to the Lord to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from then on. 24 In those days, Hezekiah was sick and near death, and he prayed to the Lord, and he spoke to him, and He gave him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah didn't repay according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was lifted up, therefore there was anger against him, and on Judah and Jerusalem. 26 But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the anger of the Lord didn't come against them in the days of Hezekiah. 27 And Hezekiah had very much riches and honor, and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all kinds of pleasant jewels, 28 Store houses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil, and stalls for all kinds of beasts, and cotes for flocks. 29 Also he provided himself cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him substance very much. 30 This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works. 31 But in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to test him, so that he would know all that was in his heart. 32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, see, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 33 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the best of the tombs of the sons of David, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death. And Manasseh his son ruled instead of him. ___2_Chronicles chapter 33 1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to rule, and he ruled fifty five years in Jerusalem, 2 But he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like the dirty things of the heathen, whom the Lord had thrown out before the children of Israel. 3 For he built again the high places that Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. 4 Also, he built altars in the house of the Lord, about which the Lord had said, "In Jerusalem shall my name be forever." 5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. 6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom, also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards, he made much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. 7 And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, about which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, "In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever, 8 Nor will I anymore remove the foot of Israel from out of the land that I have appointed for your fathers, so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses." 9 So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel. 10 And the Lord spoke to Manasseh, and to his people, but they would not listen. 11 So the Lord brought against them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. 12 And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, 13 And prayed to him, and he was entreated by him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God. 14 Now after this, he built a wall outside the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, to the entering in at the fish gate, and surrounded Ophel, and raised it up to a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah. 15 And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the Lord, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the Lord, and in Jerusalem, and threw them out of the city. 16 And he repaired the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings on it and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel. 17 But the people still sacrificed in the high places, yet only to the Lord their God. 18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers that spoke to him in the name of the Lord God of Israel, see, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel. 19 His prayer also, and how God was entreated by him, and all his sin, and his trespass, and the places in which he built high places, and set up groves and engraved images, before he was humbled, see, they are written among the sayings of the seers. 20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house, and Amon his son ruled instead of him. 21 Amon was twenty two years old when he began to rule, and ruled two years in Jerusalem. 22 But he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as did Manasseh his father, for Amon sacrificed to all the carved images that Manasseh his father had made, and served them, 23 And didn't humble himself before the Lord, like Manasseh his father had humbled himself, but Amon trespassed more and more. 24 And his servants conspired against him, and killed him in his own house. 25 But the people of the land killed all of those who had conspired against king Amon, and the people of the land made Josiah his son king instead of him. ___2_Chronicles chapter 34 1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to rule, and he ruled in Jerusalem thirty one years. 2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left. 3 For in the eighth year of his rule, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father, and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the images cast in foundry. 4 And they broke down the altars of Baalim in his presence, and he cut down the images that were on high above them, and the groves, and the carved images, and the images cast in the foundry, he broke in pieces, and made dust of them, and strawed it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. 5 And he burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem. 6 And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, to Naphtali, with their mattocks all around. 7 And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the engraved images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem. 8 Now in the eighteenth year of his rule, when he had purged the land, and the house, he sent Shaphan, the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah, the governor of the city, and Joah, the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the Lord his God. 9 And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, that the Levites that kept the doors had gathered from the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin, and they returned to Jerusalem. 10 And they put it in the hand of the workmen that had the oversight of the house of the Lord, and they gave it to the workmen that worked in the house of the Lord, to repair and amend the house, 11 They gave it to the craftsmen and builders, to buy cut stone, and timber for couplings, and to floor the houses that the kings of Judah had destroyed. 12 And the men did the work faithfully, and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward, and other of the Levites, all that were skillful with instruments of music. 13 Also, they were over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of all who made the work in any kind of service, and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters. 14 And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the Lord given by Moses. 15 And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord." And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan. 16 And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought word back to the king again, saying, "All that was committed to your servants, they do it. 17 And they have gathered together the money that was found in the house of the Lord, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and into the hand of the workmen." 18 Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read it before the king. 19 And when the king had heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes. 20 And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king's, saying, 21 "Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that has been found, for great is the anger of the Lord that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do after all that is written in this book." 22 And Hilkiah, and those that the king had appointed, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe, (now she lived in Jerusalem in the college,) and they spoke to her to that effect. 23 And she answered them, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel, tell the man that sent you to me, 24 Thus says the Lord, see, I will bring evil on this place, and on the inhabitants of it, all the curses that are written in the book that they have read before the king of Judah, 25 Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, so that they would provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore my anger shall be poured out on this place, and shall not be quenched. 26 And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, so shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord God of Israel concerning the words that you have heard, 27 Because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God, when you heard his words against this place, and against the inhabitants of it, and humbled yourself before me, and tore your clothes, and wept before me, I have heard you also, says the Lord. 28 See, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, nor shall your eyes see all the evil that I will bring on this place, and on the inhabitants of it." So they brought the king word again. 29 Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30 And the king went up into the house of the Lord, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small, and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the Lord. 31 And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that are written in this book. 32 And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. 33 And Josiah took away all the dirty things out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve the Lord their God. And all his days they didn't depart from following the Lord, the God of their fathers. ___2_Chronicles chapter 35 1 Also, Josiah kept a Passover to the Lord in Jerusalem, and they killed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. 2 And he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the house of the Lord, 3 And said to the Levites that taught all Israel, who were holy to the Lord, "Put the holy ark in the house that Solomon the son of David king of Israel built, it shall not be a burden on your shoulders, serve now the Lord your God, and his people Israel, 4 And prepare yourselves by the houses of your fathers, after your courses, according to the writing of David, king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon his son. 5 And stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the families of the fathers of your brothers the people, and after the division of the families of the Levites. 6 So kill the Passover, and make yourselves holy, and prepare your brothers, so they'll do according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses. 7 And Josiah gave to the people, of the flock, lambs and kids, all for the Passover offerings, for all that were present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand bullocks, these were of the king's substance. 8 And his princes gave willingly to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites, Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, rulers of the house of God, gave to the priests for the Passover offerings two thousand six hundred small cattle, and three hundred oxen. 9 Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethaneel, his brothers, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, chief of the Levites, gave to the Levites for Passover offerings five thousand small cattle, and five hundred oxen. 10 So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses, according to the king's commandment. 11 And they killed the Passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood from their hands, and the Levites flayed them. 12 And they removed the burnt offerings, so that they would give according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer to the Lord, as it is written in the book of Moses. And they did so with the oxen. 13 And they roasted the Passover with fire, according to the ordinance, but the other holy offerings they boiled in pots, and in caldrons, and in pans, and divided them speedily among all the people. 14 And afterward, they made ready for themselves, and for the priests, because the priests the sons of Aaron were busied in offering of burnt offerings and the fat until night, therefore the Levites prepared for themselves, and for the priests the sons of Aaron. 15 And the singers, the sons of Asaph, were in their place, according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun, the king's seer, and the porters waited at every gate, they didn't depart from their service, for their brothers, the Levites, prepared for them. 16 So all the service of the Lord was prepared the same day, to keep the Passover, and to offer burnt offerings on the altar of the Lord, according to the commandment of king Josiah. 17 And the children of Israel that were present kept the Passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days. 18 And there was no Passover like that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet, nor did all the kings of Israel keep such a Passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 19 In the eighteenth year of the rule of Josiah, this Passover was kept. 20 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho, king of Egypt, came up to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates, and Josiah went out against him. 21 But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, "What do I have to do with you, king of Judah? I don't come against you this day, but against the house with which I have war, for God commanded me to make haste, refrain meddling with God, who is with me, so that he doesn't destroy you." 22 But Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, so that he could fight with him, and didn't listen to the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo. 23 And the archers shot at king Josiah, and the king said to his servants, "Take me away, for I am severely wounded." 24 His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had, and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in one of the tombs of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. 25 And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah, and all the singing men and the singing women spoke of Josiah in their lamentations until this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel, and see, they are written in the lamentations. 26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, according to that which was written in the law of the Lord, 27 And his deeds, first and last, see, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. ___2_Chronicles chapter 36 1 Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz, the son of Josiah, and made him king instead of his father in Jerusalem. 2 Jehoahaz was twenty three years old when he began to rule, and he ruled three months in Jerusalem. 3 And the king of Egypt put him down at Jerusalem, and condemned the land in a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. 4 And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho took Jehoahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt. 5 Jehoiakim was twenty five years old when he began to rule, and he ruled eleven years in Jerusalem, and he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord his God. 6 Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came up against him, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon. 7 Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the containers of the house of the Lord to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon. 8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his dirty things that he did, and that which was found in him, see, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, and Jehoiachin his son ruled instead of him. 9 Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to rule, and he ruled three months and ten days in Jerusalem, and he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. 10 And when the year had expired, king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly containers of the house of the Lord, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem. 11 Zedekiah was twenty one years old when he began to rule, and ruled eleven years in Jerusalem. 12 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord his God, and didn't humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the Lord. 13 And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God, but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning to the Lord God of Israel. 14 Also, all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much according to all the dirty things of the heathen, and polluted the house of the Lord that he had hallowed in Jerusalem. 15 And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up at times, and sending, because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place, 16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and mistreated his prophets, until the anger of the Lord came up against his people, 'til there was no remedy. 17 Therefore he brought against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age, he gave them all into his hand. 18 And all the containers of the house of God, large and small, and the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes, all these he brought to Babylon. 19 And they burned the house of God, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and burned all the palaces of it with fire, and destroyed all the goodly containers of it. 20 And those who had escaped from the sword, he carried away to Babylon, where they were servants to him and to his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia, 21 To fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths, for as long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years. 22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, so that the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah would be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 23 "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, the Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up." ___Ezra chapter 1 1 Now in the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, so that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah would be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, and he said, 2 "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, the Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has commanded me to build a house for him at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Who is there among you of all his people? His God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) that is in Jerusalem. 4 And whoever remains in any place where he's visiting, let the men of that place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem." 5 Then the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin rose up, and the priests, and the Levites, with all of those whose spirit God had stirred up, to go up to build the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem. 6 And all of those who were around them strengthened their hands with containers of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered. 7 Also, Cyrus the king brought the containers of the house of the Lord, that Nebuchadnezzar had brought out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods, 8 Those did Cyrus, king of Persia, bring out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. 9 And this is the number of them, thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, twenty nine knives, 10 Thirty basins of gold, silver basins of a second kind four hundred ten, and a thousand other containers. 11 All the containers of gold and of silver were five thousand four hundred. Sheshbazzar brought all these up with those of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem. ___Ezra chapter 2 1 Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had carried away to Babylon, and went back to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his city, 2 Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel, 3 The children of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy two. 4 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy two. 5 The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy five. 6 The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred twelve. 7 The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty four. 8 The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty five. 9 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred sixty. 10 The children of Bani, six hundred forty two. 11 The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty three. 12 The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty two. 13 The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty six. 14 The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty six. 15 The children of Adin, four hundred fifty four. 16 The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety eight. 17 The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty three. 18 The children of Jorah, one hundred twelve. 19 The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty three. 20 The children of Gibbar, ninety five. 21 The children of Bethlehem, one hundred twenty three. 22 The men of Netophah, fifty six. 23 The men of Anathoth, one hundred twenty eight. 24 The children of Azmaveth, forty two. 25 The children of Kirjatharim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty three. 26 The children of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty one. 27 The men of Michmas, one hundred twenty two. 28 The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty three. 29 The children of Nebo, fifty two. 30 The children of Magbish, one hundred fifty six. 31 The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty four. 32 The children of Harim, three hundred twenty. 33 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty five. 34 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty five. 35 The children of Senaah, three thousand six hundred thirty. 36 The priests, the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy three. 37 The children of Immer, one thousand fifty two. 38 The children of Pashur, one thousand two hundred forty seven. 39 The children of Harim, one thousand seventeen. 40 The Levites, the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy four. 41 The singers, the children of Asaph, one hundred twenty eight. 42 The children of the porters, the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all one hundred thirty nine. 43 The Nethinims, the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, 44 The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon, 45 The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub, 46 The children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan, 47 The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah, 48 The children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam, 49 The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai, 50 The children of Asnah, the children of Mehunim, the children of Nephusim, 51 The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, 52 The children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha, 53 The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah, 54 The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha. 55 The children of Solomon's servants, the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda, 56 The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel, 57 The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Ami. 58 All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety two. 59 And these were those who went up from Telmelah, Telharsa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, but they couldn't show their father's house, and their descendants, whether they were of Israel, 60 The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty two. 61 And of the children of the priests, the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name, 62 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they weren't found, therefore they were, as polluted, put from the priesthood. 63 And the Tirshatha said to them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, until a priest stood up a with Urim and with Thummim. 64 The whole congregation together was forty two thousand three hundred sixty, 65 Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty seven, and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women. 66 Their horses were seven hundred thirty six, their mules, two hundred forty five, 67 Their camels, four hundred thirty five, their asses, six thousand seven hundred twenty. 68 And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the Lord that is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in its place, 69 They gave after their ability to the treasure of the work sixty one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pounds of silver, and one hundred priest's garments. 70 So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, lived in their cities, and all Israel in their cities. ___Ezra chapter 3 1 And when the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. 2 Then Jeshua, the son of Jozadak stood up, and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brothers, and 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. 3 And they set the altar on its bases, for fear was on them because of the people of those countries, and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, burnt offerings morning and evening. 4 They also kept the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of each day required, 5 And afterward, offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the Lord that were consecrated, and of everyone that willingly offered a freewill offering to the Lord. 6 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 yet been laid. 7 They gave money also to the masons, and to the carpenters, and food, and drink, and oil to those of Zidon, and to those of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus, king of Persia. 8 Now in the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all of those who had come back from the captivity to Jerusalem, and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and older, began to set forward the work of the house of the Lord. 9 Then Jeshua stood with his sons and his brothers, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God, the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brothers the Levites. 10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of David, king of Israel. 11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks to the Lord, because he is good, for his mercy endures forever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord had been laid. 12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, cried with a loud voice, and many shouted out loud for joy, 13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the crying of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard far off. ___Ezra chapter 4 1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity built the temple to the Lord God of Israel, 2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said to them, "Let us build with you, for we seek your God, like you do, and we sacrifice to him since the days of Esarhaddon, king of Assur, who brought us up here." 3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said to them, "You have nothing to do with us to build a house to our God, but we ourselves together will build to the Lord God of Israel, like king Cyrus, the king of Persia, has commanded us." 4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, 5 And hired counselors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus, king of Persia, until the rule of Darius, king of Persia. 6 And in the rule of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his rule, they wrote to him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. 7 And in the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, wrote to Artaxerxes, king of Persia, and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian language, and interpreted in the Syrian language. 8 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king like this: 9 "Then Rehum the chancellor wrote, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites, 10 And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side of the river, and at such a time. 11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent to him, to Artaxerxes the king, your servants, the men on this side of the river, and at such a time. 12 Be it known to the king, that the Jews that came up from you to us have come to Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls of it, and joined the foundations. 13 Let it be known now to the king, that, if this city is built, and the walls set up again, then they won't pay toll, taxes, and custom, and so you shall damage the revenue of the kings. 14 Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not right for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore we've sent and certified to the king, 15 So that search can be made in the book of the records of your fathers, so that you'll find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within it of old time, for which reason this city was destroyed. 16 We certify the king that, if this city is built again, and the walls of it set up, by this means you'll have no portion on this side of the river." 17 Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that live in Samaria, and to the rest beyond the river, "Peace, and at such a time. 18 The letter that you sent us has been plainly read before me. 19 And I commanded, and search has been made, and it was found that this city of old time has made rebellion against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made in it. 20 There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all countries beyond the river, and toll, taxes, and custom, were paid to them. 21 Now give commandment to cause these men to stop, and that this city not be built, until another commandment shall be given from me. 22 Take heed now that you don't fail to do this, why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?" 23 Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them stop by force and power. 24 Then the work of the house of God stopped that is at Jerusalem. So it stopped until the second year of the rule of Darius, king of Persia. ___Ezra chapter 5 1 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel. 2 Then Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, rose up, and Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God that is at Jerusalem, and with them were the prophets of God helping them. 3 At the same time, Tatnai came to them who was governor on this side of the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions, and said thus to them, "Who has commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?" 4 Then we said to them after this manner, what are the names of the men that make this building? 5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, so that they could not cause them to stop, 'til the matter came to Darius, and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter. 6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side of the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were on this side of the river, sent to Darius the king, 7 They sent a letter to him that said, "To Darius the king, all peace. 8 Be it known to the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, that's been built with large stones, and timber has been laid in the walls, and this work goes fast on, and prospers in their hands. 9 Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls? 10 We asked their names also, to certify to you, so that we could write the names of their top men. 11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was built these many years ago, that a great king of Israel built and set up. 12 But after our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to anger, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon. 13 But in the first year of Cyrus, the king of Babylon, the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God. 14 And the containers also of gold and silver of the house of God, that Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, Cyrus the king took those out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to someone named Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor, 15 And said to him, take these containers, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in its place. 16 Then the same Sheshbazzar came, and laid the foundation of the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and since that time until now it has been under construction, and yet it's not finished. 17 Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let search be made in the king's treasure house, that is there at Babylon, whether it is so, that a decree was made by Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter." ___Ezra chapter 6 1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the scrolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. 2 And a scroll was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, and in it was a record thus written, 3 In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be built, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations of it be strongly laid, the height of it ninety feet, and the breadth of it ninety feet, 4 With three rows of large stones, and a row of new timber, and let the expenses be given out of the king's house, 5 And also, let the gold and silver containers of the house of God, that Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that is at Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored, and brought back to the temple that is at Jerusalem, each one to its place, and put them in the house of God. 6 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the river, be far from there, 7 Let the work of this house of God alone, let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in its place. 8 Also, I make a decree what you shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God, that from the king's goods, from the taxes beyond the river, expenses immediately be given to these men, so that they're not hindered. 9 And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests that are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail, 10 So that they can offer sacrifices of sweet savors to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. 11 Also I've made a decree, that whoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hung on it, and let his house be made a manure pile for this. 12 And the God that has caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God that is at Jerusalem. I, Darius, have made a decree, let it be done with speed." 13 Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, they did so speedily. 14 And the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai, the prophet, and Zechariah, the son of Iddo. And they built, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes, king of Persia. 15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, that was in the sixth year of the rule of Darius the king. 16 And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy, 17 And offered at the dedication of this house of God a hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses. 19 And the children of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. 20 For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the Passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brothers the priests, and for themselves. 21 And the children of Israel, who had come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the Lord God of Israel ate, 22 And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy, for the Lord had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel. ___Ezra chapter 7 1 Now after these things, in the rule of Artaxerxes, king of Persia, Ezra, the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, 2 The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, 3 The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, 4 The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, 5 The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest, 6 This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given, and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God on him. 7 And some of the children of Israel went up, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king. 8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 9 For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God on him. 10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and judgments in Israel. 11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a scribe of the words of the commandments of the Lord, and of his statutes to Israel. 12 "Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time. 13 I make a decree, that all those of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, that of their own free will, have it in their minds to go up to Jerusalem, go with you. 14 Since you are sent by the king, and by his seven counselors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God that is in your hand, 15 And to carry the silver and gold, that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, 16 And all the silver and gold that you can find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God, who is in Jerusalem, 17 So that you can buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them on the altar of the house of your God who is in Jerusalem. 18 And whatever shall seem good to you, and to your brothers, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do that according to the will of your God. 19 The containers also that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver those before the God of Jerusalem. 20 And whatever more shall be necessary for the house of your God, that you shall have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house. 21 And I, even I, Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers that are beyond the river, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily, 22 Up to a hundred talents of silver, and to a hundred measures of wheat, and to a hundred baths of wine, and to a hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. 23 Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven, for why should there be anger against the realm of the king and his sons? 24 Also we certify to you, that concerning any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, taxes, or custom on them. 25 And you, Ezra, after the wisdom of your God, that is in your hand, set magistrates and judges, who'll judge all the people that are beyond the river, all knowledgeable in the laws of your God, and teach those who don't know them. 26 And whoever won't do the law of your God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily on him, whether it's to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. 27 Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, 28 And has extended mercy to me before the king, and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me. ___Ezra chapter 8 1 These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the rule of Artaxerxes the king. 2 Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom, of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel, of the sons of David, Hattush. 3 Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh, Zechariah, and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males one hundred fifty. 4 Of the sons of Pahathmoab, Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males. 5 Of the sons of Shechaniah, the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males. 6 Of the sons also of Adin, Ebed, the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males. 7 And of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah, the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males. 8 And of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah, the son of Michael, and with him eighty males. 9 Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah, the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred eighteen males. 10 And of the sons of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah, and with him one hundred sixty males. 11 And of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah, the son of Bebai, and with him twenty eight males. 12 And of the sons of Azgad, Johanan, the son of Hakkatan, and with him one hundred ten males. 13 And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them sixty males. 14 Of the sons also of Bigvai, Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seventy males. 15 And I gathered them together at the river that runs to Ahava, and we lived there in tents three days, and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi. 16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men, also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding. 17 And I sent them with commandment to Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say to Iddo, and to his brothers the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, so that they would bring us ministers for the house of our God. 18 And by the good hand of our God on us, they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers, eighteen, 19 And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah, of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty, 20 Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred twenty Nethinims, all of them were expressed by name. 21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, so we could afflict ourselves before our God, to seek from him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our goods. 22 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the way, because we had spoken to the king, saying, "The hand of our God is on all those for good who seek him, but his power and his anger is against all of those who forsake him." 23 So we fasted and besought our God for this, and he was entreated by us. 24 Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers with them, 25 And weighed to them the silver, and the gold, and the containers, the offering of the house of our God, that the king, and his counselors, and his lords, and all Israel that were present there, had offered, 26 I weighed to their hand six hundred fifty talents of silver, and silver containers a hundred talents, and of gold a hundred talents, 27 Also twenty basins of gold, of a thousand drams, and two containers of fine copper, precious as gold. 28 And I said to them, "You are holy to the Lord, the containers are holy also, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the Lord God of your fathers. 29 Watch and keep them, until you weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the rooms of the house of the Lord." 30 So the priests and the Levites took the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the containers, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God. 31 Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem, and the hand of our God was on us, and he gave us deliverance from the hand of the enemy, and of those who laid in ambush by the road. 32 And we came to Jerusalem, and lived there three days. 33 Now on the fourth day the silver and the gold and the containers were weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and with them was Jozabad, the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites, 34 By number and by weight of every one, and all the weight was written at that time. 35 Also, the children of those that had been carried away, who had come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety six rams, seventy seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering, all this was a burnt offering to the Lord. 36 And they delivered the king's commissions to the king's lieutenants, and to the governors on this side of the river, and they furthered the people, and the house of God. ___Ezra chapter 9 1 Now when these things had been done, the princes came to me, saying, "The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their dirty things, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2 For they've taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons, so that the holy descendants have mixed themselves with the people of those lands, yes, the princes and rulers are among the most guilty in this trespass." 3 And when I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonished. 4 Then everyone that trembled at the words of the God of Israel assembled to me, because of the transgression of those who had been carried away, and I sat astonished until the evening sacrifice. 5 And at the evening sacrifice I got up from my heaviness, and having torn my garment and my mantle, I fell on my knees, and spread out my hands to the Lord my God, 6 And said, "O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my God, for our sins have increased over our head, and our trespass has grown up to the heavens. 7 Since the days of our fathers, we have been in a great trespass until this day, and for our sins we, our kings, and our priests, have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day. 8 And now for a little space, grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, so that our God will illuminate our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. 9 For we were bondmen, yet our God hasn't forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations of it, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem. 10 And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments, 11 That you've commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, the land, to which you go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their dirty things, who have filled it from one end to the other with their uncleanness. 12 Now therefore don't give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth forever, so you'll be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever. 13 And after all that has come on us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that you our God have punished us less than our sins deserve, and have given us such deliverance as this, 14 Should we again break your commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these dirty things? Wouldn't you be angry with us until you had consumed us, so that there would be no remnant nor escaping? 15 O Lord God of Israel, you are righteous, for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day, see, we are before you in our trespasses, for we can't stand before you because of this." ___Ezra chapter 10 1 Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a very great congregation of men and women and children assembled to him out of Israel, for the people cried very much. 2 And Shechaniah, the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, said to Ezra, "We've trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land, yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. 3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and those who've been born from them, according to the advice of my lord, and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the law. 4 Arise, for this matter belongs to you, we also will be with you, be of good courage, and do it." 5 Then Ezra got up, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word. And they swore. 6 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the room of Johanan the son of Eliashib, and when he got there, he didn't eat any bread, nor drink water, for he mourned because of the transgression of those who had been carried away. 7 And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together to Jerusalem, 8 And that whoever wouldn't come within three days, according to the advice of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and he himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away. 9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together to Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month, and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain. 10 And Ezra the priest stood up, and said to them, "You've transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel. 11 Now therefore make confession to the Lord God of your fathers, and do his pleasure, and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives." 12 Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, "As you've said, so we must do. 13 But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand outside, nor is this a work of one day or two, for we are many who have transgressed in this thing. 14 Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all those who've taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges of them, until the fierce anger of our God for this matter has turned from us." 15 Only Jonathan, the son of Asahel, and Jahaziah, the son of Tikvah, were employed about this matter, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them. 16 And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by their names, were separated, and sat down on the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter. 17 And they finished with all the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month. 18 And among the sons of the priests there were found some that had taken strange wives, specifically, of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brothers, Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah. 19 And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives, and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass. 20 And of the sons of Immer, Hanani, and Zebadiah. 21 And of the sons of Harim, Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah. 22 And of the sons of Pashur, Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah. 23 Also of the Levites, Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (also called Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. 24 Of the singers also, Eliashib, and of the porters, Shallum, and Telem, and Uri. 25 Also of Israel, of the sons of Parosh, Ramiah, and Jeziah, and Malchiah, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah. 26 And of the sons of Elam, Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah. 27 And of the sons of Zattu, Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza. 28 Of the sons also of Bebai, Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai. 29 And of the sons of Bani, Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, and Ramoth. 30 And of the sons of Pahathmoab, Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh. 31 And of the sons of Harim, Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah. 33 Of the sons of Hashum, Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei. 34 Of the sons of Bani, Maadai, Amram, and Uel, 35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh, 36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau, 38 And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei, 39 And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah, 40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41 Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph. 43 Of the sons of Nebo, Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and Joel, Benaiah. 44 All these had taken strange wives, and some of them had wives by whom they had children. ___Nehemiah chapter 1 1 The words of Nehemiah, the son of Hachaliah. In the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came, he and certain men of Judah, and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, who were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, the remnant that is left of the captivity there in the province, are in great affliction and reproach, the wall of Jerusalem also has been broken down, and the gates of it have been burned with fire. 4 And when I heard these words, I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, 5 And said, "I beg of you, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keeps covenant and mercy for those who love him and observe his commandments, 6 Let your ear now be attentive, and your eyes open, so that you'll hear the prayer of your servant that I pray before you now, day and night, for the children of Israel your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, that we've sinned against you, both I and my father's house have sinned. 7 We have dealt very corruptly against you, and haven't kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, that you commanded your servant Moses. 8 I beg of you, remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, if you transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations, 9 But if you turn to me, and keep my commandments, and do them, though there were of you thrown out to the farthest part of the heaven, yet I'll gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I've chosen to set my name there. 10 Now these are your servants and your people, whom you've redeemed by your great power, and by your strong hand. 11 O Lord, I beseech you, let your ear now be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who desire to fear your name, and prosper, please, your servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man." For I was the king's cupbearer. ___Nehemiah chapter 2 1 In the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, wine was before him, and I took up the wine, and gave it to the king. Now I had not been previously sad in his presence. 2 So the king said to me, "Why is your facial expression sad, seeing that you're not sick? This is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very very afraid, 3 And said to the king, "Let the king live forever, why shouldn't my facial expression be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' tombs, lies waste, and the gates of it are consumed by fire?" 4 Then the king said to me, "For what do you make request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you would send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs, so I can build it." 6 And the king said to me, (the queen also sitting by him,) "For how long shall your journey be? And when will you return?" So it pleased the king to send me, and I told him a period of time. 7 Also I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, so that they'll convey me over 'til I come into Judah, 8 And a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, so he'll give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace that pertains to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I'll enter into." And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God on me. 9 Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. 10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them very much that a man had come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. 11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. 12 And I got up at night, I and a few men with me, nor did I tell any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem, nor was there any animal with me, except the animal that I rode on. 13 And I went out at night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the manure port, and looked at the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down, and the gates of it that were consumed by fire. 14 Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool, but there wasn't enough room for the animal that was under me to pass. 15 Then I went up at night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned. 16 And the rulers didn't know where I went, or what I did, nor had I yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest of those who did the work. 17 Then I said to them, "You see the distress that we're in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and the gates of it have been burned with fire, come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, so that we're no longer a reproach." 18 Then I told them about the hand of my God that was good on me, as also the king's words that he had spoken to me. And they said, "Let us rise up and build." So they strengthened their hands for this good work. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed at us scornfully, and despised us, and said, "What is this thing that you do? Will you rebel against the king?" 20 Then answered I them, "The God of heaven will prosper us, therefore we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem." ___Nehemiah chapter 3 1 Then Eliashib, the high priest, rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the sheep gate, they made it holy, and set up the doors of it, even to the tower of Meah they made it holy, to the tower of Hananeel. 2 And next to him, the men of Jericho built. And next to them, Zaccur the son of Imri built. 3 But the sons of Hassenaah built the fish gate, who also laid the beams of it, and set up the doors of it, the locks of it, and the bars of it. 4 And Meremoth, the son of Urijah, the son of Koz, repaired next to them. And Meshullam, the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel, repaired next to them. And Zadok, the son of Baana, repaired next to them. 5 And the Tekoites repaired next to them, but their nobles didn't put their necks to the work of their Lord. 6 Also Jehoiada, the son of Paseah, repaired the old gate, and Meshullam, the son of Besodeiah, they laid the beams of it, and set up the doors of it, and the locks of it, and the bars of it. 7 And Melatiah the Gibeonite repaired next to them, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, to the throne of the governor on this side of the river. 8 Uzziel, the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths, repaired next to him. Hananiah, the son of one of the apothecaries, also repaired next to him, and they fortified Jerusalem to the broad wall. 9 And Rephaiah, the son of Hur, the ruler of one half of Jerusalem, repaired next to them. 10 And Jedaiah, the son of Harumaph, repaired next to them, opposite his house. And Hattush, the son of Hashabniah, repaired next to him. 11 Malchijah, the son of Harim, and Hashub, the son of Pahathmoab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces. 12 And Shallum, the son of Halohesh, the ruler of one half of of Jerusalem, repaired next to him, he and his daughters. 13 Hanun repaired the valley gate, and the inhabitants of Zanoah, they built it, and set up the doors of it, the locks of it, and the bars of it, and fifteen hundred feet on the wall up to the manure gate. 14 But Malchiah, the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Bethhaccerem, repaired the manure gate, he built it, and set up the doors of it, the locks of it, and the bars of it. 15 But Shallun, the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah, repaired the gate of the fountain, he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors of it, the locks of it, and the bars of it, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king's garden, and to the stairs that go down from the city of David. 16 Nehemiah, the son of Azbuk, the ruler of half of Bethzur, repaired after him, to the place over against the tombs of David, and to the pool that was made, and to the house of the mighty. 17 The Levites, Rehum, the son of Bani, repaired after him. Hashabiah, the ruler of half of Keilah, repaired next to him, in his part. 18 Their brothers, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of half of Keilah, repaired after him. 19 And Ezer, the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, repaired next to him, another piece opposite the going up to the armory at the turning of the wall. 20 After him, Baruch, the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning of the wall to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest. 21 Meremoth, the son of Urijah, the son of Koz repaired another piece after him, from the door of the house of Eliashib to the end of the house of Eliashib. 22 And the priests repaired after him, the men of the plain. 23 Benjamin and Hashub repaired after him, opposite their house. Azariah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, repaired after him, by his house. 24 Binnui, the son of Henadad repaired another piece after him, from the house of Azariah to the turning of the wall, to the corner. 25 Palal, the son of Uzai, opposite the turning of the wall, and the tower that lies out from the king's high house, that was by the court of the prison. After him Pedaiah, the son of Parosh. 26 Also the Nethinims lived in Ophel, to the place opposite the water gate toward the east, and the outlying tower. 27 After them, the Tekoites repaired another piece, opposite the large outlying tower, even to the wall of Ophel. 28 The priests repaired from above the horse gate, everyone opposite his house. 29 Zadok the son of Immer repaired after them opposite his house. Shemaiah, the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate, also repaired after him. 30 After him Hananiah, the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another piece. After him Meshullam, the son of Berechiah repaired opposite his room. 31 After him Malchiah, the goldsmith's son, repaired to the place of the Nethinims, and of the merchants, opposite the gate Miphkad, and to the going up of the corner. 32 And between the going up of the corner to the sheep gate, the goldsmiths and the merchants repaired. ___Nehemiah chapter 4 1 But when Sanballat heard that we built the wall, he was angry, and very indignant, and made fun of the Jews. 2 And he spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria, and said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish that has been burned?" 3 Now Tobiah, the Ammonite was by him, and he said, "Even what they build, if a fox goes up, he'll break down their stone wall." 4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised, and turn their reproach on their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity, 5 And don't cover their sin, and don't let their sin be blotted out from before you, for they've provoked you to anger before the builders. 6 So we built the wall, and all the wall was joined together to the half of it, for the people had a mind to work. 7 But when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the holes began to be stopped, then they were very angry, 8 And all of them plotted together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. 9 But we made our prayer to our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. 10 And Judah said, "The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is a lot of rubbish, so that we're not able to build the wall." 11 And our adversaries said, "They won't know, nor see, 'til we come in the middle of them, and kill them, and cause the work to stop." 12 And when the Jews who lived near them came, they said to us ten times, "From all places from where you shall return to us they'll be on you." 13 Therefore I set in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14 And I looked, and rose up, and said to the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them, remember the Lord, who is great and terrible, and fight for your brothers, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses." 15 And when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and God had brought their plan down, we all returned to the wall, everyone to his work. 16 And from then on, half of my servants worked, and the other half held the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the chain mail vests, and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. 17 Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, with those who laid burdens on, everyone with one of his hands worked, and with the other hand held a weapon. 18 For every one of the builders, had his sword strapped to his side, and so built. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me. 19 And I said to the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, "The work is great and large, and we are separated on the wall, one far from another. 20 In whatever place therefore that you hear the sound of the trumpet, come to us there, our God shall fight for us." 21 So we labored in the work, and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning 'til the stars appeared. 22 Likewise at the same time, I said to the people, let everyone with his servant lodge inside Jerusalem, so that during the night they'll be a guard to us, and labor on the day. 23 So neither I, nor my brothers, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us put off our clothes, except that everyone put them off for washing. ___Nehemiah chapter 5 1 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers, the Jews. 2 For some said, "We, our sons, and our daughters, are many, therefore we take up corn for them, so we can eat, and live." 3 Some also said, "We've mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, so we can buy corn, because of the dearth." 4 Some also said, "We've borrowed money for the king's taxes on our lands and vineyards. 5 Yet now our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers, our children like their children, and see, we bring into servitude our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters have been brought into servitude already, nor is it in our power to redeem them, for other men have our lands and vineyards." 6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. 7 Then I consulted with myself, and I reprimanded the nobles, and the rulers, and said to them, "You require interest, everyone from your brothers." And I set a great assembly against them. 8 And I said to them, "We, as we were able, have redeemed our brothers the Jews, who were sold to the heathen, and will you sell your brothers? Or shall they be sold to us?" Then they kept quiet, and found nothing to answer. 9 Also I said, "It is not good what you do, shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen, our enemies? 10 I likewise, and my brothers, and my servants, might require money and corn from them, please, let's stop requiring the payment of interest. 11 Please restore to them, even today, their lands, their vineyards, their olive yards, and their houses, also one per cent of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that you require from them." 12 Then they said, "We will restore them, and will require nothing of them, so we'll do as you've said." Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise. 13 Also I shook my lap, and said, "So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that doesn't perform this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied." And all the congregation said, "Amen," and praised the Lord. And the people did according to this promise. 14 Also, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the thirty second year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brothers haven't eaten the bread of the governor. 15 But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable to the people, and had taken from them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver, yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I didn't do so, because of the fear of God. 16 Yes, I also continued in the work of this wall, nor did we buy any land, and all my servants were gathered there to work. 17 Also, there were at my table one hundred fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came to us from among the heathen that are around us. 18 Now what was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep, also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days, store of all kinds of wine, yet for all this I didn't require the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy on these people. 19 Think on me, my God, for good, according to all that I've done for these people. ___Nehemiah chapter 6 1 Now when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I'd built the wall, and that there were no holes left in it, (though at that time I hadn't set up the doors on the gates,) 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, "Come, let's meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono." But they thought to do me mischief. 3 And I sent messengers to them, saying, "I'm doing a great work, so that I can't come down, why should the work stop, while I leave it, and come down to you?" 4 Yet they sent to me four times like that, and I answered them the same way. 5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me like that the fifth time with an open letter in his hand, 6 In which it was written, "It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel, for which reason you build the wall, so you can be their king, according to these words. 7 And you've also appointed prophets to preach about you at Jerusalem, saying, there is a king in Judah, and now it shall be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let's talk together about it." 8 Then I sent to him, saying, "What you're talking about is not happening, but you're inventing those things out of your own imagination." 9 For they all made us afraid, saying, "Their hands shall be weakened from the work, so that it can't be done." Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands. 10 Afterward, I came to the house of Shemaiah, the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut-in, and he said, "Let's meet together in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple, for they'll come to kill you, yes, in the night they'll come to kill you." 11 And I said, "Should such a man as I run away? And who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in." 12 And see, I perceived that God had not sent him, but that he pronounced this prophecy against me, for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 Therefore he was hired, to make me afraid, and do so, and sin, and so that they'd have something for an evil report, so they could reproach me. 14 My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat according to these doings of theirs, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that wanted to put me in fear." 15 So the wall was finished on the twenty fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty two days. 16 And when all our enemies heard about it, and all the heathen that were around us saw these things, they were much thrown down in their own eyes, for they perceived that this work was done by our God. 17 Also, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came to them. 18 For there were many in Judah pledged to him, because he was the son in law of Shechaniah, the son of Arah, and his son Johanan had married the daughter of Meshullam, the son of Berechiah. 19 Also they reported his good deeds before me, and repeated my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear. ___Nehemiah chapter 7 1 Now after the wall had been built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed, 2 I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah, the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem, for he was a faithful man, and feared God more than many. 3 And I said to them, "Don't let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot, and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them, and appoint watches from the inhabitants of Jerusalem, everyone in his watch, and everyone to be opposite his house." 4 Now the city was large and great, but the people were few in it, and the houses were not built. 5 And my God put into my heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, so they could be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and found written in it, 6 These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had carried away, and came back to Jerusalem and to Judah, everyone to his city, 7 Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The numbers, I say, of the men of the people of Israel were these: 8 The children of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy two. 9 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy two. 10 The children of Arah, six hundred fifty two. 11 The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred eighteen. 12 The children of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty four. 13 The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty five. 14 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred sixty. 15 The children of Binnui, six hundred forty eight. 16 The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty eight. 17 The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty two. 18 The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty seven. 19 The children of Bigvai, two thousand sixty seven. 20 The children of Adin, six hundred fifty five. 21 The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety eight. 22 The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty eight. 23 The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty four. 24 The children of Hariph, one hundred twelve. 25 The children of Gibeon, ninety five. 26 The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, one hundred eighty eight. 27 The men of Anathoth, one hundred twenty eight. 28 The men of Bethazmaveth, forty two. 29 The men of Kirjathjearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty three. 30 The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty one. 31 The men of Michmas, one hundred twenty two. 32 The men of Bethel and Ai, one hundred twenty three. 33 The men of the other Nebo, fifty two. 34 The children of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty four. 35 The children of Harim, three hundred twenty. 36 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty five. 37 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty one. 38 The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred thirty. 39 The priests, the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy three. 40 The children of Immer, one thousand fifty two. 41 The children of Pashur, one thousand two hundred forty seven. 42 The children of Harim, one thousand seventeen. 43 The Levites, the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the children of Hodevah, seventy four. 44 The singers, the children of Asaph, one hundred forty eight. 45 The porters, the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, one hundred thirty eight. 46 The Nethinims, the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth, 47 The children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon, 48 The children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Shalmai, 49 The children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, 50 The children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, 51 The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah, 52 The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephishesim, 53 The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, 54 The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha, 55 The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamah, 56 The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha. 57 The children of Solomon's servants, the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida, 58 The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel, 59 The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Amon. 60 All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety two. 61 And these were those who went up also from Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they couldn't show their father's house, nor their descendants, whether they were of Israel. 62 The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty two. 63 And of the priests, the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai, who took one of the daughters of Barzillai, the Gileadite as wife, and was called after their name. 64 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it wasn't found, therefore they were put from the priesthood, as polluted. 65 And the Tirshatha said to them that they should not eat of the most holy things, 'til a priest stood up with Urim and Thummim. 66 The whole congregation together was forty two thousand three hundred sixty, 67 Beside their menservants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty seven, and they had two hundred forty five singing men and singing women. 68 Their horses, seven hundred thirty six, their mules, two hundred forty five, 69 Their camels, four hundred thirty five, six thousand seven hundred twenty asses. 70 And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basins, five hundred thirty priests' garments. 71 And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand two hundred pounds of silver. 72 And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pounds of silver, and sixty seven priest's garments. 73 So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, lived in their cities, and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities. ___Nehemiah chapter 8 1 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate, and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, that the Lord had commanded to Israel. 2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read in it before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday before the men and the women, and those that could understand, and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose, and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand, and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, (for he was above all the people,) and when he opened it, all the people stood up, 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, lifting up their hands, and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law, and the people stood in their place. 8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. 9 And Nehemiah, who is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said to all the people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God, don't mourn, nor cry." For all the people cried, when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing has been prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord, and don't be sorry, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." 11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, "Be quiet, for the day is holy, and don't be grieved." 12 And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared to them. 13 And on the second day, the chief of the fathers of all the people gathered together, the priests, and the Levites, to Ezra the scribe, to understand the words of the law. 14 And they found written in the law that the Lord had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should live in booths in the feast of the seventh month, 15 And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, "Go out to the mountain, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written." 16 So the people went out, and brought them, and made themselves booths, everyone on the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim. 17 And all the congregation of them those who came back out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths, for since the days of Joshua, the son of Nun, until that day, the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness. 18 Also day by day, from the first day until the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the manner. ___Nehemiah chapter 9 1 Now on the twenty fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with clothes of sackcloth, and soil on them. 2 And the descendants of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the sins of their fathers. 3 And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the Lord their God for one fourth of the day, and for another fourth of the day, they confessed and worshipped the Lord their God. 4 Then of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, these stood up on the stairs and cried with a loud voice to the Lord their God. 5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless the Lord your God forever and always, and blessed be your glorious name, who is exalted above all blessing and praise. 6 You, even you, are Lord alone, you've made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are in it, the seas, and all that is in it, and you preserve them all, and the host of heaven worships you. 7 You are the Lord the God, who chose Abram, and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gave him the name Abraham, 8 And found his heart faithful before you, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give it, I say, to his descendants, and have performed your words, for you are righteous, 9 And saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heard their cry by the red sea, 10 And showed signs and wonders on Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land, for you knew that they dealt proudly against them. So you got yourself a name, as it is this day. 11 And you divided the sea before them, so that they went through the middle of the sea on the dry land, and you threw their persecutors into the deeps, like a stone into the mighty waters. 12 Also, you led them in the day by a cloudy pillar, and at night by a pillar of fire, to give them light on the way in which they should go. 13 You came down also on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments, 14 And made known to them your holy Sabbath, and commanded them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses, your servant, 15 And gave them bread from heaven for their hunger, and brought forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promised them that they would go in to possess the land that you had sworn to give them. 16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and didn't listen to your commandments, 17 And refused to obey, nor were mindful of your wonders that you did among them, but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage, but you are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and didn't forsake them. 18 Yes, when they'd made for themselves a calf that was cast in the foundry, and said, "This is your God that brought you up out of Egypt," and had made great provocations, 19 Yet you in your many mercies didn't forsake them in the wilderness, the pillar of the cloud didn't depart from them by day, to lead them in the way, nor the pillar of fire at night, to show them light, and the way in which they should go. 20 You gave also your good spirit to instruct them, and didn't withhold your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst. 21 Yes, you sustained them for forty years in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing, their clothes didn't wear out, and their feet didn't swell. 22 Also you gave them kingdoms and nations, and divided them into corners, so they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan. 23 You also multiplied their children like the stars of heaven, and brought them into the land, concerning which you had promised to their fathers, that they would go in to possess it. 24 So the children went in and possessed the land, and you subdued the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land, before them, and gave them into their hands, with their kings, and the people of the land, so that they could do with them as they wished. 25 And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells dug, vineyards, and olive yards, and fruit trees in abundance, so they ate, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in your great goodness. 26 But they were disobedient, and rebelled against you, and threw your law behind their backs, and killed your prophets who testified against them to turn them to you, and they made great provocations. 27 Therefore you delivered them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them, and in the time of their trouble, when they cried to you, you heard them from heaven, and according to your many mercies you gave them saviors, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies. 28 But after they had rest, they did evil again before you, therefore you left them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them, yet when they returned, and cried to you, you heard them from heaven, and many times you delivered them according to your mercies, 29 And testified against them, so that you could bring them back to your law, yet they dealt proudly, and didn't listen to your commandments, but sinned against your judgments, (which if a man does, he'll live in them,) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and wouldn't hear. 30 Yet, for many years, you were patient with them, and testified against them by your spirit in your prophets, yet they wouldn't give ear, therefore you gave them into the hand of the people of the lands. 31 But for your great mercies' sake you didn't completely consume them, nor forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God. 32 Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keeps covenant and mercy, don't let all the trouble that has come on us seem little before you, and on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria to this day. 33 But you are just in all that has been brought on us, for you have done right, but we have done wickedly, 34 Nor have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept your law, nor listened to your commandments and your testimonies, with which you testified against them. 35 For they haven't served you in their kingdom, and in your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and fat land that you gave before them, nor did they turn from their wicked works. 36 See, we are servants this day, and for the land that you gave to our fathers to eat the fruit of it and the good of it, see, we are servants in it, 37 And it yields much increase to the kings whom you've set over us because of our sins, also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress. 38 And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it, and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal to it. ___Nehemiah chapter 10 1 Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah, 2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, 3 Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah, 4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, 5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, 6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, 7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, 8 Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah, these were the priests. 9 And the Levites, both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel, 10 And their brothers, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, 11 Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah, 12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, 13 Hodijah, Bani, Beninu. 14 The chief of the people, Parosh, Pahathmoab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani, 15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, 16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, 17 Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur, 18 Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai, 19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, 20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, 21 Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua, 22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, 23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub, 24 Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek, 25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, 26 And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan, 27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah. 28 And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone having knowledge, and having understanding, 29 They stuck with their brothers, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes, 30 And that we would not give our daughters to the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons, 31 And if the people of the land bring goods or any food on the Sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it from them on the Sabbath, or on the holy day, and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt. 32 Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with one third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God, 33 For the showbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the Sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God. 34 And we drew straws among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn on the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the law, 35 And to bring the first fruits of our ground, and the first fruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, to the house of the Lord, 36 Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, to the priests that minister in the house of our God, 37 And that we should bring the first fruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all kinds of trees, of wine and of oil, to the priests, to the rooms of the house of our God, and the tithes of our ground to the Levites, so that the Levites would have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage. 38 And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes, and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the rooms, into the treasure house. 39 For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, to the rooms, where the containers of the sanctuary are, and the priests that minister, and the door keepers, and the singers, and we will not forsake the house of our God. ___Nehemiah chapter 11 1 And the rulers of the people lived at Jerusalem, the rest of the people also drew straws, to bring one in ten to live in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine tenths to live in other cities. 2 And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to live at Jerusalem. 3 Now these are the chief of the province that lived in Jerusalem, but in the cities of Judah, everyone lived in his possession in their cities, specifically, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants. 4 And certain of the children of Judah lived at Jerusalem, and of the children of Benjamin. Of the children of Judah, Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalaleel, of the children of Perez, 5 And Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Colhozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni. 6 All the sons of Perez that lived at Jerusalem were four hundred sixty eight valiant men. 7 And 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, the son of Jesaiah. 8 And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty eight. 9 And Joel, the son of Zichri, was their overseer, and Judah, the son of Senuah, was second over the city. 10 Of the priests, Jedaiah, the son of Joiarib, Jachin. 11 Seraiah, the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was the ruler of the house of God. 12 And their brothers that did the work of the house were eight hundred twenty two, and Adaiah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchiah, 13 And his brothers, chief of the fathers, two hundred forty two, and Amashai, the son of Azareel, the son of Ahasai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, 14 And their brothers, mighty men of valor, one hundred twenty eight, and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men. 15 Also of the Levites, Shemaiah, the son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni, 16 And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God. 17 And Mattaniah, the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the main one to begin the thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brothers, and Abda, the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. 18 All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred eighty four. 19 Also the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brothers that kept the gates, were one hundred seventy two. 20 And the remainder of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, everyone in his inheritance. 21 But the Nethinims lived in Ophel, and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinims. 22 The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi, the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha. Of the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the business of the house of God. 23 For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due each day. 24 And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people. 25 And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah lived at Kirjatharba, and in the villages of it, and at Dibon, and in the villages of it, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages of it, 26 And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Bethphelet, 27 And at Hazarshual, and at Beersheba, and in the villages of it, 28 And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages of it, 29 And at Enrimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth, 30 Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and the fields of it, at Azekah, and in the villages of it. And they lived from Beersheba to the valley of Hinnom. 31 The children also of Benjamin from Geba lived at Michmash, and Aija, and Bethel, and in their villages, 32 And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, 33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, 34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen. 36 And there were divisions of the Levites in Judah, and in Benjamin. ___Nehemiah chapter 12 1 Now these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3 Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4 Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah, 5 Miamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 6 Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chief of the priests and of their brothers in the days of Jeshua. 8 Also the Levites, Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who was over the thanksgiving, he and his brothers. 9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brothers, were opposite them in the watches. 10 And Jeshua fathered Joiakim, Joiakim also fathered Eliashib, and Eliashib fathered Joiada, 11 And Joiada fathered Jonathan, and Jonathan fathered Jaddua. 12 And in the days of Joiakim were priests, the chief of the fathers, of Seraiah, Meraiah, of Jeremiah, Hananiah, 13 Of Ezra, Meshullam, of Amariah, Jehohanan, 14 Of Melicu, Jonathan, of Shebaniah, Joseph, 15 Of Harim, Adna, of Meraioth, Helkai, 16 Of Iddo, Zechariah, of Ginnethon, Meshullam, 17 Of Abijah, Zichri, of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai, 18 Of Bilgah, Shammua, of Shemaiah, Jehonathan, 19 And of Joiarib, Mattenai, of Jedaiah, Uzzi, 20 Of Sallai, Kallai, of Amok, Eber, 21 Of Hilkiah, Hashabiah, of Jedaiah, Nethaneel. 22 The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, were recorded chief of the fathers, also the priests, to the rule of Darius the Persian. 23 The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan, the son of Eliashib. 24 And the chief of the Levites, Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua, the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers opposite them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David, the man of God, ward opposite ward. 25 Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates. 26 These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe. 27 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps. 28 And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country around Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi, 29 Also, from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built themselves villages around Jerusalem. 30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall. 31 Then I brought up the princes of Judah on the wall, and appointed two large companies of those who gave thanks, of which one went on the right hand on the wall toward the manure gate, 32 And Hoshaiah went after them, and half of the princes of Judah, 33 And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam, 34 Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah, 35 And certain of the priests' sons with trumpets, specifically, Zechariah, the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph, 36 And his brothers, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David, the man of God, and Ezra, the scribe, before them. 37 And at the fountain gate, that was opposite them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David, even to the water gate eastward. 38 And the other company of those who gave thanks went opposite them, and I went after them, and the half of the people on the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces even to the broad wall, 39 And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fish gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even to the sheep gate, and they stood still in the prison gate. 40 So the two companies of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, and me, and half of the rulers with me, 41 And the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets, 42 And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loudly, with Jezrahiah their overseer. 43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy, the wives also and the children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even far off. 44 And at that time some were appointed over the rooms for the treasures, for the offerings, for the first fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities, the portions of the law for the priests and Levites, for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited. 45 And both the singers and the door keepers kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son. 46 For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47 And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the door keepers, his portion every day, and they made holy the holy things for the Levites, and the Levites made holy the things for the children of Aaron. ___Nehemiah chapter 13 1 On that day, they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people, and in it was found written that the Ammonite and the Moabite shouldn't come into the congregation of God forever, 2 Because they didn't meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them, but our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3 Now when they had heard the law, they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. 4 And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the room of the house of our God, was allied to Tobiah, 5 And he had prepared for him a large room, where previously they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the containers, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, that was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the door keepers, and the offerings of the priests. 6 But in all this time I was not at Jerusalem, for in the thirty second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king, and after certain days I obtained permission to go from the king, 7 And I came to Jerusalem, and understood about the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a room in the courts of the house of God. 8 And it grieved me severely, therefore I threw out all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the room. 9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the rooms, and I brought back there the containers of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense. 10 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites hadn't been given to them, for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, had fled everyone to his field. 11 Then I contended with the rulers, and said, "Why has the house of God been forsaken?" And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. 12 Then all Judah brought the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil to the treasuries. 13 And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah, and Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, was next to them, for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute to their brothers. 14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and don't wipe out my good deeds that I've done for the house of my God, and for the offices of it. 15 In those days I saw some people treading wine presses on the Sabbath in Judah, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys, as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all kinds of burdens that they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, and I testified against them on the day on which they sold food. 16 There were men of Tyre also living in it, who brought fish, and all kinds of goods, and sold them on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. 17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, "What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the Sabbath day? 18 Didn't your fathers do that, and didn't our God bring all this evil on us, and on this city? Yet you bring more anger on Israel by profaning the Sabbath." 19 And when the gates of Jerusalem began to get dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened 'til after the Sabbath, and I set some of my servants at the gates, so that there would be no burdens brought in on the Sabbath day. 20 So the merchants and sellers of all kinds of goods lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. 21 Then I testified against them, and said to them, "Why do you lodge near the wall? If you do so again, I'll lay hands on you. From that time onward they didn't come anymore on the Sabbath. 22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to make holy the Sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your mercy. 23 In those days also, I saw Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab, 24 And their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and couldn't speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people. 25 And I contended with them, and cursed them, and struck certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, nor for yourselves. 26 Didn't Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, but outlandish women caused even him to sin. 27 Shall we then listen to you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?" 28 And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite, therefore I chased him from me. 29 Remember them, O my God, because they've defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. 30 Thus I cleansed them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, everyone in his business, 31 And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the first fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good. ___Esther chapter 1 1 Now in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus who ruled, from India to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty seven provinces,) 2 In those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, that was in Shushan the palace, 3 In the third year of his rule, he made a feast to all his princes and his servants, the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him, 4 When he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even one hundred eighty days. 5 And when these days had ended, the king made a feast to all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both to great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace, 6 Where there were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble, the beds were of gold and silver, on a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black marble. 7 And they gave them drink in containers of gold, (the containers being different from each other,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king. 8 And the drinking was according to the law, no one compelled, for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure. 9 Also, Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house that belonged to king Ahasuerus. 10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven butlers that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, 11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the people and the princes her beauty, for she was fair to look at. 12 But queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his butlers, therefore the king was very angry, and his anger burned in him. 13 Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment, 14 And next to him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and who sat the first in the kingdom,) 15 "What shall we do to queen Vashti according to law, because she has not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the butlers?" 16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, "Vashti the queen has not only done wrong to the king, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus. 17 For this deed of the queen shall get around to all women, so that they'll despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she didn't come. 18 Likewise the ladies of Persia and Media shall say this day to all the king's princes, who've heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall too much contempt and anger arise. 19 If it pleases the king, let a royal commandment go from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so it won't be altered, that Vashti shall come no more before king Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal estate to someone else that is better than her. 20 And when the king's decree that he'll make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give their husbands honor, both to great and small." 21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan, 22 For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing of it, and to every people in their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people. ___Esther chapter 2 1 After these things, when the anger of king Ahasuerus had been appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her. 2 Then the king's servants that ministered to him said, "Let attractive young virgins be sought for the king, 3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, so they can gather together all the fair young virgins to Shushan, the palace, to the house of the women, to the custody of Hege the king's butler, keeper of the women, and let their things for purification be given to them, 4 And let the maiden that pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti." And the thing pleased the king, and he did so. 5 Now in Shushan, the palace, there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, 6 Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity that had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. 7 And he raised Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter, for she had neither father nor mother, and the maiden was fair and beautiful, whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter. 8 So when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together to Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, Esther was brought also to the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. 9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness from him, and he speedily gave her the things for purification, with the things that belonged to her, and seven maidens, who were appropriate to be given to her, out of the king's house, and he preferred her and her maidens to the best place of the house of the women. 10 Esther had not shown who her people were nor her kindred, for Mordecai had told her not to show it. 11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what would become of her. 12 Now when every maid's turn had come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after she had been there twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors, and with other things for the purifying of the women,) 13 Then every maiden went to the king, whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women to the king's house. 14 In the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's butler, who kept the concubines, she went in to the king's presence no more, unless the king delighted in her, and if she were called by name. 15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his daughter, had come to go in to the king, she required nothing except what Hegai the king's butler, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all of those who looked at her. 16 So Esther was taken to king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his rule. 17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 Then the king made a great feast to all his princes and his servants, Esther's feast, and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king. 19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate. 20 Esther had not yet shown her kindred nor her people, as Mordecai had told her, for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like when she was brought up by him. 21 In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's butlers, Bigthan and Teresh, of those who kept the door, were angry, and sought to lay hand on king Ahasuerus. 22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it to Esther the queen, and Esther certified the king about it in Mordecai's name. 23 And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out, therefore they were both hung on a tree, and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king. ___Esther chapter 3 1 After these things, king Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. 2 And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai didn't bow, nor did him reverence. 3 Then the king's servants, who were in the king's gate, said to Mordecai, "Why do you transgress the king's commandment?" 4 Now when they spoke to him daily, and he didn't listen to them, they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew. 5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai didn't bow, nor did him reverence, then Haman was full of anger. 6 And he thought scorn to lay hands just on Mordecai only, for they had shown him the people of Mordecai, so Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, the people of Mordecai. 7 In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they threw Pur, that is, the lottery, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, until the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar. 8 And Haman said to king Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered around and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom, and their laws are different from all people, nor do they keep the king's laws, therefore it is not for the king's profit to allow them. 9 If it pleases the king, let it be written that they will be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries." 10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. 11 And the king said to Haman, "The silver is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you." 12 Then the king's scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and it was written according to all that Haman had commanded to the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing of it, and to every people after their language, in the name of king Ahasuerus it was written, and sealed with the king's ring. 13 And the letters were sent by messengers into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey. 14 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published to all people, that they should be ready for that day. 15 The messengers went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan, the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city Shushan was perplexed. ___Esther chapter 4 1 When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai tore his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry, 2 And came before the king's gate, for no one could enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. 3 And in every province, wherever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and crying, and wailing, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. 4 So, Esther's maids and her butlers came and told it to her. Then the queen was very grieved, and she sent clothing to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him, but he wouldn't accept it. 5 Then Esther called for Hatach, one of the king's butlers, whom he had appointed to attend to her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was. 6 So Hatach went out to Mordecai to the street of the city, that was before the king's gate. 7 And Mordecai told him about all that had happened to him, and about the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. 8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to show it to Esther, and to tell it to her, and to charge her that she should go in to the king's presence, to make supplication to him, and to make request before him for her people. 9 And Hatach went and told Esther the words of Mordecai. 10 Again Esther spoke to Hatach, and gave him commandment to Mordecai, 11 "All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces know that whoever, whether man or woman, shall come to the king into the inner court, who hasn't been invited, there is one law of his to put him to death, except those to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepter, so that he can live, but I haven't been invited to come in to the king these thirty days." 12 And they told Esther's words to Mordecai. 13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, "Don't think in yourself that you'll escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. 14 For if you entirely remain quiet at this time, then enlargement and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house shall be destroyed, and who knows whether you've come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" 15 Then Esther told them to return Mordecai this answer, 16 "Go, gather all the Jews together that are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and don't eat or drink three days, night or day, I also and my maidens will also fast, and so I'll go in to the king, which is not according to the law, and if I die, I die." 17 So Mordecai went away, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him. ___Esther chapter 5 1 Now on the third day, Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, opposite the king's house, and the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, opposite the gate of the house. 2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther went near, and touched the top of the scepter. 3 Then the king said to her, "What do you want, queen Esther? And what is your request? It shall be given to you up to half of the kingdom." 4 And Esther answered, "If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him." 5 Then the king said, "Cause Haman to hurry up, so he'll do like Esther has said." So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared. 6 And the king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, "What is your petition? And it shall be granted you, and what is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed." 7 Then Esther answered, and said, "My petition and my request is, 8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said." 9 Then Haman went out that day, joyful and with a glad heart, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he didn't stand up, nor moved for him, he was full of resentment against Mordecai. 10 Anyway, Haman refrained himself, and when he got home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife. 11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. 12 Haman said also, "Yes, Esther the queen allowed no man to come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but me, and tomorrow I'm invited also to be with her and the king. 13 Yet all this does me no good, as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate." 14 Then Zeresh his wife, and all his friends said to him, "Let a gallows be made seventy five feet high, and tomorrow speak to the king that Mordecai be hung on it, then go in merrily with the king to the banquet." And the thing pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made. ___Esther chapter 6 1 On that night the king couldn't sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles, and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's butlers, the keepers of the door, who tried to lay hands on king Ahasuerus. 3 And the king said, "What honor and dignity has been done to Mordecai for this?" Then the king's servants that ministered to him said, "Nothing has been done for him." 4 And the king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 5 And the king's servants said to him, "See, Haman is standing in the court." And the king said, "Let him come in." 6 So Haman came in. And the king said to him, "What shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?" Now Haman thought in his heart, "To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself?" 7 And Haman answered the king, "For the man whom the king delights to honor, 8 Let the royal apparel be brought that the king wears, and the horse that the king rides on, and the royal crown that sets on his head, 9 And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, so that they will array the man with them whom the king delights to honor, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor." 10 Then the king said to Haman, "Hurry up, and take the apparel and the horse, as you've said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, that sits at the king's gate, let nothing fail of all that you have spoken." 11 Then Haman took the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, "Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor." 12 And Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house mourning, and having his head covered. 13 And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, "If Mordecai is of the descendants of the Jews, before whom you've begun to fall, you won't prevail against him, but shall surely fall before him." 14 And while they were still talking with him, the king's butlers came, and hurried to bring Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared. ___Esther chapter 7 1 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. 2 And the king said again to Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, "What is your petition, queen Esther? And it shall be granted you, and what is your request? And it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom." 3 Then Esther the queen answered, "If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request, 4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bond women, I would not have spoken, although the enemy could not counteract the king's damage." 5 Then the king Ahasuerus answered Esther the queen, "Who is he, and where is he, that dares presume in his heart to do so?" 6 And Esther said, "The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman." Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. 7 And the king, arising from the banquet of wine in his anger, went into the palace garden, and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen, for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king. 8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine, and Haman had fallen on the bed on which Esther was. Then the king said, "Will he force the queen also before me in the house?" As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. 9 And Harbonah, one of the butlers, said before the king, "See also, the gallows seventy five feet high, that Haman made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, stands in the house of Haman." Then the king said, "Hang him on it." 10 So they hung Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king's anger was pacified. ___Esther chapter 8 1 On that day, king Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman, the Jews' enemy, to Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was to her. 2 And the king took off his ring, that he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman. 3 And Esther spoke yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews. 4 Then the king held out the golden scepter toward Esther. So Esther got up, and stood before the king, 5 And said, "If it pleases the king, and if I've found favor in his sight, and the thing seems right before the king, and I'm pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, that he wrote to destroy the Jews that are in all the king's provinces, 6 For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?" 7 Then king Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, "See, I've given Esther the house of Haman, and they've hung him on the gallows, because he laid his hand on the Jews. 8 Write also for the Jews, as seems good to you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring, for no man can reverse the writing that has been written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring." 9 Then the king's scribes were called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the twenty third day of it, and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces that are from India to Ethiopia, one hundred twenty seven provinces, to every province according to the writing of it, and to every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language. 10 And he wrote in king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by messengers on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries, 11 In which the king granted the Jews that were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey, 12 On one day, in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, specifically, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. 13 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published to all people, and that the Jews should be ready for that day to avenge themselves against their enemies. 14 So the messengers that rode on mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace. 15 And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a large crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple, and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. 16 The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honor. 17 And in every province, and in every city, wherever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews, for the fear of the Jews fell on them. ___Esther chapter 9 1 Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree came near to be put in execution, on the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over those who hated them,) 2 The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hands on those who sought their hurt, and no man could withstand them, for the fear of them fell on all people. 3 And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai fell on them. 4 For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces, for this man Mordecai became greater and greater. 5 Thus the Jews struck all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they wanted to those that hated them. 6 And in Shushan the palace the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men. 7 And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha, 8 And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha, 9 And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha, 10 The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, they killed, but they didn't lay their hand on the spoil. 11 On that day, the number of those that were killed in Shushan the palace was brought before the king. 12 And the king said to Esther the queen, "The Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan, the palace, and the ten sons of Haman, what have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? Now what is your petition? And it shall be granted you, or what is your request further? And it shall be done." 13 Then Esther said, "If it pleases the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do tomorrow also according to this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hung on the gallows." 14 And the king commanded it to be done so, and the decree was given at Shushan, and they hung Haman's ten sons. 15 For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and killed three hundred men at Shushan, but on the spoil they didn't lay their hand. 16 But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy five thousand of their enemies, but they didn't lay their hands on the spoil, 17 On the thirteenth day of the month Adar, and on the fourteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 18 But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day of it, and on the fourteenth of it, and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, that lived in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending gifts to each other. 20 And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters to all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both near and far, 21 To establish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly, 22 As the days in which the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month that was turned to them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day, that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending gifts to each other, and gifts to the poor. 23 And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written to them, 24 Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lottery, to consume them, and to destroy them, 25 But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, that he had devised against the Jews, should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hung on the gallows. 26 So they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come to them, 27 The Jews ordained, and took on them, and on their descendants, and on all such as joined themselves to them, so that it wouldn't fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year, 28 And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city, and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their descendants. 29 Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim. 30 And he sent the letters to all the Jews, to the hundred twenty seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth, 31 To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had commanded them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their descendants, the matters of the fastings and their cry. 32 And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim, and it was written in the book. ___Esther chapter 10 1 And king Ahasuerus laid a tax on the land, and on the islands of the sea. 2 And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? 3 For Mordecai the Jew was next to king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted by the multitude of his brothers, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his descendants. ___Job chapter 1 1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job, and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and abstained from evil. 2 And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household, so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. 4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day, and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. 5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting had ended, that Job sent to purify them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered 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." Thus did Job continually. 6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. 7 And the Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, "From going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in it." 8 And the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is no one like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God, and abstains from evil?" 9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Haven't you made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance has increased in the land. 11 But put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face." 12 And the Lord said to Satan, "See, all that he has is in your power, only don't touch the man himself. So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. 13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house, 14 And a messenger came to Job, and said, "The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them, 15 And the Sabeans fell on them, and took them away, yes, they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and only I have escaped to tell you." 16 While he was still talking, someone else also came, and said, "The fire of God has fallen from heaven, and has burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them, and only I have escaped to tell you." 17 While he was still speaking, someone else also came, and said, "The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell on the camels, and have carried them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and only I have escaped to tell you." 18 While he was still speaking, someone else also came, and said, "Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house, 19 And see, a great wind came from the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young men, and they are dead, and only I have escaped to tell you." 20 Then Job got up, and tore his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down on the ground, and worshipped, 21 And said, "I came out of my mother's womb naked, and naked I shall die, the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord." 22 In all this Job didn't sin, nor charged God foolishly. ___Job chapter 2 1 Again, there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" And Satan answered the Lord, and said, "From going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in it." 3 And the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is no one like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God, and abstains from evil? And he still holds tightly his integrity, although you moved me against him, to destroy him without good reason." 4 And Satan answered the Lord, and said, "Skin for skin, yes, a man will give all that he has for his life. 5 But put out your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face." 6 And the Lord said to Satan, "See, he is in your hand, but don't kill him." 7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with severe boils from the sole of his foot to the top of his head." 8 And he took himself a piece of broken pottery to scrape himself with, and he sat down among the ashes. 9 Then his wife said to him, "Do you still retain your integrity? Curse God, and die." 10 But he said to her, "You're talking like foolish women speak. What? Shall we receive good from the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this, Job didn't sin with his lips. 11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come on him, they all came from their own places, Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. 12 And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and didn't recognize him, they lifted up their voices, and wept, and they all tore their mantles, and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. 13 So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great. ___Job chapter 3 1 After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day. 2 And Job said, 3 "Let the day perish in which I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived. 4 Let that day be darkness, let God not regard it from above, nor let the light shine on it. 5 Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it, let a cloud dwell on it, let the blackness of the day terrify it. 6 As for that night, let darkness seize on it, let it not be joined to the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months. 7 See, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come in it. 8 Let them curse it who curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning. 9 Let the stars of the twilight of it be dark, let it look for light, but have none, nor let it see the dawning of the day, 10 Because it didn't shut the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from my eyes. 11 Why didn't I die from the womb? Why didn't I give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? 12 Why did the knees prevent me? Or why the breasts that I should suck? 13 For now I would have laid still and been quiet, I would have slept, then I would have been at rest, 14 With kings and counselors of the earth, who built desolate places for themselves, 15 Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver, 16 Or like a hidden untimely birth, I had not been, like babies who never saw light. 17 There, the wicked stop from troubling, and there the weary are at rest. 18 There, the prisoners rest together, they don't hear the voice of the oppressor. 19 The small and great are there, and the servant is free from his master. 20 Why is light given to him that is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul, 21 Who long for death, but it doesn't come, and search for it more than for hidden treasures, 22 Who rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave? 23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, and whom God has hedged in? 24 For my sighing comes before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters. 25 For the thing that I greatly feared has come on me, and that which I was afraid of has come to me. 26 I was not in safety, nor did I have rest, neither was I quiet, yet trouble came." ___Job chapter 4 1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, 2 "If we try to commune with you, will you be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking? 3 See, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands. 4 Your words have upheld him that was falling, and you have strengthened the feeble knees. 5 But now it has come on you, and you faint, it touches you, and you are troubled. 6 Is not this your fear, your confidence, your hope, and the uprightness of your ways? 7 Remember, please, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the righteous cut off? 8 Even as I have seen, those who plow sin, and plant wickedness, reap the same. 9 By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils they are consumed. 10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken. 11 The old lion perishes for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered around. 12 Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and my ear received a little of it. 13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, 14 Fear came on me, and trembling, that made all my bones to shake. 15 Then a spirit passed before my face, the hair of my flesh stood up, 16 It stood still, but I could not discern the form of it, an image was before my eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying, 17 Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his maker? 18 See, he put no trust in his servants, and he charged his angels with foolishness, 19 How much less in those who live in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, that are crushed before the moth? 20 They are destroyed from morning until evening, they perish forever without anyone regarding it. 21 Doesn't their excellence that is in them go away? They die, even without wisdom." ___Job chapter 5 1 "Call now, if there are any that will answer you, and to which of the saints will you turn? 2 For anger kills the foolish man, and envy kills the silly one. 3 I have seen the foolish taking root, but suddenly I cursed his habitation. 4 His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, nor is there anyone to deliver them. 5 Whose harvest the hungry eat up, and takes it even out of the thorns, and the robber swallows up their substance. 6 Although affliction doesn't come forth from the dust, nor does trouble spring out of the ground, 7 Yet man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward. 8 I would seek to God, and to God would I commit my cause, 9 Who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number, 10 Who gives rain on the earth, and sends waters on the fields, 11 To set up on high those that are low, so that those who mourn can be exalted to safety. 12 He disappoints the devices of the crafty, so that their hands can't perform their enterprise. 13 He takes the wise in their own craftiness, and the advice of the froward is carried headlong. 14 They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night. 15 But he saves the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty. 16 So the poor has hope, and sin stops its mouth. 17 See, happy is the man whom God corrects, therefore don't despise the punishment of the Almighty, 18 For he makes sore, and binds up, he wounds, and his hands make well. 19 He shall deliver you in six troubles, yes, in seven no evil shall touch you. 20 In famine, he shall redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword. 21 You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, nor shall you be afraid of destruction when it comes. 22 At destruction and famine you shall laugh, nor shall you be afraid of the beasts of the earth. 23 For you shall be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you. 24 And you shall know that your tabernacle shall be in peace, and you shall visit your habitation, and shall not sin. 25 You shall know also that your descendants shall be great, and your offspring like the grass of the earth. 26 You shall come to your grave in a full age, like a shock of corn comes to harvest at the season. 27 Look at this, we have searched it, so it is, hear it, and know you it for your good." ___Job chapter 6 1 But Job answered and said, 2 "Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together! 3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea, therefore my words are swallowed up. 4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison of which, drinks up my spirit, the terrors of God set themselves in array against me. 5 Does the wild ass bray when he has grass? Or does the ox low over his fodder? 6 Can that which is unsavory be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg? 7 The things that my soul refused to touch are like my sorrowful food. 8 Oh that I might have my request, and that God would grant me the thing that I long for! 9 Even that it would please God to destroy me, that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off! 10 Then I would yet have comfort, yes, I would harden myself in sorrow, let him not spare, for I have not concealed the words of the Holy one. 11 What is my strength, that I should hope? And what is my end, that I should prolong my life? 12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass? 13 Is not my help in me? And has wisdom been quite driven from me? 14 To him that is afflicted pity should be shown from his friend, but he forsakes the fear of the Almighty. 15 My brothers have dealt deceitfully like a brook, and like the stream of brooks, they pass away, 16 Which are blackish because of the ice, and in which the snow is hidden, 17 When they grow warm, they vanish, when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place. 18 The paths of their way are turned aside, they come to nothing, and perish. 19 The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them. 20 They were confused because they had hoped, they came there, and were ashamed. 21 For now you are nothing, you see my throwing down, and are afraid. 22 Did I say, bring to me? Or, give a reward for me of your substance? 23 Or, deliver me from the enemy's hand? Or, redeem me from the hand of the mighty? 24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue, and cause me to understand how I have erred. 25 How forcible are right words! But what does your arguing reprove? 26 Do you imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of someone that is desperate, which are like wind? 27 Yes, you overwhelm the fatherless, and you dig a pit for your friend. 28 Now therefore be content, look at me, for it is evident to you if I lie. 29 Return, please, let it not be sin, yes, return again, my righteousness is in it. 30 Is there sin in my tongue? Can't my taste discern perverse things?" ___Job chapter 7 1 "Is there not an appointed time to man on earth? Are not his days also like the days of a hired hand? 2 Like a servant earnestly desires the shadow, and as a hired hand looks for the reward of his work, 3 So I am made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me. 4 When I lie down, I say, when shall I arise, and the night be gone? And I am full of tossings back and forth until the dawning of the day. 5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust, my skin is broken, and has become repulsive. 6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope. 7 O remember that my life is wind, my eye shall no more see good. 8 The eye of him that has seen me shall see me no more, your eyes are on me, and I am not. 9 As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he that goes down to the grave shall come up no more. 10 He shall return no more to his house, nor shall his place know him anymore. 11 Therefore I will not refrain my mouth, I will speak in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. 12 Am I a sea, or a whale, that you set a watch over me? 13 When I say, my bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint, 14 Then you scare me with dreams, and terrify me through visions, 15 So that my soul chooses strangling, and death rather than life. 16 I hate it, I would not live always, let me alone, for my days are vanity. 17 What is man, that you should magnify him? And that you should set your heart on him? 18 And that you should visit him every morning, and test him every moment? 19 How long will you not depart from me, nor let me alone 'til I swallow down my spit? 20 I have sinned, what shall I do to you, O you preserver of men? Why have you set me like a mark against you, so that I am a burden to myself? 21 And why don't you pardon my transgression, and take away my sin? For now I shall sleep in the dust, and you shall seek me in the morning, but I shall not be." ___Job chapter 8 1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered, 2 "How long will you speak these things? And how long shall the words of your mouth be like a strong wind? 3 Does God pervert judgment? Or does the Almighty pervert justice? 4 If your children have sinned against him, and he has thrown them away for their transgression, 5 If you would seek to God at times, and make your supplication to the Almighty, 6 If you were pure and upright, surely now he would awake for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous. 7 Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase. 8 For inquire, please, of the former age, and prepare yourself to the search of their fathers, 9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow,) 10 Shall they not teach you, and tell you, and speak words out of their heart? 11 Can the rush grow up without mire? Can the flag grow without water? 12 While it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, it withers before any other herb. 13 So are the paths of all that forget God, and the hypocrite's hope shall perish, 14 Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web. 15 He shall lean on his house, but it shall not stand, he shall hold it tight, but it shall not endure. 16 He is green before the sun, and his branch shoots forth in his garden. 17 His roots are wrapped around the heap, and sees the place of stones. 18 If he destroys him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen you. 19 See, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow. 20 See, God will not throw away a perfect man, nor will he help the evil doers, 21 'Til he fills your mouth with laughing, and your lips with rejoicing. 22 Those who hate you shall be clothed with shame, and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nothing." ___Job chapter 9 1 Then Job answered and said, 2 "I know it is so of a truth, but how should man be just with God? 3 If he will contend with him, he can't answer him one of a thousand. 4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength, who has hardened himself against him, and has prospered? 5 Who removes the mountains, and they don't know, who overturns them in his anger. 6 Who shakes the earth out of its place, and the pillars of it tremble. 7 Who commands the sun, and it doesn't rise, and seals up the stars. 8 Who alone spreads out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea. 9 Who makes Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the rooms of the south. 10 Who does great things past finding out, yes, and wonders without number. 11 See, he goes by me, and I don't see him, he passes on also, but I don't perceive him. 12 See, he takes away, who can hinder him? Who will say to him, what are you doing? 13 If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers stoop under him. 14 How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him? 15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet I would not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge. 16 If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I would not believe that he had listened to my voice. 17 For he breaks me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause. 18 He will not allow me to take my breath, but fills me with bitterness. 19 If I speak of strength, see, he is strong, and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead? 20 If I justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me, if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. 21 Though I were perfect, yet I would not know my soul, I would despise my life. 22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, he destroys the perfect and the wicked. 23 If the scourge kills suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent. 24 The earth has been given into the hand of the wicked, he covers the faces of the judges of it, if not, where, and who is he? 25 Now my days are swifter than a post, they flee away, they see no good. 26 They are passed away like the swift ships, like the eagle that hurries to the prey. 27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself, 28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that you will not hold me innocent. 29 If I am wicked, why then do I labor in vain? 30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean, 31 Yet you'll plunge me in the ditch, and my own clothes shall hate me. 32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment. 33 Nor is there any arbitrator between us, that can lay his hand on us both. 34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me, 35 Then I would speak, and not fear him, but it is not so with me." ___Job chapter 10 1 "My soul is weary of my life, I will leave my complaint on myself, I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. 2 I will say to God, Do not condemn me, show me why you contend with me. 3 Is it good to you that you oppress, that you despise the work of your hands, and shine on the advice of the wicked? 4 Do you have eyes of flesh? Or do you see like man sees? 5 Are your days like the days of man? Are your years like man's years, 6 That you inquire after my iniquity, and search after my sin? 7 You know that I am not wicked, and there is no one that can deliver out of your hand. 8 Your hands have made me and fashioned me together all around, yet you destroy me. 9 Remember, I beg of you, that you have made me like the clay, and will you bring me into dust again? 10 Have you not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese? 11 You have clothed me with skin and flesh, and have fenced me with bones and tendons. 12 You have granted me life and favor, and your visitation has preserved my spirit. 13 And these things you have hidden in your heart, I know that this is with you. 14 If I sin, then you mark me, and you will not acquit me from my sin. 15 If I am wicked, woe to me, and if I am righteous, yet I will not lift up my head. I am full of confusion, therefore, see my affliction, 16 For it increases. You hunt me like a fierce lion, and again you showed yourself marvelous on me. 17 You renew your witnesses against me, and increase your resentment against me, changes and war are against me. 18 Why then have you brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me! 19 I would have been as though I had not been, I would have been carried from the womb to the grave. 20 Are not my days few? Stop then, and let me alone, so I can take comfort a little, 21 Before I go from where I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death, 22 A land of darkness, like darkness itself, and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness." ___Job chapter 11 1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered, and said, 2 "Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be justified? 3 Should your lies make men be silent? And when you mock, shall no man make you ashamed? 4 For you have said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in your eyes. 5 But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against you, 6 And that he would show you the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God punishes you less than your sin deserves. 7 Can you find out God by searching? Can you find out the Almighty to perfection? 8 It is as high as heaven, what can you do? Deeper than hell, what can you know? 9 The measure of it is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. 10 If he cuts off, and shuts up, or gathers together, then who can hinder him? 11 For he knows vain men, he sees wickedness also, will he not then consider it? 12 For vain man would be wise, though man is born like a wild ass's colt. 13 If you prepare your heart, and stretch out your hands toward him, 14 If sin is in your hand, put it far away, and don't let wickedness dwell in your tabernacles. 15 For then you shall lift up your face without spot, yes, you shall be steady, and shall not fear, 16 Because you shall forget your misery, and remember it like waters that pass away, 17 And your age shall be clearer than the noonday, you shall shine forth, you shall be like the morning. 18 And you shall be secure, because there is hope, yes, you shall dig around you, and you shall take your rest in safety. 19 Also you shall lie down, and no one shall make you afraid, yes, many shall court your favor. 20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be like the giving up of the spirit." ___Job chapter 12 1 And Job answered and said, 2 "No doubt but you are the people, and wisdom shall die with you. 3 But I have understanding as well as you, I am not inferior to you, yes, who doesn't know such things as these? 4 I am like someone mocked by his neighbor, who calls on God, and he answers him, the just upright man is laughed at scornfully. 5 He that is ready to slip with his feet is like a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease. 6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and those who provoke God are secure, into whose hand God brings abundantly. 7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach you, and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell you, 8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you, and the fish of the sea shall declare to you. 9 Who doesn't know in all these that the hand of the Lord has made this? 10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. 11 Doesn't the ear test words? And the mouth taste its food? 12 With the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days understanding. 13 With him is wisdom and strength, he has counsel and understanding. 14 See, he breaks down, and it can't be built again, he shuts up a man, and there can be no opening. 15 See, he withholds the waters, and they dry up, also he sends them out, and they overturn the earth. 16 With him is strength and wisdom, the deceived and the deceiver are his. 17 He leads counselors away spoiled, and makes the judges fools. 18 He looses the bond of kings, and girds their loins with a girdle. 19 He leads princes away spoiled, and overthrows the mighty. 20 He removes away the speech of the trusty, and takes away the understanding of the aged. 21 He pours contempt on princes, and weakens the strength of the mighty. 22 He discovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death. 23 He increases the nations, and destroys them, he enlarges the nations, and restricts them again. 24 He takes away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way. 25 They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them stagger like a man who is drunk." ___Job chapter 13 1 "See, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it. 2 What you know, the I also know, I am not inferior to you. 3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God. 4 But you are forgers of lies, you are all physicians of no value. 5 O that you would completely be silent! And it would be your wisdom. 6 Hear now my reasoning, and listen to the pleadings of my lips. 7 Will you speak wickedly for God? And talk deceitfully for him? 8 Will you accept his person? Will you contend for God? 9 Is it good that he should search you out? Or like one man mocks another, do you so mock him? 10 He will surely reprove you, if you secretly accept persons. 11 Shall not his excellence make you afraid? And his dread fall on you? 12 Your remembrances are like ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay. 13 Be quiet, let me alone, so I can speak, and let come on me what will. 14 So do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand? 15 Though he kills me, yet I will trust in him, but I will maintain my own ways before him. 16 He also shall be my salvation, for a hypocrite shall not come before him. 17 Listen diligently to my speech, and my declaration with your ears. 18 See now, I have ordered my cause, I know that I shall be justified. 19 Who is he that will plead with me? For now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost. 20 Only do not two things to me, then I will not hide myself from you. 21 Withdraw your hand far from me, and don't let your dread make me afraid. 22 Then call, and I will answer, or let me speak, and answer me. 23 How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin. 24 Why do you hide your face, and consider me to be your enemy? 25 Will you break a leaf driven back and forth? And will you pursue the dry stubble? 26 For you write bitter things against me, and make me to possess the sins of my youth. 27 You put my feet also in the stocks, and look narrowly to all my paths, you set a print on the heels of my feet. 28 And he, like a rotten thing, consumes, like a garment that is moth eaten." ___Job chapter 14 1 "Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. 2 He comes forth like a flower, and is cut down, he flees also like a shadow, and doesn't continue. 3 And do you open your eyes on such a one, and bring me into judgment with you? 4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one. 5 Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with you, you have appointed his bounds that he can't pass, 6 Turn from him, so he can rest, 'til he shall accomplish his day, like a hired hand. 7 For there is hope of a tree, if it's cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch of it will not stop. 8 Though the root of it grows old in the earth, and the stock of it dies in the ground, 9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and produce boughs like a plant. 10 But man dies, and wastes away, yes, man gives up the ghost, and where is he? 11 Like the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decays and dries up, 12 So man lies down, and doesn't rise, 'til the heavens are no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. 13 O that you would hide me in the grave, that you would keep me secret, until your anger is past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me! 14 If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time I will wait, 'til my change comes. 15 You shall call, and I will answer you, you will have a desire to the work of your hands. 16 For now you number my steps, do you not watch over my sin? 17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and you sew up my sin. 18 And surely the mountain falling comes to nothing, and the rock is removed out of its place. 19 The waters wear the stones, you wash away the things that grow out of the dust of the earth, and you destroy the hope of man. 20 You prevail forever against him, and he passes, you change his facial expression, and send him away. 21 His sons come to honor, and he doesn't know it, and they are brought low, but he doesn't perceive it about them. 22 But his flesh on him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn." ___Job chapter 15 1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, 2 "Should a wise man speak vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind? 3 Should he reason with unprofitable talk? Or with speeches with which he can do no good? 4 Yes, you throw off fear, and restrain prayer before God. 5 For your mouth speaks your sin, and you choose the tongue of the crafty. 6 Your own mouth condemns you, and not I, yes, your own lips testify against you. 7 Are you the first man that was born? Or were you made before the hills? 8 Have you heard the secret of God? And do you restrain wisdom to yourself? 9 What do you know that we don't know? What do you understand, that isn't in us? 10 With us are both the gray headed and very aged men, much elder than your father. 11 Are the consolations of God small with you? Is there any secret thing with you? 12 Why does your heart carry you away? And what do your eyes wink at, 13 That you turn your spirit against God, and let such words go out of your mouth? 14 What is man, that he should be clean? And he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? 15 See, he puts no trust in his saints, yes, the heavens are not clean in his sight. 16 How much more dirty and filthy is man, who drinks sin like water? 17 I will show you, hear me, and that which I have seen I will declare, 18 Which wise men have been told by their fathers, and have not hidden it, 19 To whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger passed among them. 20 The wicked man travails with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor. 21 A dreadful sound is in his ears, in prosperity the destroyer shall come against him. 22 He doesn't believe that he shall return out of darkness, and he is waited for by the sword. 23 He wanders around for bread, saying, Where is it? He knows that the day of darkness is ready at hand. 24 Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid, they shall prevail against him, like a king ready to the battle. 25 For he stretches out his hand against God, and strengthens himself against the Almighty. 26 He runs at him, even at his neck, on the thick bosses of his bucklers, 27 Because he covers his face with his fatness, and makes collops of fat on his flanks. 28 And he dwells in desolate cities, and in houses that no man inhabits, which are ready to become heaps. 29 He shall not be rich, nor shall his substance continue, nor shall he prolong the perfection of it on the earth. 30 He shall not depart out of darkness, the flame shall dry up his branches, and by the breath of his mouth he shall go away. 31 Let him that is deceived not trust in vanity, for vanity shall be his repayment. 32 It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be green. 33 He shall shake off his unripe grape like the vine, and shall throw off his flower like the olive. 34 For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery. 35 They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepares deceit." ___Job chapter 16 1 Then Job answered, 2 "I have heard many such things, you are all miserable comforters. 3 Shall vain words have an end? Or what emboldens you that you answer? 4 I also could speak like you do, if your soul were in my soul's place, I could heap up words against you, and shake my head at you. 5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips would lessen your grief. 6 Though I speak, my grief is not lessen, and though I don't speak, what am I eased? 7 But now he has made me weary, you have made all my company desolate. 8 And you have filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me, and my leanness rising up in me bears witness to my face. 9 He tears me in his anger, who hates me, he gnashes at me with his teeth, my enemy sharpens his eyes on me. 10 They have gaped at me with their mouth, they have struck me on the cheek reproachfully, they have gathered themselves together against me. 11 God has delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked. 12 I was at ease, but he has broken me in pieces, he has also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his target. 13 His archers surround me, he splits my reins in pieces, and doesn't spare, he pours out my gall on the ground. 14 He breaks me with bruise upon bruise, he runs at me like a giant. 15 I have sewn sackcloth on my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust. 16 My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death, 17 Not for any injustice in my hands, also my prayer is pure. 18 O earth, don't cover my blood, and let my cry have no place. 19 Also now, see, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high. 20 My friends scorn me, but my eye pours out tears to God. 21 O that someone would plead for a man with God, like a man pleads for his neighbor! 22 When a few years have come, then I shall go the way from where I shall not return." ___Job chapter 17 1 "My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me. 2 Are there not mockers with me? And doesn't my eye continue in their provocation? 3 Lay down now, put me in a surety with you, who is he that will shake hands with me? 4 For you have hidden their heart from understanding, therefore you won't exalt them. 5 He that speaks flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail. 6 He has made me also a byword of the people, and previously I was like a tabret. 7 My eye also is dim because of sorrow, and all my members are like a shadow. 8 Upright men shall be astonished at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite. 9 The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that has clean hands shall be stronger and stronger. 10 But as for you all, return, and come now, for I can't find one wise man among you. 11 My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart. 12 They change the night into day, the light is short because of darkness. 13 If I wait, the grave is my house, I have made my bed in the darkness. 14 I have said to corruption, you are my father, to the worm, you are my mother, and my sister. 15 And where is now my hope? As for my hope, who shall see it? 16 They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust." ___Job chapter 18 1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered, 2 "How long will it be before you make an end of words? Mark, and afterwards we will speak. 3 Why are we counted as beasts, and reputed filthy in your sight? 4 He tears himself in his anger, shall the earth be forsaken for you? And shall the rock be removed out of its place? 5 Yes, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. 6 The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him. 7 The steps of his strength shall be restricted, and his own advice shall throw him down. 8 For he is thrown into a net by his own feet, and he steps on a trap. 9 The trap shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him. 10 The trap is laid for him on the ground, and a trap for him in the way. 11 Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet. 12 His strength shall be hunger bitten, and destruction shall be ready at his side. 13 It shall devour the strength of his skin, even the firstborn of death shall devour his strength. 14 His confidence shall be uprooted from of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors. 15 It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his, sulphur shall be scattered on his habitation. 16 His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above, his branch shall be cut off. 17 His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street. 18 He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world. 19 He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings. 20 Those who come after him shall be astonished at his day, like those who went before were afraid. 21 Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that doesn't know God." ___Job chapter 19 1 Then Job answered, 2 "How long will you vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words? 3 These ten times you've reproached me, you are not ashamed that you make yourselves strange to me. 4 And if, indeed, I have erred, my error remains with myself. 5 If indeed you will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach, 6 Know now that God has overthrown me, and has surrounded me with his net. 7 See, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard, I cry out loud, but there is no justice. 8 He has fenced up my way so that I can't pass, and he has set darkness in my paths. 9 He has stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head. 10 He has destroyed me on every side, and I am gone, and he has removed my hope like a tree. 11 He has also kindled his anger against me, and he counts me like one of his enemies. 12 His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp around my tabernacle. 13 He has put my brothers far from me, and my acquaintances are truly estranged from me. 14 My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me. 15 Those who live in my house, and my maids, count me as a stranger, I am an alien in their sight. 16 I called my servant, and he gave me no answer, I entreated him with my mouth. 17 My breath is strange to my wife, though I entreated for the children's sake of my own body. 18 Yes, young children despised me, I got up, and they spoke against me. 19 All my inward friends abhorred me, and those whom I loved have turned against me. 20 My bones stick to my skin and to my flesh, and I've escaped with the skin of my teeth. 21 Have pity on me, have pity on me, O my friends, for the hand of God has touched me. 22 Why do you persecute me like God, and are not satisfied with my flesh? 23 Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were printed in a book! 24 That they were engraved with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever! 25 For I know that my redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day on the earth, 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh I shall see God, 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall see, and not someone else, though my reins are consumed inside me. 28 But you should say, why do we persecute him, seeing that the root of the matter is found in me? 29 Be afraid of the sword, for anger brings the punishments of the sword, so that you'll know there is a judgment. ___Job chapter 20 1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered, 2 "Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste. 3 I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer. 4 Don't you know this of old, since man was placed on earth, 5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment? 6 Though his excellence mounts up to the heavens, and his head reaches to the clouds, 7 Yet he shall perish forever like his own dung, those who have seen him shall say, where is he? 8 He shall fly away like a dream, and shall not be found, yes, he shall be chased away like a vision of the night. 9 The eye also that saw him shall see him no more, nor shall his place see him anymore. 10 His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods. 11 His bones are full of the sin of his youth, that shall lie down with him in the dust. 12 Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue, 13 Though he spares it, and doesn't forsake it, but keeps it still within his mouth, 14 Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps inside him. 15 He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again, God shall throw them out of his belly. 16 He shall suck the poison of asps, the viper's tongue shall kill him. 17 He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter. 18 That which he labored for he'll restore, and shall not swallow it down, according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice in it. 19 Because he has oppressed and has forsaken the poor, because he has violently taken away a house that he didn't build, 20 Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired. 21 None of his food shall be left, therefore shall no man look for his goods. 22 In the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be restricted, every hand of the wicked shall come against him. 23 When he is about to fill his belly, God shall throw the fury of his anger on him, and shall rain it on him while he is eating. 24 He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through. 25 It is drawn, and comes out of the body, yes, the glittering sword comes out of his gall, terrors are on him. 26 All darkness shall be hidden in his secret places, a fire not blown shall consume him, it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle. 27 The heaven shall reveal his sin, and the earth shall rise up against him. 28 The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his anger. 29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed to him by God." ___Job chapter 21 1 But Job answered, 2 "Hear my speech diligently, and let this be your consolation. 3 Allow me that I may speak, and after I have spoken, continue to mock. 4 As for me, is my complaint to man? And if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled? 5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand on your mouth. 6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling takes hold on my flesh. 7 Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, are mighty in power? 8 Their descendants is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. 9 Their houses are safe from fear, nor is the rod of God on them. 10 Their bull genders, and doesn't fail, their cow calves, and doesn't throw her calf. 11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. 12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. 13 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. 14 Therefore they say to God, Depart from us, for we don't desire the knowledge of your ways. 15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray to him? 16 See, their good is not in their hand, the advice of the wicked is far from me. 17 How often is the candle of the wicked put out! And how often does their destruction come on them! God distributes sorrows in his anger. 18 They are like stubble before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away. 19 God lays up his sin for his children, he rewards him, and he shall know it. 20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the anger of the Almighty. 21 For what pleasure does he have in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the middle? 22 Shall anyone teach God knowledge? Seeing he judges those that are high. 23 One dies in his full strength, being completely at ease and quiet. 24 His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow. 25 And another dies in the bitterness of his soul, and never eats with pleasure. 26 They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them. 27 See, I know your thoughts, and the devices that you wrongfully imagine against me. 28 For you say, where is the house of the prince? And where are the dwelling places of the wicked? 29 Haven't you asked those who go by the way? And don't you know their tokens, 30 That the wicked is reserved for the day of destruction? They shall be brought forth to the day of anger. 31 Who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he has done? 32 Yet he shall be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb. 33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are uncountable before him. 34 How then do you comfort me in vain, seeing that in your answers there remains falsehood?" ___Job chapter 22 1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, 2 "Can a man be profitable to God, like he that is wise may be profitable to himself? 3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that you are righteous? Or is it gain to him, that you make your ways perfect? 4 Will he reprove you for fear of you? Will he enter with you into judgment? 5 Isn't your wickedness great? And your sins infinite? 6 For you have taken a security deposit from your brother for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing. 7 You have not given water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry. 8 But as for the mighty man, he had the earth, and the honorable man lived in it. 9 You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken. 10 Therefore traps are around you, and sudden fear troubles you, 11 Or darkness, that you can not see, and abundance of waters cover you. 12 Is not God in the height of heaven? And see the height of the stars, how high they are! 13 And you say, how does God know? Can he judge through the dark cloud? 14 Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he doesn't see, and he walks in the circuit of heaven. 15 Have you marked the old way that wicked men have walked on? 16 Who were cut down prematurely, whose foundation overflowed with a flood, 17 Who said to God, depart from us, and what can the Almighty do for them? 18 Yet he filled their houses with good things, but the advice of the wicked is far from me. 19 The righteous see it, and are glad, and the innocent laugh at them scornfully. 20 Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the fire consumes the remnant of them. 21 Acquaint now yourself with him, and be at peace, by that, good shall come to you. 22 Receive, please, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart. 23 If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, you shall put away sin far from your tabernacles. 24 Then you'll lay up gold like dust, and the gold of Ophir like the stones of the brooks. 25 Yes, the Almighty shall be your defense, and you shall have plenty of silver. 26 For then, you'll have your delight in the Almighty, and shall lift up your face to God. 27 You shall make your prayer to him, and he shall hear you, and you shall pay your vows. 28 You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established to you, and the light shall shine on your ways. 29 When men are thrown down, then you shall say, there is lifting up, and he shall save the humble person. 30 He shall deliver the island of the innocent, and it is delivered by the pureness of your hands." ___Job chapter 23 1 Then Job answered, 2 "Even today my complaint is bitter, my stroke is heavier than my groaning. 3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! So that I could come to his seat! 4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. 5 I would know the words that he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me. 6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No, but he would put strength in me. 7 There, the righteous could dispute with him, so I would be delivered forever from my judge. 8 See, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I can't perceive him, 9 On the left hand, where he works, but I can't see him, he hides himself on the right hand, so that I can't see him, 10 But he knows the way that I take, when he has tried me, I shall come forth like gold. 11 My foot has held his steps, I have kept his way, and not declined. 12 Nor have I gone back from the commandment of his lips, I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. 13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? And what his soul desires, that's what he does. 14 For he performs the thing that is appointed for me, and many such things are with him. 15 Therefore I am troubled at his presence, when I consider, I am afraid of him. 16 For God makes my heart soft, and the Almighty troubles me, 17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, nor has he covered the darkness from my face." ___Job chapter 24 1 "Why, since times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days? 2 Some remove the landmarks, they violently take away flocks, and feed on them. 3 They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a security deposit. 4 They turn the needy out of the way, the poor of the earth hide themselves together. 5 See, like wild asses in the desert, they go forth to their work, rising at times for a prey, the wilderness yields food for them and for their children. 6 They reap every one his corn in the field, and they gather the vintage of the wicked. 7 They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, so that they have no covering in the cold. 8 They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for lack of shelter. 9 They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a security deposit from the poor. 10 They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry, 11 Who make oil inside their walls, and tread their winepresses, and allow thirst. 12 Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded cries out, yet God doesn't charge them with foolishness. 13 They are of those who rebel against the light, they don't know the ways of it, nor remain in the paths of it. 14 The murderer, rising with the light, kills the poor and needy, and in the night is like a thief. 15 The eye also of the adulterer waits for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me, and disguises his face. 16 In the dark, they dig through houses that they had marked for themselves in the daytime, they don't know the light. 17 For the morning is to them like the shadow of death, if someone knows them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death. 18 He is swift like the waters, their portion is cursed in the earth, he doesn't see the way of the vineyards. 19 Drought and heat consume the snow waters, so does the grave those who have sinned. 20 The womb shall forget him, the worm shall feed sweetly on him, he shall no more be remembered, and wickedness shall be broken like a tree. 21 He treats wrongfully the barren that don't bear, and doesn't do good to the widow. 22 He also draws the mighty with his power, he rises up, and no man is sure of life. 23 Though it is given him to be in safety, on which he rests, yet his eyes are on their ways. 24 They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low, they are taken out of the way like all others, and cut off like the tops of the ears of corn. 25 And if it’s not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech worth nothing?" ___Job chapter 25 1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered, 2 "Dominion and fear are with him, he makes peace in his high places. 3 Is there any number of his armies? And on whom does his light not arise? 4 How then can man be justified with God? Or how can he be clean that is born of a woman? 5 See, even to the moon, and it doesn't shine, yes, the stars are not pure in his sight. 6 How much less man, that is a worm? And the son of man, that is a worm?" ___Job chapter 26 1 But Job answered, 2 "How have you helped him that is without power? How have you saved the arm that has no strength? 3 How have you counseled him that has no wisdom? And how have you plentifully declared the thing as it is? 4 To whom have you spoken words? And whose spirit came from you? 5 Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants of it. 6 Hell is naked before him, and destruction has no covering. 7 He stretches out the north over the empty place, and hangs the earth on nothing. 8 He binds up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not torn under them. 9 He holds back the face of his throne, and spreads his cloud on it. 10 He has surrounded the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end. 11 The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his scolding. 12 He divides the sea with his power, and by his understanding he strikes through the proud. 13 By his spirit, he has garnished the heavens, his hand has formed the crooked serpent. 14 See, these are parts of his ways, but how little a portion is heard of him? But who can understand the thunder of his power?" ___Job chapter 27 1 Also, Job continued his parable, and said, 2 "As God lives, who has taken away my justice, and the Almighty, who has vexed my soul, 3 All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils, 4 My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor shall my tongue speak deceit. 5 God forbid that I should justify you, 'til I die I will not remove my integrity from me. 6 I hold tight to my righteousness, and will not let it go, my heart shall not reproach me as long as I live. 7 Let my enemy be like the wicked, and he that rises up against me like the unrighteous. 8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he has gained, when God takes away his soul? 9 Will God hear his cry when trouble comes upon him? 10 Will he delight himself in the Almighty? Will he always call on God? 11 I will teach you by the hand of God, what is with the Almighty I will not conceal. 12 See, all of you have seen it, why then are you thus completely vain? 13 This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, that they shall receive from the Almighty. 14 If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword, and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread. 15 Those that remain of him shall be buried in death, and his widows shall not weep. 16 Though he heaps up silver like the dust, and prepares clothing like the clay, 17 He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver. 18 He builds his house like a moth, and like a booth that the keeper makes. 19 The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered, he opens his eyes, and he is not. 20 Terrors take hold on him like waters, a tempest steals him away in the night. 21 The east wind carries him away, and he departs, and like a storm, hurls him out of his place. 22 For God shall throw upon him, and not spare, he would preferably flee out of his hand. 23 Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place." ___Job chapter 28 1 "Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they refine it. 2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass out of the stone is cast in the foundry. 3 He sets an end to darkness, and searches out all perfection, the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death. 4 The flood breaks out from the inhabitant, even the waters forgotten of the foot, they are dried up, they've gone away from men. 5 As for the earth, out of it comes bread, and under it is turned up, as it were, fire. 6 The stones of it are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold. 7 There is a path that no fowl knows, and which the vulture's eye has not seen, 8 The lion's whelps have not walked on it, nor the fierce lion passed by it. 9 He puts forth his hand on the rock, he overturns the mountains by the roots. 10 He cuts out rivers among the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing. 11 He binds the floods from overflowing, and the thing that is hidden, he brings forth to light. 12 But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? 13 Man doesn't know the price of it, nor is it found in the land of the living. 14 The depth says, It is not in me, and the sea says, it is not with me. 15 It can't be gotten for gold, nor shall silver be weighed for the price of it. 16 It can't be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. 17 The gold and the crystal can't equal it, and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. 18 No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls, for the price of wisdom is above rubies. 19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, nor shall it be valued with pure gold. 20 So where does wisdom come from? And where is the place of understanding? 21 Seeing it is hidden from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air. 22 Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame of it with our ears. 23 God understands the way of it, and he knows the place of it. 24 For he looks to the ends of the earth, and sees under the whole heaven, 25 To make the weight for the winds, and he weighs the waters by measure. 26 When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder, 27 Then he saw it, and declared it, he prepared it, yes, and searched it out. 28 And to man he said, See, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding." ___Job chapter 29 1 Also, Job continued his parable, and said, 2 "Oh that I were like in months past, like in the days when God preserved me, 3 When his candle shined on my head, and when, by his light, I walked through darkness, 4 Like I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was on my tabernacle, 5 When the Almighty was still with me, when my children were around me, 6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured out for me rivers of oil, 7 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street! 8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves, and the aged got up, and stood up. 9 The princes stopped talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. 10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth. 11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me, and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me, 12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had no one to help him. 13 The blessing of him that was ready to die came on me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. 14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me, my judgment was like a robe and a diadem. 15 I was eyes to the blind, and I was feet to the lame. 16 I was a father to the poor, and the cause that I didn't know I searched out. 17 And I broke the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth. 18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days like the sand. 19 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night on my branch. 20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand. 21 Men listened to me, and waited, and kept silence at my advice. 22 After my words they didn't answer back, and my speech dropped on them. 23 And they waited for me as for the rain, and they opened their mouth wide like for the latter rain. 24 If I laughed at them, they didn't believe it, and they didn't throw down the light of my facial expression. 25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and lived like a king in the army, like someone that comforts the mourners." ___Job chapter 30 1 But now, those who are younger than I am mock me, whose fathers I would not have set with the dogs of my flock. 2 Yes, to which might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age had perished? 3 For want and famine they were solitary, fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste. 4 Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their food. 5 They were driven out from among men, (they cried after them like after a thief,) 6 To dwell in the cliffs of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks. 7 Among the bushes they brayed, under the nettles they were gathered together. 8 They were children of fools, yes, children of base men, they were filthier than the earth. 9 And now am I their song, yes, I am their byword. 10 They hate me, they flee far from me, and don't stop spitting in my face. 11 Because he has loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me. 12 The youth rise on my right hand, they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction. 13 They damage my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper. 14 They came against me like a wide gushing in of waters, in the desolation, they rolled themselves on me. 15 Terrors have been turned against me, they pursue my soul like the wind, and my welfare passes away like a cloud. 16 And now my soul is poured out on me, the days of affliction have taken hold on me. 17 My bones are pierced in me in the night season, and my tendons take no rest. 18 By the great force of my disease, my garment is changed, it binds me around like the collar of my coat. 19 He has thrown me into the mire, and I've become like dust and ashes. 20 I cry to you, and you don't hear me, I stand up, and you don't regard me. 21 You've become cruel to me, with your strong hand you oppose yourself against me. 22 You lift me up to the wind, you cause me to ride on it, and dissolve my substance. 23 For I know that you will bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living. 24 But he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction. 25 Didn't I weep for him that was in trouble? Wasn't my soul grieved for the poor? 26 When I looked for good, then evil came to me, and when I waited for light, darkness came. 27 My bowels boiled, and didn't rest, the days of affliction prevented me. 28 I went mourning without the sun, I stood up, and I cried in the congregation. 29 I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. 30 My skin is black on me, and my bones are burned with heat. 31 My harp also has turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of those who weep." ___Job chapter 31 1 "I made a covenant with my eyes, why then should I think about a young woman? 2 For what portion of God is there from above? And what inheritance of the Almighty from on high? 3 Isn't destruction to the wicked? And a strange punishment to the sinners? 4 Doesn't he see my ways, and count all my steps? 5 If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot has hurried to deceit, 6 Let me be weighed in an even balance, so that God will know my integrity. 7 If my steps have turned out of the way, and my heart walked after my eyes, and if any blot has stuck to my hands, 8 Then let me plant, and let another eat, yes, let my offspring be uprooted. 9 If my heart has been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbor's door, 10 Then let my wife grind for someone else, and let others bow down on her. 11 For this is a heinous crime, yes, it is a sin to be punished by the judges. 12 For it is a fire that consumes to destruction, and would root out all my increase. 13 If I despised the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me, 14 What then shall I do when God rises up? And when he visits, what shall I answer him? 15 Didn't he that made me in the womb make him? And didn't the same one fashion both of us in the womb? 16 If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, 17 Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it, 18 (For from my youth he was brought up with me, like with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb,) 19 If I have seen any die for lack of clothing, or any poor without covering, 20 If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep, 21 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate, 22 Then let my arm fall from my shoulder blade, and my arm be broken from the bone. 23 For destruction from God was a terror to me, and because of his highness I could not endure. 24 If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, You are my confidence, 25 If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much, 26 If I saw the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness, 27 And my heart has been secretly enticed, or my mouth has kissed my hand, 28 This also would be a sin to be punished by the judge, for I would have denied the God that is above. 29 If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him, 30 Nor have I allowed my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul. 31 If the men of my tabernacle didn't say, Oh that we had some of his flesh! We can't be satisfied. 32 The stranger didn't lodge in the street, but I opened my doors to the traveler. 33 If I covered my transgressions like Adam, by hiding my sin in my bosom, 34 Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, so that I kept silence, and didn't go out of the door? 35 Oh that someone would hear me! See, my desire is that the Almighty would answer me, and that my adversary had written a book. 36 Surely I would take it on my shoulder, and tie it like a crown on myself. 37 I would declare to him the number of my steps, like a prince I would go near him. 38 If my land cried against me, or that the furrows likewise of it complained, 39 If I have eaten the fruits of it without money, or have caused the owners of it to lose their lives, 40 Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended." ___Job chapter 32 1 So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram, was kindled against Job, because he justified himself rather than God. 3 Also, his anger was kindled against his three friends, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. 4 Now Elihu had waited until Job had spoken, because they were older than he was. 5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his anger was kindled. 6 And Elihu, the son of Barachel, the Buzite answered, "I am young, and you are very old, so I was afraid, and dared not show you my opinion. 7 I said, days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. 8 But there is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of the Almighty gives them understanding. 9 Great men are not always wise, nor do the aged understand justice. 10 Therefore I said, Listen to me, I also will show my opinion. 11 See, I waited for your words, I gave ear to your reasons, while you searched out what to say. 12 Yes, I attended to you, and see, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words, 13 So that you wouldn't say, we have found out wisdom, God thrusts him down, not man. 14 Now he has not directed his words against me, nor will I answer him with your speeches. 15 They were amazed, they answered no more, they stopped speaking. 16 When I had waited, (for they didn't speak, but stood still, and answered no more,) 17 I said, I will answer also my part, I also will show my opinion. 18 For I am full of matter, the spirit inside me constrains me. 19 See, my belly is like wine that has no vent, it is ready to burst like new bottles. 20 I will speak, so I can be refreshed, I will open my lips and answer. 21 Please don't let me accept any man's person, nor let me give flattering titles to man. 22 For I don't know about giving flattering titles, in so doing my maker would soon take me away." ___Job chapter 33 1 "So Job, Please listen to what I say, and hear all my words. 2 See, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue has spoken in my mouth. 3 My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart, and my lips shall speak knowledge clearly. 4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life. 5 If you can answer me, set your words in order before me, stand up. 6 See, I am according to your wish instead of God, I also am formed out of the clay. 7 See, my terror won't make you afraid, nor shall my hand be heavy on you. 8 Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying, 9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent, nor is there sin in me. 10 See, he finds occasions against me, he counts me as his enemy, 11 He puts my feet in the stocks, he marks all my paths. 12 See, in this you are not just, I will answer you, that God is greater than man. 13 Why do you strive against him? For he doesn't give account of any of his matters. 14 For God speaks once, yes twice, yet man doesn't perceive it. 15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in sleeping on the bed, 16 Then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction, 17 So he can withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. 18 He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. 19 He is punished also with pain on his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain, 20 So that his life hates bread, and his soul dainty meat. 21 His flesh is consumed away, so it can't be seen, and his bones that hadn't been visible stick out. 22 Yes, his soul comes close to the grave, and his life to the destroyers. 23 If there's a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man his uprightness, 24 Then he is gracious to him, and says, Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom. 25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child's, he shall return to the days of his youth, 26 He shall pray to God, and he will be favorable to him, and he shall see his face with joy, for he will repay to man his righteousness. 27 He looks at men, and if any says, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn't profit me, 28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. 29 See, God does all these things often with man, 30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living. 31 Mark well, O Job, listen to me, hold your peace, and I will speak. 32 If you have anything to say, answer me, speak, for I desire to justify you. 33 If not, listen to me, hold your peace, and I shall teach you wisdom." ___Job chapter 34 1 Furthermore Elihu said, 2 "Hear my words, O you wise men, and give ear to me, you that have knowledge. 3 For the ear tests words, like the mouth tastes meat. 4 Let us choose justice for ourselves, let us know among ourselves what is good. 5 For Job has said, I am righteous, and God has taken away my justice. 6 Should I lie against my right? My wound is incurable without transgression. 7 What man is like Job, who drinks up scorning like water? 8 Who is a companion of sinners, and walks with wicked men. 9 For he has said, it profits a man nothing if he delights himself in God. 10 Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding, far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty, that he should commit sin. 11 For he shall render the work of a man to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways. 12 Yes, surely God will not do wickedly, nor will the Almighty pervert justice. 13 Who has given him a charge over the earth? Or who has disposed the whole world? 14 If he sets his heart on man, if he gathers to himself his spirit and his breath, 15 All flesh shall die together, and man shall turn back to dust. 16 If now you have understanding, hear this, listen to the voice of my words. 17 Shall he that hates right govern? And will you condemn him that is most just? 18 Is it fit to say to a king, you are wicked? And to princes, you are ungodly? 19 How much less to him that doesn't accept the persons of princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor? For they all are the work of his hands. 20 In a moment they'll die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away, and the mighty shall be taken away without hand. 21 For his eyes are on the ways of man, and he sees all his goings. 22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the sinners can hide themselves. 23 For he will not lay on man more than right, so that he should enter into judgment with God. 24 He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their place. 25 Therefore he knows their works, and he overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed. 26 He strikes them like wicked men in the open sight of others, 27 Because they turned away from him, and would not consider any of his ways, 28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come to him, and he hears the cry of the afflicted. 29 When he gives quietness, who then can make trouble? And when he hides his face, who then can see him? Whether it is done against a nation, or against a man only, 30 So that the hypocrite doesn't rule, so that the people aren't ensnared. 31 Surely it is right to say to God, I have carried chastisement, I will not offend anymore, 32 What I don't see, teach me, if I have sinned, I will do no more. 33 Should it be according to your mind? He will repay it, whether you refuse, or whether you choose, and not I, therefore speak what you know. 34 Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man listen to me. 35 Job has spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom. 36 My desire is that Job be tested until the end because of his answers for wicked men. 37 For he adds rebellion to his sin, he claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God." ___Job chapter 35 1 Elihu also said, 2 "Do you think this to be right, that you said, my righteousness is more than God's? 3 For you said, what advantage will it be to you? And, what profit shall I have, if I'm cleansed from my sin? 4 I will answer you, and your companions with you. 5 Look at the heavens, and see, and see the clouds that are higher than you. 6 If you sin, what are you doing against him? Or if your transgressions are multiplied, what are you doing to him? 7 If you're righteous, what are you giving to him? Or what does he receive from your hand? 8 Your wickedness may hurt a man as you are, and your righteousness may profit the son of man. 9 Because of the multitude of oppressions, they make the oppressed cry, they cry out because of the arm of the mighty. 10 But no one says, where is God my maker, who gives songs in the night, 11 Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth, and makes us wiser than the fowls of heaven? 12 There they cry, but no one answers, because of the pride of evil men. 13 Surely God will not hear vanity, nor will the Almighty regard it. 14 Although you say you shall not see him, yet judgment is before him, therefore trust in him. 15 But now, because it is not so, he has visited in his anger, yet he doesn't know it in great extremity, 16 Therefore Job opens his mouth to no purpose, he multiplies words without knowledge." ___Job chapter 36 1 Elihu also proceeded, and said, 2 "Allow me a little, and I will show you that I have more to speak on God's behalf. 3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my maker. 4 For truly my words shall not be false, he that is perfect in knowledge is with you. 5 See, God is mighty, and doesn't despise anyone, he is mighty in strength and wisdom. 6 He doesn't preserve the life of the wicked, but gives right to the poor. 7 He doesn't withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but they are on the throne with kings, yes, he establishes them forever, and they are exalted. 8 And if they're bound in fetters, and are held in cords of affliction, 9 Then he shows them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. 10 He opens also their ear to discipline, and commands that they return from sin. 11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. 12 But if they don't obey, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. 13 But the hypocrites in heart heap up anger, they don't cry when he binds them. 14 They die in their youth, and their life is among the unclean. 15 He delivers the poor in his affliction, and opens their ears in oppression. 16 Even so he would have removed you out of the restricted into a broad place, where there is no restriction, and what would be set on your table would be full of fatness. 17 But you have fulfilled the judgment of the wicked, judgment and justice take hold on you. 18 Because there is anger, beware so that he doesn't take you away with his stroke. Then a great ransom can't deliver you. 19 Will he esteem your riches? No, not gold, nor all the forces of strength. 20 Don't desire the night, when people are cut off in their place. 21 Take heed, don't regard sin, for you've chosen this rather than affliction. 22 See, God exalts by his power, who teaches like him? 23 Who has commanded him his way? Or who can say, you have sinned? 24 Remember, so that you magnify his work that men see. 25 Every man can see it, man can see it far off. 26 See, God is great, and we don't know, nor can the number of his years be searched out. 27 For he makes the drops of water small, they pour down rain according to the vapor of it, 28 Which the clouds drop and distil on man abundantly. 29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? 30 See, he spreads his light on it, and covers the bottom of the sea. 31 For by them he judges the people, he gives food in abundance. 32 He covers the light with clouds, and commands it not to shine by the cloud that comes between. 33 The noise of it shows concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapor." ___Job chapter 37 1 "At this also my heart trembles, and is moved out of its place. 2 Pay attention to the sound of his voice, and the sound that goes out of his mouth. 3 He directs it under the whole heaven, and his lightning to the ends of the earth. 4 After it, a voice roars, he thunders with the voice of his excellence, and he will not stay them when his voice is heard. 5 God thunders marvelously with his voice, he does great things that we can't understand. 6 For he says to the snow, Be on the earth, likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength. 7 He seals up the hand of every man, so that all men will know his work. 8 Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places. 9 Out of the south comes the whirlwind, and cold out of the north. 10 Frost is given by the breath of God, and the breadth of the waters is restricted. 11 Also by watering, he wearies the thick cloud, he scatters his bright cloud, 12 And it is turned around by his advice, so that they'll do whatever he commands them on the face of the earth. 13 He causes it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy. 14 Listen to this, O Job, stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. 15 Do you know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine? 16 Do you know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him that is perfect in knowledge? 17 How your garments are warm when he quiets the earth by the south wind? 18 Have you with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and like a metallic mirror cast in the foundry? 19 Teach us what we shall say to him, for we can't order our speech because of darkness. 20 Shall it be told him that I speak? If a man speaks, surely he shall be swallowed up. 21 And now men don't see the bright light that is in the clouds, but the wind passes, and cleanses them. 22 Fair weather comes out of the north, with God is terrible majesty. 23 Concerning the Almighty, we can't find him out, he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice, he will not afflict. 24 Therefore men fear him, he doesn't respect any that are wise of heart." ___Job chapter 38 1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 2 "Who is this that darkens advice by words without knowledge? 3 Gird up now your loins like a man, for I will demand of you, and answer me. 4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding. 5 Who has laid the measures of it, if you know? Or who has stretched the line on it? 6 On what are the foundations of it which fastened? Or who laid the cornerstone of it, 7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke out, as if it had issued out of the womb? 9 When I made the cloud the garment of it, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it, 10 And broke up my decreed place for it, and set bars and doors, 11 And said, You shall come this far, but no further, and here shall your proud waves be stopped? 12 Have you commanded the morning since your days, and caused the daybreak to know its place, 13 So it would take hold of the ends of the earth, so that the wicked would be shaken out of it? 14 It has turned like clay to the seal, and they stand like a garment. 15 And from the wicked, their light is withheld, and the high arm shall be broken. 16 Have you entered into the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in the search of the depth? 17 Have the gates of death been opened to you? Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death? 18 Have you perceived the breadth of the earth? Declare if you know it all. 19 Where is the way where light dwells? And as for darkness, where is the place of it, 20 That you should take it to the bound of it, and that you should know the paths to the house of it? 21 Do you know it, because you were already born? Or because the number of your days is large? 22 Have you entered into the treasures of the snow? Or have you seen the treasures of the hail, 23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? 24 By which way is the light divided, that scatters the east wind on the earth? 25 Who has divided a water course for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder, 26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is, on the wilderness, in which there is no man, 27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground, and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring up? 28 Does the rain have a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew? 29 Out of whose womb did the ice come? And the hoary frost of heaven, who has gendered it? 30 The waters are hidden like with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen. 31 Can you bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? 32 Can you bring forth Mazzaroth in its season? Or can you guide Arcturus with his sons? 33 Do you know the ordinances of heaven? Can you set the dominion of it in the earth? 34 Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, so that abundance of waters will cover you? 35 Can you send lightnings, so that they'll go, and say to you, Here we are? 36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who has given understanding to the heart? 37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? Or who can stop the bottles of heaven, 38 When the dust grows into hardness, and the clods stick tightly together? 39 Will you hunt the prey for the lion? Or fill the appetite of the young lions, 40 When they couch in their dens, and live in the covert to lie in wait? 41 Who provides for the raven its food? When his young ones cry to God, they wander for lack of meat." ___Job chapter 39 1 "Do you know the time when the wild goats of the rock give birth? Or can you identify when the hinds calve? 2 Can you count the months that they fulfill? Or do you know the time when they bring forth? 3 They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they throw out their sorrows. 4 Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn, they go away, and don't return to them. 5 Who has sent out the wild ass free? Or who has loosed the ropes from the wild ass? 6 Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings. 7 He scorns the multitude of the city, nor does he regard the shouts of the driver. 8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searches after every green thing. 9 Will the wild bull be willing to serve you, or live by your crib? 10 Can you bind the wild bull with his ropes in the furrow? Or will he harrow the valleys after you? 11 Will you trust him, because his strength is great? Or will you leave your labor to him? 12 Will you believe him, that he will bring home your seeds, and gather them into your barn? 13 Did you give the good wings to the peacocks? Or wings and feathers to the ostrich? 14 Who leaves her eggs in the earth, and warms them in dust, 15 And forgets that the foot can crush them, or that the wild beast can break them. 16 She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers, her labor is in vain without fear, 17 Because God has deprived her of wisdom, nor has he imparted to her understanding. 18 When she lifts herself up on high, she scorns the horse and his rider. 19 Have you given the horse strength? Have you clothed his neck with thunder? 20 Can you make him afraid like a grasshopper? The glory of his nostrils is terrible. 21 He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength, he goes on to meet the armed men. 22 He mocks at fear, and is not afraid, nor does he turn back from the sword. 23 The quiver rattles against him, the glittering spear and the shield. 24 He swallows the ground with fierceness and rage, nor does he believe that it is the sound of the trumpet. 25 He says among the trumpets, Ha, ha, and he smells the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting. 26 Does the hawk fly by your wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south? 27 Does the eagle mount up at your command, and make her nest on high? 28 She dwells and lives on the rock, on the crag of the rock, and the strong place. 29 From there, she seeks the prey, and her eyes see far off. 30 Her young ones also suck up blood, and where the slain are, there is she." ___Job chapter 40 1 Also the Lord answered Job, and said, 2 "Shall he that contends with the Almighty instruct him? He that reproves God, let him answer it." 3 Then Job answered the Lord, and said, 4 "See, I am filthy, what shall I answer you? I will lay my hand on my mouth. 5 Once I have spoken, but I will not answer, yes, twice, but I will proceed no further." 6 Then answered the Lord to Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 7 "Put on your pants now like a man, I will demand of you, and you declare to me. 8 Will you also annul my judgment? Will you condemn me, so you can be righteous? 9 Do you have an arm like God? Or can you thunder with a voice like him? 10 Deck yourself now with majesty and excellence, and array yourself with glory and beauty. 11 Throw around the rage of your anger, and see everyone that is proud, and abase him. 12 Look at everyone that is proud, and bring him low, and tread down the wicked in their place. 13 Hide them in the dust together, and bind their faces in secret. 14 Then I will also confess to you that your own right hand can save you. 15 See now the elephant, that I made with you, he eats grass like an ox. 16 See now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly. 17 He moves his tail like a cedar, the tendons of his stones are wrapped together. 18 His bones are like strong pieces of brass, his bones are like bars of iron. 19 He is the chief of the ways of God, he that made him can make his sword to approach to him. 20 Surely the mountains produce food for him, where all the beasts of the field play. 21 He lies under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed and fens. 22 The shady trees cover him with their shadow, the willows of the brook surround him. 23 See, he drinks up a river, and doesn't hurry, he trusts that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth. 24 He takes it with his eyes, his nose pierces through traps." ___Job chapter 41 1 "Can you draw out the whale with a hook? Or his tongue with a cord that you let down? 2 Can you put a hook into his nose? Or bore his jaw through with a thorn? 3 Will he make many supplications to you? Will he speak soft words to you? 4 Will he make a covenant with you? Will you take him as a servant forever? 5 Will you play with him like with a bird? Or will you tie him for your young women? 6 Shall the companions make a banquet of him? Shall they divide him among the merchants? 7 Can you fill his skin with barbed irons? Or his head with fish spears? 8 Lay your hand on him, remember the battle, do no more. 9 See, the hope of him is in vain, won't people be thrown down even at the sight of him? 10 No one is so fierce that dares to stir him up, who then is able to stand before me? 11 Who has gone before me, so that I should make restitution him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine. 12 I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his attractive proportion. 13 Who can discover the face of his garment? Or who can come to him with his double bridle? 14 Who can open the doors of his face? His teeth are terrible all around. 15 His scales are his pride, shut up together like with a close seal. 16 They are so near each other that no air can come between them. 17 They are joined to each other that they stick together, so they can't be separated. 18 When he sneezes a light shines, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. 19 Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. 20 Out of his nostrils go smoke, like out of a seething pot or caldron. 21 His breath kindles coals, and a flame goes out of his mouth. 22 In his neck remains strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him. 23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together, they are firm in themselves, they can't be moved. 24 His heart is as firm as a stone, yes, as hard as a piece of the lower millstone. 25 When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid, because of breakings, they purify themselves. 26 The sword of him that lays at him can't hold, the spear, the dart, nor the chain mail vest. 27 He esteems iron as straw, and brass like rotten wood. 28 The arrow can't make him flee, sling stones are turned with him into stubble. 29 Darts are counted as stubble, he laughs at the shaking of a spear. 30 Sharp stones are under him, he spreads sharp pointed things on the mire. 31 He makes the deep to boil like a pot, he makes the sea like a pot of ointment. 32 He makes a path to shine after him, one would think the deep to be gray headed. 33 On earth there is not his like, who is made without fear. 34 He sees all high things, he is a king over all the children of pride. ___Job chapter 42 1 Then Job answered the Lord, and said, 2 "I know that you can do everything, and that no thought can be withheld from you. 3 Who is he that hides advice without knowledge? Therefore I've spoken what I didn't understand, things too wonderful for me, that I didn't know. 4 Please listen and I will speak, I will demand of you, and declare to me. 5 I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you. 6 So I hate myself, and repent in dust and ashes." 7 And it was so that after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "My anger is kindled against you, and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, like my servant Job has. 8 Therefore take to yourself now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering, and my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept him, so that I don't deal with you according to your foolishness, in that you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, like my servant Job." 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did what the Lord commanded them, the Lord also accepted Job. 10 And the Lord undid the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends, also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. 11 Then all his brothers came to him, and all his sisters, and all of those who had been of his acquaintance before, and ate bread with him in his house, and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the Lord had brought on him, every man also gave him a piece of money, and everyone an earring of gold. 12 So the Lord blessed the end of Job more than his beginning, for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. 13 He had also seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called the name of the first, Jemima, and the name of the second, Kezia, and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch. 15 And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job, and their father gave them inheritance among their brothers. 16 After this Job lived one hundred forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, four generations. 17 So Job died, being old and full of days. ___Psalm 1 1 Blessed is the man that won’t follow the advice of the ungodly, and doesn’t stand where sinners stand, and doesn’t sit in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and he meditates in His law day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that produces its fruit in its season, also, his leaf shall not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper. 4 The ungodly aren’t like that, but are like the chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall be destroyed. ___Psalm 2 1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take advice together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, 3 "Let us break their bands in pieces, and throw their cords away from us." 4 He that sits in the heavens shall laugh, the Lord shall hold them in contempt. 5 Then he shall speak to them in his anger, and vex them in his strong displeasure. 6 Yet I have set my king on my holy hill of Zion. 7 I will declare the decree, the Lord has said to me, "You are my Son, I've begotten you this day. 8 Ask of me, and I'll give you the heathen for your inheritance, and the farthest parts of the earth for your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron, you shall dash them in pieces like a potter's container." 10 Be wise now therefore, O you kings, be instructed, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, so he's not angry, and you're destroyed from the way, when his anger is kindled but a little. Blessed are all of those who put their trust in him. ___Psalm 3 1 Lord, how have they increased that trouble me! There are many who rise up against me. 2 There are many who say about my soul, "There is no help for him in God." (Pause.) 3 But you, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter up of my head. 4 I cried to the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. (Pause.) 5 I laid down and slept, I awoke, for the Lord protected me. 6 I will not be afraid of ten thousand people, that have set themselves against me all around. 7 Arise, O Lord, save me, O my God, for you've struck all my enemies on the cheek bone, you've broken the teeth of the ungodly. 8 Salvation belongs to the Lord, your blessing is on your people. (Pause.) ___Psalm 4 1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness, you've enlarged me when I was in distress, have mercy on me, and hear my prayer. 2 O you sons of men, how long will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love vanity, and seek lying? (Pause.) 3 But know that the Lord has set apart him that is godly for himself, the Lord will hear when I call to him. 4 Stand in awe, and sin not, commune with your own heart on your bed, and be still. (Pause.) 5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord. 6 There are many that say, who will show us any good? Lord, lift up the light of your facial expression on us. 7 You've put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. 8 I will lie down in peace, and sleep, for you, Lord, only make me dwell in safety. ___Psalm 5 1 Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. 2 Listen to the voice of my cry, my King, and my God, for to you I will pray. 3 You'll hear my voice in the morning, O Lord, in the morning I will direct my prayer to you, and will look up. 4 For you are not a God that has pleasure in wickedness, nor shall evil dwell with you. 5 The foolish shall not stand in your sight, you hate all workers of sin. 6 You'll destroy those who speak lying, the Lord will hate the bloody and deceitful man. 7 But as for me, I will come into your house in the multitude of your mercy, and in your fear I'll worship toward your holy temple. 8 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies, make your way straight before my face. 9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth, their inward part is absolute wickedness, their throat is an open tomb, they flatter with their tongue. 10 Destroy them, O God, let them fall by their own advice, throw them out in the multitude of their sins, for they've rebelled against you. 11 But let all those that put their trust in you rejoice, let them always shout for joy, because you defend them, let them also that love your name be joyful in you. 12 For you, Lord, will bless the righteous, you'll surround him with favor like with a shield. ___Psalm 6 1 O Lord, don't reprimand me in your anger, nor punish me in your hot displeasure. 2 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak, O Lord, heal me, for my bones are vexed. 3 My soul is also very vexed, but you, O Lord, how long? 4 Return, O Lord, deliver my soul, oh save me for your mercies' sake. 5 For in death there is no remembrance of you, in the grave who shall give you thanks? 6 I am weary with my groaning, all the night I make my bed to swim, I water my couch with my tears. 7 My eye is consumed because of grief, it grows old because of all my enemies. 8 Depart from me, all you sinners, for the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. 9 The Lord has heard my supplication, the Lord will receive my prayer. 10 Let all my enemies be ashamed and very vexed, let them return and be ashamed suddenly. ___Psalm 7 1 O Lord my God, I put my trust in you, save me from all of those who persecute me, and deliver me, 2 So that he doesn't tear my soul like a lion, tearing it in pieces, while there is no one to give deliverance. 3 O Lord my God, if I have done this, if there is sin in my hands, 4 If I have rewarded evil to him that was at peace with me, (yes, I have delivered him that was my enemy for no good reason,) 5 Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it, yes, let him tread down my life on the earth, and lay my honor in the dust. (Pause.) 6 Get up, O Lord, in your anger, lift up yourself because of the rage of my enemies, and awake for me to the judgment that you've commanded. 7 So the congregation of the people shall surround you, for their sakes therefore return on high. 8 The Lord shall judge the people, judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to my integrity that is in me. 9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just, for the righteous God tests the hearts and reins. 10 My defense is of God, who saves the upright in heart. 11 God judges the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. 12 If he doesn't turn, he'll whet his sword, he has bent his bow, and made it ready. 13 He has also prepared for himself the instruments of death, he ordains his arrows against the persecutors. 14 See, he travails with sin, and has conceived mischief, and produced falsehood. 15 He made a pit, and dug it, and has fallen into the ditch that he dug. 16 His mischief shall return on his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down on his own pate. 17 I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high. ___Psalm 8 1 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth! Who has set your glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babies and sucklings you've ordained strength because of your enemies, so that you would make quiet the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, that you've ordained, 4 What is man, that you are mindful of him? And the son of man, that you visit him? 5 For you've made him a little lower than the angels, and have crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You made him to have dominion over the works of your hands, you have put all things under his feet, 7 All sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the field, 8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatever passes through the paths of the seas. 9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth! ___Psalm 9 1 I will praise you, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will show forth all your marvelous works. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in you, I will sing praise to your name, O most high. 3 When my enemies have turned back, they shall fall and perish at your presence. 4 For you have maintained my right and my cause, you sat in the throne judging right. 5 You have reprimanded the heathen, you have destroyed the wicked, you have put out their name forever and always. 6 O you enemy, destructions have come to a perpetual end, and you have destroyed cities, their memorial has perished with them. 7 But the Lord shall endure forever, he has prepared his throne for judgment. 8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister justice to the people in uprightness. 9 The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. 10 And those who know your name will put their trust in you, for you, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. 11 Sing praises to the Lord, who lives in Zion, declare among the people his doings. 12 When he makes inquisition for blood, he remembers them, he doesn't forget the cry of the humble. 13 Have mercy on me, O Lord, consider my trouble that I endure from those who hate me, you that lifts me up from the gates of death, 14 So that I'll show forth all your praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion, I'll rejoice in your salvation. 15 The heathen have sunk down in the pit that they made, their own foot has been taken in the net that they hid. 16 The Lord is known by the judgment that he executes, the wicked has been trapped in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. (Pause.) 17 The wicked shall be sent to hell, and all the nations that forget God. 18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten, the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever. 19 Arise, O Lord, don't let man prevail, let the heathen be judged in your sight. 20 Put them in fear, O Lord, so that the nations will know themselves to be merely men. (Pause.) ___Psalm 10 1 Why do you stand far off, O Lord? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? 2 The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor, let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined. 3 For the wicked boasts of his heart's desire, and blesses the covetous person, whom the Lord hates. 4 The wicked, through the pride of his facial expression, won't seek for God, God is not in all his thoughts. 5 His ways are always grievous, your judgments are far above out of his sight, as for all his enemies, he puffs at them. 6 He has said in his heart, "I shall not be moved, for I shall never be in adversity." 7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud, under his tongue is mischief and vanity. 8 He sits in the lurking places of the villages, in the secret places he murders the innocent, his eyes are secretly set against the poor. 9 He lies in wait secretly like a lion in his den, he lies in wait to catch the poor, he catches the poor, when he draws him into his net. 10 He crouches, and humbles himself, so that the poor will fall by his strong ones. 11 He has said in his heart, "God has forgotten, he hides his face, he will never see it." 12 Arise, O Lord, O God, lift up your hand, don't forget the humble. 13 Why do the wicked hold God in contempt? They have said in their heart, "You won't require it." 14 You have seen it, for you see mischief and spite, to repay it with your hand, the poor commits himself to you, you are the helper of the fatherless. 15 Break the arm of the wicked and the evil man, seek out his wickedness 'til you find none. 16 The Lord is King forever and always, the heathen have perished out of his land. 17 Lord, you've heard the desire of the humble, you'll prepare their heart, you'll cause your ear to hear, 18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, so that the man of the earth won't oppress anymore. ___Psalm 11 1 I put my trust in the Lord, how is it that you say to my soul, "Flee like a bird to your mountain?" 2 For see, the wicked bend their bow, they make their arrow ready on the string, so they can secretly shoot at the upright in heart. 3 If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? 4 The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven, his eyes see, his eyelids test, the children of men. 5 The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and he that loves violence, his soul hates. 6 On the wicked he'll rain traps, fire and sulphur, and a horrible tempest, this shall be the portion of their cup. 7 For the righteous Lord loves righteousness, his face sees the upright. ___Psalm 12 1 Help, Lord, for the godly man is gone, for the faithful fail from among the children of men. 2 Everyone speaks vanity with their neighbor, they speak with flattering lips and with a double heart. 3 The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips and the tongue that speaks proud things, 4 Who've said, with our tongue we'll prevail, our lips are our own, who is lord over us? 5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, "Now I'll arise," says the Lord, "I'll set him in safety from him that puffs at him." 6 The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 You'll keep them, O Lord, you'll preserve them from this generation forever. 8 The wicked walk on every side, when the filthiest men are exalted. ___Psalm 13 1 How long will you forget me, O Lord? Forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long shall I consider advice in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? 3 Consider and hear me, O Lord my God, illuminate my eyes, so I don't sleep the sleep of death, 4 So that my enemy doesn’t say, "I've prevailed against him," and those who trouble me rejoice when I'm moved. 5 But I've trusted in your mercy, my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. 6 I'll sing to the Lord, because he's dealt abundantly with me. ___Psalm 14 1 The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They're corrupt, they've done dirty things, there's no one that does good. 2 The Lord looked down from heaven at the children of men, to see if there were any that understood, and sought God. 3 They're all turned aside, all of them together have become filthy, there is no one that does good, no, not one. 4 Do all the sinners have no knowledge? Who eat up my people like they eat bread, and don't call on the Lord. 5 They were in great fear there, for God is in the generation of the righteous. 6 You've shamed the advice of the poor, because the Lord is their refuge. 7 Oh, that the salvation of Israel had come out of Zion! When the Lord undoes the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. ___Psalm 15 1 Lord, who shall live in your tent? Who shall live in your holy hill? 2 He that walks uprightly, and does righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart. 3 He that doesn't backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor. 4 In whose eyes a filthy person is held in contempt, but he honors those who fear the Lord. He that promises, and then finds that it was to his disadvantage, and keeps his promise anyway. 5 He that doesn't loan out his money at interest, nor takes a bribe against the innocent. He that does these things shall never be moved. ___Psalm 16 1 Preserve me, O God, for I put my trust in you. 2 O my soul, you've said to the Lord, "You are my Lord, my goodness doesn't extend to you, 3 But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight." 4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hurry toward another god, I won't offer their drink offerings of blood, nor take up their names into my lips. 5 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup, you control what happens to me. 6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places, yes, I have a good heritage. 7 I will bless the Lord, who has given me advice, my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. 8 I've set the Lord always before me, because he's at my right hand, I won't be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices, also my flesh shall rest in hope. 10 For you won't leave my soul in hell, nor will you allow your Holy one to see corruption. 11 You'll show me the path of life, in your presence is fullness of joy, at your right hand there are always more pleasures. ___Psalm 17 1 Hear what's right, O Lord, pay attention to my shout, give ear to my prayer that doesn't go out of pretending lips. 2 Let my sentence come out from your presence, let your eyes see the things that are equal. 3 You've tested my heart, you've visited me in the night, you've tested me, and shall find nothing, I've purposed that I won't sin with what I say. 4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of your lips I've kept myself from the paths of the destroyer. 5 Hold up my goings in your paths so that my footsteps don't slip. 6 I've called on you, for you'll hear me, O God, incline your ear to me, and hear my speech. 7 Show your marvelous loving kindness, O you that saves by your right hand those who put their trust in you from those that rise up against them. 8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of your wings, 9 From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who surround me. 10 They're enclosed in their own fat, with their mouth they speak proudly. 11 They've surrounded us now in our steps, they've set their eyes bowing down to the earth, 12 Like a lion that is greedy of its prey, and like a young lion lurking in secret places. 13 Get up, O Lord, disappoint him, throw him down, deliver my soul from the wicked, which is your sword, 14 From men who are your hand, O Lord, from men of the world, who have their portion in this life, and whose belly you fill with your hidden treasure, they're full of children, and leave the rest of their possessions to their babies. 15 As for me, I will see your face in righteousness, when I wake up, I'll be satisfied with your likeness. ___Psalm 18 1 I will love you, O Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my strength, in whom I'll trust, my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. 3 I'll call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, by this I'll be saved from my enemies. 4 The sorrows of death surrounded me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. 5 The sorrows of hell surrounded me, the traps of death went before me. 6 In my distress I called on the Lord, and cried to my God, he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, into his ears. 7 Then the earth shook and trembled, the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was angry. 8 A smoke went up from his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured, coals were kindled by it. 9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down, and darkness was under his feet. 10 And he rode on a cherub and flew, yes, he flew on the wings of the wind. 11 He made darkness his secret place, his pavilion around him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. 12 At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire. 13 The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the highest gave his voice, hail stones and coals of fire. 14 Yes, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them, and he shot out lightnings, and struck them. 15 Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at your reprimand, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils. 16 He sent from above, he took me, he pulled me out of many waters. 17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me. 18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my anchor. 19 He also brought me out into a large place, he delivered me, because he delighted in me. 20 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness, he has repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands. 21 For I've kept the ways of the Lord, and haven't wickedly departed from my God. 22 For all his judgments were before me, and I didn't put away his statutes from me. 23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from my sin. 24 Therefore the Lord has repaid me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. 25 With the merciful you'll show yourself merciful, with an upright man you'll show yourself upright, 26 With the pure you'll show yourself pure, and with the perverse you will show yourself perverse. 27 For you'll save the afflicted people, but will bring down high looks. 28 For you'll light my candle, the Lord my God will illuminate my darkness. 29 For by you, I've run through a troop, and by my God I've jumped over a wall. 30 As for God, his way is perfect, the word of the Lord is tested, he is a shield to all of those who trust in him. 31 For who is God except the Lord? Or who is a rock except our God? 32 It is God that clothes me with strength, and makes my way perfect. 33 He makes my feet like hinds' feet, and sets me on my high places. 34 He teaches my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by my arms. 35 You've also given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand has supported me, and your gentleness has made me great. 36 You've enlarged my steps under me, so that my feet didn't slip. 37 I've pursued my enemies, and overtaken them, nor did I turn back 'til they were consumed. 38 I've wounded them so that they weren't able to rise, they've fallen under my feet. 39 For you've clothed me with strength for the battle, you've subdued under me those who rose up against me. 40 You've also given me the necks of my enemies, so I could destroy those who hate me. 41 They shouted, but there was no one to save them, to the Lord, but he didn't answer them. 42 Then I beat them as small as the dust before the wind, I threw them out like the dirt in the streets. 43 You've given me deliverance from the strivings of the people, and you've made me the head of the heathen, a people whom I haven't known shall serve me. 44 As soon as they hear of me, they'll obey me, the strangers shall submit themselves to me. 45 The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places. 46 The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and let the God of my salvation be exalted. 47 It is God that avenges me, and subdues the people under me. 48 He delivers me from my enemies, yes, you lift me up above those that rise up against me, you've given me deliverance from the violent man. 49 Therefore I'll give thanks to you, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises to your name. 50 He gives great deliverance to his king, and shows mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his descendants always increasingly. ___Psalm 19 1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows his handiwork. 2 Day to day yields speech, and night to night shows knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his room, and rejoices like a strong man to run a race. 6 His going out is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit to the ends of it, and there is nothing hidden from the heat of it. 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul, the testimony of the Lord is sure, making the simple wise. 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart, the commandment of the Lord is pure, illuminating the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever, the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous completely. 10 They are more to be desired than gold, yes, than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Also your servant is warned by them, and there is great reward by keeping them. 12 Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. 13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins, don't let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. ___Psalm 20 1 The Lord hear you in the day of trouble, the name of the God of Jacob defend you, 2 Send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion, 3 Remember all your offerings, and accept your burnt sacrifice, Selah. 4 Grant you according to your own heart, and fulfill all your advice. 5 We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners, may the Lord fulfill all your petitions. 6 Now know I that the Lord saves his anointed, he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. 8 They've been brought down and have fallen, but we've risen, and stand upright. 9 Save, Lord, let the king hear us when we call. ___Psalm 21 1 The king shall rejoice in your strength, O Lord, and in your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! 2 You've given him his heart's desire, and haven't withheld the request of his lips. (Pause.) 3 For you go before him with the blessings of goodness, you set a crown of pure gold on his head. 4 He asked life of you, and you gave it to him, length of days forever and always. 5 His glory is great in your salvation, you've laid honor and majesty on him. 6 For you've made him most blessed forever, you've made him very glad with your facial expression. 7 For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the mercy of the most high he shall not be moved. 8 Your hand shall find out all your enemies, your right hand shall find out those that hate you. 9 You'll make them like a fiery oven in the time of your anger, the Lord shall swallow them up in his anger, and the fire shall devour them. 10 You'll destroy their fruit from the earth, and their descendants from among the children of men. 11 For they intended evil against you, they imagined a mischievous device, that they are not able to perform. 12 Therefore you'll make them turn their back, when you'll make ready your arrows on your strings against the face of them. 13 Be exalted, Lord, in your own strength, so we will sing and praise your power. ___Psalm 22 1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? 2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you don't hear, and in the night season, and am not silent. 3 But you are holy, O you that inhabits the praises of Israel. 4 Our fathers trusted in you, they trusted, and you gave them deliverance. 5 They cried to you, and received deliverance, they trusted in you, and were not put to shame. 6 But I am a worm, and no man, a reproach of men, and despised by the people. 7 All of those who see me laugh at me scornfully, they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, and say, 8 "He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him, let him deliver him, since he delighted in him." 9 But you are he that took me out of the womb, you made me hope when I was on my mother's breasts. 10 I was thrown on you from the womb, you are my God from my mother's belly. 11 Don't be far from me, for trouble is near, for there is no one to help. 12 Many bulls have surrounded me, strong bulls of Bashan have surrounded me. 13 They gaped at me with their mouths, like a ravening and a roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint, my heart is like wax, it has melted among my internal organs. 15 My strength has dried up like a piece of broken pottery, and my tongue sticks to my jaws, and you've brought me into the dust of death. 16 For dogs have surrounded me, the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me, they pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I can tell all my bones, they look and stare at me. 18 They divide my garments among them, and draw straws for my vesture. 19 But don't be far from me, O Lord, O my strength, hurry to help me. 20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my darling from the power of the dog. 21 Save me from the lion's mouth, for you've heard me from the horns of the wild bulls. 22 I will declare your name to my brothers, among the congregation I will praise you. 23 You that fear the Lord, praise him, all of you the descendants of Jacob, glorify him, and fear him, all of you, the descendants of Israel. 24 For he has not despised nor hated the affliction of the afflicted, nor has he hidden his face from him, but when he called to him, he heard. 25 My praise shall be of you in the great congregation, I will pay my vows before those who fear him. 26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied, those who seek the Lord shall praise him, your heart shall live forever. 27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For the kingdom is the Lord's, and he is the governor among the nations. 29 All of those who are fat on earth shall eat and worship, all of those who go down to the dust shall bow before him, and no one can keep his own soul alive. 30 A seed shall serve him, it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. 31 They shall come and shall declare his righteousness to a people that shall be born, that he has done this. ___Psalm 23 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I won’t lack what I need. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul, he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I won’t fear any evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, you anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I’ll live in the house of the Lord forever. ___Psalm 24 1 The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness of it, the world, and those who live in it. 2 For he has founded it on the oceans, and established it on the floods. 3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that has clean hands, and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is the generation of those who seek him, that seek your face, O Jacob. (Pause.) 7 Lift up your heads, O you gates, and be lifted up, you everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O you gates, lift them up, you everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of Hosts, he is the King of glory. (Pause.) ___Psalm 25 1 To you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, I trust in you, let me not be ashamed, don't let my enemies triumph over me. 3 Yes, let no one that waits on you be ashamed, let them be ashamed who sin without cause. 4 Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths. 5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation, I wait all the day on you. 6 Remember, O Lord, your tender mercies and your loving kindnesses, for they have been always of old. 7 Don't remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions, according to your mercy remember me for your goodness' sake, O Lord. 8 The Lord is good and upright, therefore he will teach sinners in the way. 9 He will guide the meek in judgment, and he will teach the meek his way. 10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth to such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. 11 For your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my sins, for they are many. 12 What man is he that fears the Lord? He shall teach him in the way that he shall choose. 13 His soul shall dwell at ease, and his descendants shall inherit the earth. 14 The secret of the Lord is with those who fear him, and he will show them his covenant. 15 My eyes are always toward the Lord, for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. 16 Turn to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted. 17 The troubles of my heart have been enlarged, O bring me out of my distresses. 18 Look at my affliction and my pain, and forgive all my sins. 19 Consider my enemies, for they are many, and they hate me with cruel hatred. 20 O keep my soul, and deliver me, don't let me be ashamed, for I put my trust in you. 21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait on you. 22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles. ___Psalm 26 1 Judge me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, I have trusted also in the Lord, therefore I won't slide. 2 Examine me, O Lord, and test me, try my reins and my heart. 3 For your loving kindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in your truth. 4 I haven't sat down with vain people, nor will I go in with pretenders. 5 I've hated the congregation of evil doers, and won't sit with the wicked. 6 I'll wash my hands in innocence, so I will circle your altar, O Lord, 7 So that I can publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all your wondrous works. 8 Lord, I have loved the habitation of your house, and the place where your honor lives. 9 Don't gather my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men, 10 In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes. 11 But as for me, I will walk in my integrity, redeem me, and be merciful to me. 12 My foot stands in an even place, in the congregations I will bless the Lord. ___Psalm 27 1 The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked, my enemies, came at me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though an army should encamp against me, my heart won't fear, though war should rise against me, in this I'll be confident. 4 One thing I have desired from the Lord, I will seek after it, that I may live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to see the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple. 5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion, in the secret of his tabernacle he shall hide me, he shall set me up on a rock. 6 And now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies around me, therefore I will offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy, I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. 7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice, have mercy also on me, and answer me. 8 When you said, "Seek my face," my heart said to you, "Your face, Lord, I will seek." 9 Don't hide your face far from me, don't put your servant away in anger, you've been my help, don't leave me, nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. 10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. 11 Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of my enemies. 12 Don't deliver me over to the will of my enemies, for false witnesses have risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. 13 I would have fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, wait, I say, on the Lord. ___Psalm 28 1 I will shout to you, O Lord my rock. Don't be silent to me, so that I won't become like those who go down into the pit, if you are silent to me. 2 Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry to you, when I lift up my hands toward your holy oracle. 3 Don't draw me away with the wicked, and with the workers of sin, who speak peace to their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts. 4 Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavors, give them according to the work of their hands, render to them what they deserve. 5 Because they don't regard the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up. 6 Blessed be the Lord, because he has heard the voice of my supplications. 7 The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusted in him, and I am helped, therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise him. 8 The Lord is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed. 9 Save your people, and bless your inheritance, feed them also, and lift them up forever. ___Psalm 29 1 Give to the Lord, O you mighty, give to the Lord glory and strength. 2 Give to the Lord the glory due to his name, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. 3 The voice of the Lord is on the waters, the God of glory thunders, the Lord is on many waters. 4 The voice of the Lord is powerful, the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. 5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars, yes, the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes them also to skip like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild bull. 7 The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire. 8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness, the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the Lord makes the hinds to calve, and discovers the forests, and in his temple everyone speaks of his glory. 10 The Lord sits on the flood, yes, the Lord sits King forever. 11 The Lord will give strength to his people, the Lord will bless his people with peace. ___Psalm 30 1 I will extol you, O Lord, for you've lifted me up, and haven't made my enemies to rejoice over me. 2 O Lord my God, I shouted to you, and you've healed me. 3 O Lord, you've brought up my soul from the grave, you've kept me alive, so that I won't go down to the pit. 4 Sing to the Lord, O you saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. 5 For his anger lasts but a moment, in his favor is life, crying might continue for a night, but joy comes in the morning. 6 And in my prosperity I said, "I shall never be moved." 7 Lord, by your favor you've made my mountain to stand strong, you hid your face, and I was troubled. 8 I shouted to you, O Lord, and to the Lord I made supplication. 9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise you? Shall it declare your truth? 10 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me, Lord, be my helper. 11 You've turned my mourning into dancing for me, you've put off my sackcloth, and clothed me with gladness, 12 So that my glory will sing praise to you, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever. ___Psalm 31 1 I put my trust in you, O Lord, let me never be ashamed, deliver me in your righteousness. 2 Bow down your ear to me, deliver me speedily, be my strong rock, for a house of defense to save me. 3 For you are my rock and my fortress, therefore for your name's sake lead me, and guide me. 4 Pull me out of the net that they've secretly spread for me, for you are my strength. 5 Into your hand I commit my spirit, you've redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. 6 I've hated those who pay attention to lying vanities, but I trust in the Lord. 7 I'll be glad and rejoice in your mercy, for you've considered my trouble, you've known my soul in adversities, 8 And haven't put me into the hand of the enemy, you've set my feet in a large room. 9 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I'm in trouble, my eye is consumed by grief, yes, my soul and my belly. 10 For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing, my strength fails because of my sin, and my bones are consumed. 11 I was a reproach among all my enemies, but especially among my neighbors, and a fear to my acquaintance, those who saw me in public fled from me. 12 I'm forgotten from memory like a dead man, I'm like a broken container. 13 For I've heard the slander of many, fear was on every side, while they plotted together against me, they devised to take away my life. 14 But I trusted in you, O Lord, I said, "You're my God." 15 My times are in your hand, deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me. 16 Make your face shine on your servant, save me for your mercies' sake. 17 Don't let me not be ashamed, O Lord, for I've called on you, let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave. 18 Let the lying lips be put to silence, that speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous. 19 Oh how great is your goodness, that you've laid up for those who fear you, that you've made for those who trust in you before the sons of men! 20 You'll hide them in the secret of your presence from the pride of man, you'll keep them secretly in a covered place from the strife of tongues. 21 Blessed be the Lord, for he has shown me his marvelous kindness in a strong city. 22 For I said in my haste, "I'm cut off from before your eyes," but you heard the voice of my prayers when I called to you. 23 O love the Lord, all you his saints, for the Lord preserves the faithful, and plentifully rewards the proud doer. 24 Be of good courage, and he'll strengthen your heart, all of you who hope in the Lord. ___Psalm 32 1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not attribute sin, and in whose spirit there's no deceit. 3 When I kept silence, my bones grew old through my roaring all the day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me, my moisture has turned into the drought of summer. (Pause.) 5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and my iniquity I haven't hidden. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. (Pause.) 6 For this shall everyone that is godly pray to you in a time when you can be found, surely in the floods of great waters they won't come near him. 7 You're my hiding place, you'll preserve me from trouble, you'll surround me with songs of deliverance. (Pause.) 8 I'll instruct you and teach you in the way that you shall go, I'll guide you with my eye. 9 Don't be like the horse, or like the mule, that have no understanding, whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, so that they don't come near you. 10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked, but mercy shall surround the man who trusts in the Lord. 11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, you righteous, and shout for joy, all of you that are upright in heart. ___Psalm 33 1 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, for praise looks good on the upright. 2 Praise the Lord with harp, sing to him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. 3 Sing to him a new song, play skillfully with a loud noise. 4 For the word of the Lord is right, and all his works are done in truth. 5 He loves righteousness and justice, the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. 6 The heavens were made by the word of the Lord, and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 7 He gathers the waters of the sea together like a heap, he lays up the depth in storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear the Lord, let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 9 For he spoke, and it was done, he commanded, and it stood firm. 10 The Lord brings the advice of the heathen to nothing, he makes the devices of the people not to work. 11 The advice of the Lord stands forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, and the people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance. 13 The Lord looks from heaven, he sees all the sons of men. 14 From the place of his habitation he looks at all the inhabitants of the earth. 15 He fashions their hearts alike, he considers all their works. 16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an army, a mighty man doesn't receive deliverance by much strength. 17 A horse is unreliable for safety, nor shall he give deliverance to anyone by his great strength. 18 See, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his mercy, 19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. 20 Our soul waits for the Lord, he is our help and our shield. 21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we've trusted in his holy name. 22 Let your mercy be on us, O Lord, since we hope in you. ___Psalm 34 1 I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord, the humble shall hear of it, and be glad. 3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5 They looked to him, and were illuminated, and their faces were not ashamed. 6 This poor man called to Him, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord camps around those who fear him, and gives them deliverance. 8 O taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man that trusts in him. 9 O fear the Lord, you his saints, for there is no lacking of what you need, for those who fear him. 10 The young lions lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. 11 Come, you children, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 What man is he that desires life, and loves many days, so that he can see good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. 14 Depart from evil, and do good, seek peace, and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. 16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 The righteous pray, and the Lord hears, and gives them deliverance out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near those who are of a broken heart, and saves such as are of a contrite spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. 20 He keeps all his bones, not one of them is broken. 21 Evil shall kill the wicked, and those who hate the righteous shall be desolate. 22 The Lord redeems the soul of his servants, and none of those who trust in him shall be desolate. ___Psalm 35 1 Plead my cause, O Lord, with those who strive with me, fight against those who fight against me. 2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help. 3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against those who persecute me, say to my soul, "I am your salvation." 4 Let them be confused and put to shame that seek after my soul, let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. 5 Let them be like chaff before the wind, and let the angel of the Lord chase them. 6 Let their way be dark and slippery, and let the angel of the Lord persecute them. 7 For without good reason they've hidden their net in a pit for me, a pit that they've dug for my soul without good reason. 8 Let destruction come on him without warning, and let his net that he has hidden catch himself, into that very destruction let him fall. 9 And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord, it shall rejoice in his salvation. 10 All my bones shall say, "Lord, who is like you, that delivers the poor from him that is too strong for him, yes, the poor and the needy from him that spoils him?" 11 False witnesses rose up, they accused me of things that I didn't know. 12 They repaid me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul. 13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was burlap, I humbled my soul with fasting, and my prayer returned into my own bosom. 14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother, I bowed down heavily, like someone that mourns for his mother. 15 But in my adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together, yes, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I didn't know it, they tore me, and didn't stop, 16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed at me with their teeth. 17 Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions. 18 I will give you thanks in the great congregation, I will praise you among many people. 19 Don't let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me, and don't let them wink with the eye that hate me without good reason. 20 For they don't speak peace, but they devise deceitful matters against those who are quiet in the land. 21 Yes, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, "Aha, aha, our eye has seen it." 22 You've seen this, O Lord, don't keep silence, O Lord, don't be far from me. 23 Stir up yourself, and awake for my judgment, for my cause, my God and my Lord. 24 Judge me, O Lord my God, according to your righteousness, and don't let them rejoice over me. 25 Don't let them say in their hearts, "Ah, so would we have it," don't let them say, "We've swallowed him up." 26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at my hurt, let them be clothed with shame and dishonor that magnify themselves against me. 27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause, yes, let them say continually, "Let the Lord be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant." 28 And my tongue shall speak of your righteousness and of your praise all day long. ___Psalm 36 1 The transgression of the wicked says inside my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. 2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes, until his sin is found to be hateful. 3 The words of his mouth are sin and deceit, he has stopped being wise, and doing good. 4 He devises mischief on his bed, he sets himself in a way that is not good, he doesn't hate evil. 5 Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens, and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. 6 Your righteousness is like the great mountains, your judgments are a great deep, O Lord, you preserve man and beast. 7 How excellent is your loving kindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of your wings. 8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of your house, and you'll make them drink of the river of your pleasures. 9 For with you is the fountain of life, in your light we shall see light. 10 O continue your loving kindness to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright in heart. 11 Don't let the foot of pride come against me, and don't let the hand of the wicked remove me. 12 The sinners have fallen there, they've been thrown down, and won't be able to rise. ___Psalm 37 1 Don't fret because of evildoers, and don't be envious against the sinners. 2 For they'll soon be cut down like the grass, and wither like the green herb. 3 Trust in the Lord and do good, so you'll live in the land, and truly you'll be fed. 4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, and he'll give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in him, and he'll make it happen. 6 And he shall bring out your righteousness like the light, and your justice like the noonday. 7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him, don't fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked devices happen. 8 Don't be angry. Quit being angry. Don't fret in any way to do evil. 9 For evildoers shall be destroyed, but those who wait on the Lord shall inherit the earth. 10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be, yes, you'll diligently consider his place, and it won't be. 11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 12 The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth. 13 The Lord shall laugh at him, for he sees that his day is coming. 14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to throw down the poor and needy, and to kill such as are of upright conversation. 15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. 16 A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked. 17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous. 18 The Lord knows the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be forever. 19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine they'll be satisfied. 20 But the wicked shall be destroyed, and the enemies of the Lord shall be like the fat of lambs, they'll be consumed, into smoke shall they consume away. 21 The wicked borrows, and doesn't pay back, but the righteous shows mercy, and gives. 22 For those who are blessed by him shall inherit the earth, and those who are cursed by him shall be cut off. 23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delights in his way. 24 Though he falls, he won't be completely thrown down, for the Lord holds him up with his hand. 25 I've been young and now am old, yet I haven't seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging for bread. 26 He's always merciful, and lends, and his descendants are blessed. 27 Depart from evil, and do good, and live forever. 28 For the Lord loves judgment, and doesn't forsake his saints, they're preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked shall be destroyed. 29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever. 30 The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks about justice. 31 The law of his God is in his heart, none of his steps shall slide. 32 The wicked watch the righteous, and seek to kill him. 33 The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged. 34 Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he'll exalt you to inherit the land, when the wicked are cut off, you'll see it. 35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. 36 Yet he passed away, and see, he was not, yes, I sought him, but he couldn't be found. 37 Identify the perfect man, and observe the upright, for the end of that man is peace. 38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together, the end of the wicked shall be cut off. 39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord, he is their strength in the time of trouble. 40 And the Lord shall help them, and give them deliverance, he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. ___Psalm 38 1 O Lord, don't reprimand me in your anger, and don't punish me in your hot displeasure. 2 For your arrows stick fast in me, and your hand presses me severely. 3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your anger, nor is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. 4 For my sins have gone over my head, like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me. 5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. 6 I'm troubled, I'm bowed down greatly, I go mourning all day long. 7 For my midsection is filled with a terrible disease, and there is no soundness in my flesh. 8 I am feeble and very broken, I have roared because of the roaring of my heart. 9 Lord, all my desire is before you, and my groaning is not hidden from you. 10 My heart pants, my strength fails me, as for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me. 11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore, and my kinsmen stand far off. 12 Also, those who seek after my life lay traps for me, and those who seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all day long. 13 But like a deaf man, I didn't hear, and I was like a dumb man that doesn't open his mouth. 14 Thus I was like a man that doesn't hear, and in whose mouth are no reproofs. 15 For in you, O Lord, do I hope, you will hear, O Lord my God. 16 For I said, "Hear me, so that they won't rejoice over me," when my foot slips, they magnify themselves against me. 17 For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me. 18 For I will declare my iniquity, I will be sorry for my sin. 19 But my enemies are lively, and they are strong, and those who hate me wrongfully have multiplied. 20 Those also that repay evil for good are my adversaries, because I follow the thing that is good. 21 Don't forsake me, O Lord, O my God, don't be far from me. 22 Hurry to help me, O Lord my salvation. ___Psalm 39 1 I said, "I will take heed to my ways, so that I don't sin with my tongue, I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked are before me." 2 I was dumb with silence, I kept quiet, even from good, and my sorrow was stirred. 3 My heart was hot inside me, while I was musing the fire burned, then I spoke with my tongue, 4 "Lord, make me to know my end, and the measure of my days, what it is, so I'll know how frail I am. 5 See, you've made my days like a hand width, and my age is like nothing before you, truly every man at his best state is completely vanity." (Pause.) 6 Surely every man walks in a vain show, surely they are disquieted in vain, he heaps up riches, and doesn’t know who shall gather them. 7 And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you. 8 Deliver me from all my transgressions, don't make me the reproach of the foolish. 9 I was dumb, I didn't open my mouth, because you did it. 10 Remove your stroke away from me, I'm consumed by the blow of your hand. 11 When you correct man with reprimands for sin, you make his beauty to be consumed away like a moth, surely every man is vanity. (Pause.) 12 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry, don't be silent at my tears, for I am a stranger with you, and a visitor, like all my ancestors were. 13 O spare me so I can recover strength, before I go from here, and be no more. ___Psalm 40 1 I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined to me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet on a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he has put a new song in my mouth, praise to our God, many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. 4 Blessed is the man that makes the Lord his trust, and doesn't respect the proud, nor those who turn aside to lies. 5 Many, O Lord my God, are your wonderful works that you've done, and your thoughts toward us. They can't be reckoned up in order to you, if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. 6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, you've opened my ears, burnt offering and sin offering you haven't required. 7 Then I said, "See, I come, in the volume of the book it is written about me, 8 I delight to do your will, O my God, yes, your law is in my heart." 9 I've preached righteousness in the great congregation, see, I haven't silenced my lips, O Lord, you know. 10 I haven't concealed your righteousness inside my heart, I've declared your faithfulness and your salvation, I haven't concealed your loving kindness and your truth from the great congregation. 11 Don't withhold your tender mercies from me, O Lord, let your loving kindness and your truth continually preserve me. 12 For uncountable evils have surrounded me, my sins have taken hold on me, so that I'm not able to look up, they are more than the hairs of my head, therefore my heart fails me. 13 Be pleased, O Lord, to give me deliverance, O Lord, make haste to help me. 14 Let them be ashamed and confused together that seek after my soul to destroy it, let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil. 15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say to me, "Aha, aha." 16 Let all those that seek you rejoice and be glad in you, let such as love your salvation say continually, "The Lord be magnified." 17 But I am poor and needy, yet the Lord thinks about me, you are my help and my deliverer, don't delay, O my God. ___Psalm 41 1 Blessed is he that considers the poor, the Lord will give him deliverance in time of trouble. 2 The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive, and he shall be blessed on the earth, and you won't deliver him to the will of his enemies. 3 The Lord will strengthen him on the bed of languishing, you'll make all his bed in his sickness. 4 I said, "Lord, be merciful to me, heal my soul, for I have sinned against you. 5 My enemies speak evil about me, when shall he die, and his name perish? 6 And if he comes to see me, he speaks vanity, his heart gathers sin to itself, when he goes out, he tells it. 7 All that hate me whisper together against me, they devise my hurt against me. 8 They say, An evil disease, sticks tightly to him, and now that he lies down he won't rise back up. 9 Yes, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. 10 But you, O Lord, be merciful to me, and raise me up, so that I can respond to them. 11 By this I know that you favor me, because my enemy doesn't triumph over me. 12 And as for me, you uphold me in my integrity, and set me before your face forever. 13 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen." ___Psalm 42 1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God, when shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say to me, "Where is your God?" 4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me, for I've gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holy day. 5 Why are you thrown down, O my soul? And why are you roaring inside me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise him for the help of his facial expression. 6 O my God, my soul is thrown down inside me, therefore I'll remember you from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep at the noise of your waterspouts, all your waves and your billows have gone over me. 8 Yet the Lord will command his loving kindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer shall be to the God of my life. 9 I will say to God my rock, why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 10 As with a sword in my bones, my enemies reproach me, while they say daily to me, "Where is your God?" 11 Why are you thrown down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted inside me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my facial expression, and my God. ___Psalm 43 1 Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation, O give me deliverance from the deceitful and unjust man. 2 For you are the God of my strength, why do you throw me away? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 3 O send out your light and your truth, let them lead me, let them bring me to your holy hill, and to your tents. 4 Then I'll go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, yes, I'll praise you on the harp, O God my God. 5 Why are you thrown down, O my soul? And why are you roaring inside me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my facial expression, and my God. ___Psalm 44 1 We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what works you did in their days, in ancient times. 2 How you drove out the heathen with your hand, and planted them, how you afflicted the people, and threw them out. 3 For they didn't get the land in possession by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand, and your arm, and the light of your facial expression, because you had favor toward them. 4 You are my King, O God, command deliverances for Jacob. 5 Through you we'll push down our enemies, through your name we'll tread them under who rise up against us. 6 For I won't trust in my bow, nor shall my sword save me. 7 But you've saved us from our enemies, and have put them to shame that hated us. 8 In God we boast all the day long, and praise your name forever. (Pause.) 9 But you've thrown off, and put us to shame, and don't go out with our armies. 10 You make us turn back from the enemy, and those who hate us spoil for themselves. 11 You've given us like sheep chosen for butchering, and have scattered us among the heathen. 12 You sell your people for nothing, and don't increase your wealth by their price. 13 You make us a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and a derision to those who are around us. 14 You make us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people. 15 My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face has covered me, 16 For the voice of him that reproaches and blasphemes, because of the enemy and avenger. 17 All this has come on us, yet we have not forgotten you, nor have we dealt falsely in your covenant. 18 Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps declined from your way, 19 Though you've severely broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death. 20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god, 21 Won't God search this out? For he knows the secrets of the heart. 22 Yes, for your sake we are killed all the day long, we are counted like sheep for butchering. 23 Awake, why do you sleep, O Lord? Get up, don't throw us away forever. 24 Why do you hide your face, and forget our affliction and our oppression? 25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust, our belly sticks to the earth. 26 Get up for our help, and redeem us for your mercies' sake. ___Psalm 45 1 My heart is indicting a good matter, I speak of the things that I've made concerning the king, my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. 2 You are fairer than the children of men, grace is poured into your lips, therefore God has blessed you forever. 3 Strap your sword on your thigh, O most mighty, with your glory and your majesty. 4 And in your majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness, and your right hand shall teach you terrible things. 5 Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies, by which the people fall under you. 6 Your throne, O God, is forever and always, the scepter of your kingdom is a right scepter. 7 You loved righteousness, and hate wickedness, therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your fellows. 8 All your garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, by which they've made you glad. 9 Kings' daughters were among your honorable women, the queen stood at your right hand in gold of Ophir. 10 Listen, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear, forget also your own people, and your father's house, 11 So the king shall greatly desire your beauty, for he is your Lord, and worship him. 12 And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift, even the rich among the people shall entreat your favor. 13 The king's daughter is all glorious inside, her clothing is of crafted gold. 14 She shall be brought to the king in clothing of needlework, the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought to you. 15 With gladness and rejoicing they'll be brought, they'll enter into the king's palace. 16 Instead of your fathers shall be your children, whom you can make princes in all the earth. 17 I'll make your name to be remembered in all generations, therefore shall the people praise you forever and always. ___Psalm 46 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we won't fear, though the earth is removed, and though the mountains are carried into the middle of the sea, 3 Though the waters of it roar and are troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling of it. (Pause.) 4 There is a river, the streams of which shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most high. 5 God is among her, she shall not be moved, God shall help her, and right early. 6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved, he spoke with his voice, the earth melted. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge. (Pause.) 8 Come, see the works of the Lord, what desolations he has made in the earth. 9 He makes wars to stop to the end of the earth, he breaks the bow, and cuts the spear in pieces, he burns the chariot in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 11 The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge. (Pause.) ___Psalm 47 1 O clap your hands, all you people, shout to God with the voice of triumph. 2 For the Lord most high is terrible, he is a great King over all the earth. 3 He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. 4 He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellence of Jacob whom he loved. (Pause.) 5 God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises, sing praises to our King, sing praises. 7 For God is the King of all the earth, sing praises with understanding. 8 God rules over the heathen, God sits on the throne of his holiness. 9 The princes of the people are gathered together, the people of the God of Abraham, for the shields of the earth belong to God, he is greatly exalted. ___Psalm 48 1 The Lord is great, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. 2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. 3 God is known in her palaces for a refuge. 4 For see, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. 5 They saw it, and so they were amazed, they were troubled, and hurried away. 6 Fear took hold on them there, and pain, like a woman in travail. 7 You broke the ships of Tarshish with an east wind. 8 As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God, God will establish it forever. (Pause.) 9 We have thought of your loving kindness, O God, while at your temple. 10 According to your name, O God, so is your praise to the ends of the earth, your right hand is full of righteousness. 11 Let Mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of your judgments. 12 Walk around Zion, and go around her, tell the towers of it. 13 Mark well her bulwarks, consider her palaces, so you can tell it to the following generation. 14 For this God is our God forever and always, he will be our guide until death. ___Psalm 49 1 Hear this, all you people, give ear, all you inhabitants of the world, 2 Both low and high, rich and poor, together. 3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. 4 I will incline my ear to a parable, I will open my dark saying on the harp. 5 Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the sin of my heels shall surround me? 6 Those who trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches, 7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him, 8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it stops forever,) 9 That he should still live forever, and not see corruption. 10 For he sees that wise men die, likewise the fool and the crude person perish, and leave their wealth to others. 11 Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue forever, and their dwelling places to all generations, they call their lands according to their own names. 12 But man being in honor doesn't remain, he is like the beasts that die. 13 This their way is their foolishness, yet their descendants approve their sayings. (Pause.) 14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave, death shall feed on them, and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, and their beauty shall be consumed in the grave from their dwelling. 15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for he shall receive me. (Pause.) 16 Don't be afraid when someone's made rich, when the glory of his house is increased, 17 For when he dies he shall carry nothing away, his glory shall not go down after him. 18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul, and men will praise you, when you do well to yourself. 19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers, they shall never see light. 20 Man that is in honor, and doesn't understand, is like the animals that die. ___Psalm 50 1 The mighty God, the Lord, has spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun to the going down of it. 2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shined. 3 Our God shall come, and won't keep silence, a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous around him. 4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, so that he can judge his people. 5 Gather my saints together to me, those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. 6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness, for God is judge himself. (Pause.) 7 "Hear, O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you, I am God, your God. 8 I will not reprove you for your sacrifices or your burnt offerings, to have been continually before me. 9 I will take no bullock out of your house, nor he goats out of your folds. 10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know all the fowls of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are mine. 12 If I were hungry, I wouldn't tell you, for the world is mine, and the fullness of it. 13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? 14 Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the most high, 15 And call on me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you, and you'll glorify me." 16 But to the wicked God says, "What do you have to do with declaring my statutes, or that you should take my covenant in your mouth? 17 Seeing that you hate instruction, and throw my words behind you. 18 When you saw a thief, then you consented with him, and have been partaker with adulterers. 19 You give your mouth to evil, and your tongue frames deceit. 20 You sit and speak against your brother, you slander your own mother's son. 21 You've done these things and I kept silence, you thought that I was entirely someone like yourself, but I will reprimand you, and set them in order before your eyes." 22 Now consider this, you that forget God, so I don't tear you in pieces, and there is no one to provide deliverance. 23 Whoever offers praise glorifies me, and I'll show the salvation of God to him that orders his conversation right. ___Psalm 51 1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving kindness, according to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I admit to my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, I've sinned, and done this evil in your sight, so that you'll be justified when you speak, and be clear when you judge. 5 See, I was shaped in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. 6 See, you desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part you shall make me to know wisdom. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean, wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness, so that the bones that you've broken will rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Don't throw me away from your presence, and don't take your holy spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with your free spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners shall be converted to you. 14 Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, you God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing out loud of your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth your praise. 16 For you don't desire sacrifice, or I would give it, you don't delight in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you won't despise. 18 Do good in your good pleasure to Zion, build the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then you'll be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering, then they'll offer bullocks on your altar. ___Psalm 52 1 Why do you boast yourself about mischief, O mighty man? The goodness of God endures continually. 2 Your tongue devises mischiefs, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. 3 You loved evil more than good, and lying rather than to speak righteousness. (Pause.) 4 You loved all devouring words, O you deceitful tongue. 5 God shall likewise destroy you forever, he shall take you away, and pluck you out of your dwelling place, and uproot you out of the land of the living. (Pause.) 6 The righteous also shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, 7 See, this is the man that didn't make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness. 8 But I'm like a green olive tree in the house of God, I trust in the mercy of God forever and always. 9 I will praise you forever, because you've done it, and I will wait on your name, for it is good before your saints. ___Psalm 53 1 The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, and have done rotten sin, there is none that does good. 2 God looked down from heaven at the children of men, to see if there were any that understood, that sought God. 3 Every one of them has gone back, they've completely become filthy, there is none that does good, no, not one. 4 Have the doers of sin no knowledge? Who eat up my people like they eat bread, they haven't called on God. 5 They were in great fear there, where no fear was, for God has scattered the bones of him that encamps against you, you've put them to shame, because God has despised them. 6 Oh that the salvation of Israel had come out of Zion! When God undoes the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. ___Psalm 54 1 Save me, O God, by your name, and judge me by your strength. 2 Hear my prayer, O God, give ear to the words of my mouth. 3 For strangers have risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul, they haven't set God before them. (Pause.) 4 See, God is my helper, the Lord is with those who uphold my soul. 5 He shall reward evil to my enemies, cut them off in your truth. 6 I will freely sacrifice to you, I will praise your name, O Lord, for it is good. 7 For he has delivered me out of all trouble, and my eye has seen its desire on my enemies. ___Psalm 55 1 Give ear to my prayer, O God, and don't hide yourself from my supplication. 2 Give attention to me, and hear me, I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise, 3 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked, for they throw sin on me, and in anger they hate me. 4 My heart is very pained inside me, and the terrors of death have fallen on me. 5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me. 6 And I said, "O that I had wings like a dove! For then I would fly away, and be at rest. 7 See, then I'd wander far off, and remain in the wilderness." (Pause.) 8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest. 9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues, for I've seen violence and strife in the city. 10 Day and night they go around it on the walls of it, mischief also and sorrow are in the middle of it. 11 Wickedness is in the middle of it, deceit and guile don't depart from its streets. 12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me, then I could have handled it, nor was it he that hated me that magnified himself against me, then I would have hidden myself from him, 13 But it was you, a man my equal, my guide, and my acquaintance. 14 We shared sweet advice, and walked together to the house of God. 15 Let death seize on them, and let them go down quickly into hell, for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them. 16 As for me, I will call on God, and the Lord shall save me. 17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, I will pray, and call out loud, and he'll hear my voice. 18 He's delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, for there were many with me. 19 God shall hear, and afflict them, he that lives from ancient times. (Pause.) Because they have no changes, therefore they don't fear God. 20 He has put out his hands against those who are at peace with him, he has broken his covenant. 21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart, his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. 22 Throw your burden on the Lord, and he'll keep you, he'll never allow the righteous to be moved. 23 But you, O God, shall bring them down into the pit of destruction, bloody and deceitful men won't live out half their days, but I'll trust in you. ___Psalm 56 1 Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up, he fighting daily oppresses me. 2 My enemies would swallow me up daily, for they are many who fight against me, O most high. 3 When I'm afraid, I'll trust in you. 4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust, I won't fear what flesh can do to me. 5 Every day they tear my words, all their thoughts are against me for evil. 6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they watch my steps, when they wait for my soul. 7 Shall they escape by sin? In your anger throw down the people, O God. 8 You tell my wanderings, put my tears into your bottle, aren't they in your book? 9 When I cry to you, then my enemies shall turn back, this I know, for God is for me. 10 In God will I praise his word, in the Lord will I praise his word. 11 In God I have put my trust, I will not be afraid what man can do to me. 12 Your vows are on me, O God, I will give praises to you. 13 For you've delivered my soul from death, won't you deliver my feet from falling, so I can walk before God in the light of the living? ___Psalm 57 1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for my soul trusts in you, yes, in the shadow of your wings I'll make my refuge, until these calamities are over. 2 I will cry to God most high, to God that performs all things for me. 3 He'll send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. (Pause.) God shall send out his mercy and his truth. 4 My soul is among lions, and I lie among those who are set on fire, the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, let your glory be above all the earth. 6 They've prepared a net for my steps, my soul is bowed down, they've dug a pit before me, into which they've fallen themselves. (Pause.) 7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed, I will sing and give praise. 8 Awake up, my glory, awake, psaltery and harp, I myself will awake early. 9 I will praise you, O Lord, among the people, I will sing to you among the nations. 10 For your mercy is great to the heavens, and your truth to the clouds. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, let your glory be above all the earth. ___Psalm 58 1 Do you indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? Do you judge uprightly, O you sons of men? 2 Yes, in heart you work wickedness, you weigh the violence of your hands in the earth. 3 The wicked are estranged from the womb, they go astray as soon as they're born, speaking lies. 4 Their poison is like the poison of a serpent, they are like the deaf adder that plugs her ears, 5 That won't listen to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely. 6 Break their teeth, O God, in their mouths, break out the great teeth of the young lions, O Lord. 7 Let them melt away like waters that run continually, when he bends his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be like cut in pieces. 8 Like a snail that melts, let every one of them pass away, like the untimely birth of a woman, so that they won't see the sun. 9 Before your pots can feel the thorns, he'll take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his anger. 10 The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance, he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. 11 So that a man shall say, truly there is a reward for the righteous, truly he is a God that judges in the earth. ___Psalm 59 1 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God, defend me from those who rise up against me. 2 Deliver me from the sinners, and save me from bloody men. 3 For see, they lie in wait for my soul, the mighty have gathered against me, not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Lord. 4 They run and prepare themselves without my fault, awake to help me, and see. 5 You therefore, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen, don't be merciful to any wicked transgressors. (Pause.) 6 They return at evening, they make a noise like a dog, and go around the city. 7 See, they belch out with their mouth, swords are in their lips, for who, say they, will hear? 8 But you, O Lord, shall laugh at them, you shall have all the heathen in derision. 9 Because of his strength I will wait on you, for God is my defense. 10 The God of my mercy shall go before me, God shall let me see my desire on my enemies. 11 Don't kill them, so that my people don't forget, scatter them by your power, and bring them down, O Lord our shield. 12 For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them be taken in their pride, and for cursing and lying that they speak. 13 Consume them in anger, consume them, so they won't exist, and let them know that God rules in Jacob to the ends of the earth. (Pause.) 14 And at evening let them return, and let them make a noise like a dog, and go around the city. 15 Let them wander up and down for food, and grudge if they're not satisfied. 16 But I will sing of your power, yes, I will sing out loud of your mercy in the morning, for you've been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. 17 To you, O my strength, I will sing, for God is my defense, and the God of my mercy. ___Psalm 60 1 O God, you've thrown us away, you've scattered us, you've been displeased, O turn yourself to us again. 2 You've made the earth to tremble, you've broken it, heal the wounds of it, for it shakes. 3 You've shown your people hard things, you have made us drink the wine of astonishment. 4 You've given a banner to those who fear you, so that it will be displayed because of the truth. (Pause.) 5 So that your beloved will be delivered, save with your right hand, and hear me. 6 God has spoken in his holiness, I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and measure out the valley of Succoth. 7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine, Ephraim also is the strength of my head, Judah is my lawgiver, 8 Moab is my wash pot, over Edom I will empty out my shoe, Philistia, triumph because of me. 9 Who will bring me into the strong city? Who will lead me into Edom? 10 Won't you, O God, who had thrown us away? And you, O God, who didn't go out with our armies? 11 Give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless. 12 Through God we'll do valiantly, for he it is that shall tread down our enemies. ___Psalm 61 1 Hear my cry, O God, give attention to my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth I'll call to you, when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I am. 3 For you've been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. 4 I will live in your tent forever, I will trust in the covering of your wings. (Pause.) 5 For you, O God, have heard my vows, you've given me the heritage of those who fear your name. 6 You'll prolong the king's life, and his years like many generations. 7 He'll live before God forever, O prepare mercy and truth, that will preserve him. 8 So I will sing praise to your name forever, so that I can daily perform my vows. ___Psalm 62 1 Truly my soul waits on God, my salvation comes from him. 2 He only is my rock and my salvation, he is my defense, I shall not be greatly moved. 3 How long will you imagine mischief against a man? You'll be killed all of you, you'll be like a bowing wall and like a tottering fence. 4 They only consult to throw him down from his excellence, they delight in lies, they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. (Pause.) 5 My soul, wait only on God, for my expectation is from him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation, he is my defense, I shall not be moved. 7 In God is my salvation and my glory, the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. 8 Trust in him at all times, you people, pour out your heart before him, God is a refuge for us. (Pause.) 9 Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie, to be laid in the balance, they are completely lighter than vanity. 10 Don't trust in oppression, and don't become vain in robbery, if riches increase, don't set your heart on them. 11 God has spoken once, twice have I heard this, that power belongs to God. 12 Also to you, O Lord, belongs mercy, for you give to every man according to his work. ___Psalm 63 1 O God, you are my God, I'll seek you early, my soul thirsts for you, my flesh longs for you in a dry and thirsty land, where there's no water, 2 To see your power and your glory, like I've seen you in the sanctuary. 3 Because your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise you. 4 Thus I'll bless you while I live, I'll lift up my hands in your name. 5 My soul shall be satisfied like with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise you with joyful lips, 6 When I remember you on my bed, and meditate on you in the night watches. 7 Because you've been my help, therefore in the shadow of your wings I'll rejoice. 8 My soul follows close after you, your right hand upholds me. 9 But those who seek my soul to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. 10 They'll fall by the sword, they'll be a portion for foxes. 11 But the king shall rejoice in God, everyone that swears by him shall glory, but the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped. ___Psalm 64 1 Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer, preserve my life from fear of the enemy. 2 Hide me from the secret advice of the wicked, from the rebellion of the sinners, 3 Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, bitter words, 4 So that they can shoot in secret at the perfect, suddenly do they shoot at him, and aren't afraid. 5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter, they consult about laying traps secretly, they say, "Who shall see them?" 6 They search out sins, they accomplish a diligent search, both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep. 7 But God shall shoot at them with an arrow, suddenly they'll be wounded. 8 So they'll make their own tongue to fall on themselves, all that see them shall flee away. 9 And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God, for they shall wisely consider of his doing. 10 The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him, and all the upright in heart shall glory. ___Psalm 65 1 Praise waits for you in Zion, O God, and to you shall the vow be performed. 2 O you that hears prayer, to you shall all flesh come. 3 Sins prevail against me, as for our transgressions, you'll purge them away. 4 Blessed is the man that you choose, and cause to approach to you, so he can live in your courts, we'll be satisfied with the goodness of your house, of your holy temple. 5 You'll answer us by terrible things in righteousness, O God of our salvation, who is the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of those who are afar off on the sea, 6 Who by his strength sets fast the mountains, being clothed with power, 7 Who stills the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people. 8 Those also who live in the farthest parts are afraid at your tokens, you make the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice. 9 You visit the earth, and water it, you greatly enrich it with the river of God that is full of water, you prepare them corn, when you've so provided for it. 10 You water the ridges of it abundantly, you settle the furrows of it, you make it soft with showers, you bless the springing of it. 11 You crown the year with your goodness, and your paths drop fatness. 12 They drop on the pastures of the wilderness, and the little hills rejoice on every side. 13 The pastures are clothed with flocks, the valleys also are covered over with corn, they shout for joy, they also sing. ___Psalm 66 1 Make a joyful noise to God, all you lands, 2 Sing out the honor of his name, make his praise glorious. 3 Say to God, "How terrible are you in your works! Through the greatness of your power your enemies shall submit themselves to you. 4 All the earth shall worship you, and shall sing to you, they shall sing to your name." (Pause.) 5 Come and see the works of God, he is terrible in his doings toward the children of men. 6 He turned the sea into dry land, they went through the flood on foot, we rejoiced there in him. 7 He rules by his power forever, his eyes see the nations, let the rebellious not lift themselves up. (Pause.) 8 O bless our God, you people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard, 9 Who holds our soul in life, and doesn't allow our feet to be moved. 10 For you, O God, have proven us, you've tested us, like silver is tested. 11 You brought us into the net, you laid affliction on our midsections. 12 You've caused men to ride over our heads, we went through fire and through water, but you brought us out into a wealthy place. 13 I will go into your house with burnt offerings, I will pay you my vows, 14 That my lips have spoken, and my mouth has spoken, when I was in trouble. 15 I will offer to you burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams, I will offer bullocks with goats. (Pause.) 16 Come and hear, all you that fear God, and I will declare what he has done for my soul. 17 I called to him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue. 18 If I regard sin in my heart, the Lord won't hear me, 19 But truly God has heard me, he has attended to the voice of my prayer. 20 Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me. ___Psalm 67 1 God be merciful to us, and bless us, and cause his face to shine on us, (Pause.) 2 So that your way will be known on earth, your saving health among all nations. 3 Let the people praise you, O God, let all the people praise you. 4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you'll judge the people righteously, and govern the nations on earth. (Pause.) 5 Let the people praise you, O God, let all the people praise you. 6 Then the earth shall yield its increase, and God, our own God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear him. ___Psalm 68 1 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered, also let those who hate him flee before him. 2 Like smoke is driven away, so drive them away, like wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. 3 But let the righteous be glad, let them rejoice before God, yes, let them exceedingly rejoice. 4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name, praise him that rides on the heavens by his name Jah, and rejoice before him. 5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. 6 God sets the solitary in families, he brings out those who are bound with chains, but the rebellious live in a dry land. 7 O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, (Pause), 8 The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God, Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel. 9 You, O God, sent a plentiful rain, by which you confirmed your inheritance, when it was weary. 10 Your congregation has lived in it, you, O God, have prepared of your goodness for the poor. 11 The Lord gave the word, great was the number of those who published it. 12 Kings of armies fled apace, and she that waited at home divided the spoil. 13 Though you've lain among the pots, yet you'll be like the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold. 14 When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon. 15 The hill of God is like the hill of Bashan, a high hill like the hill of Bashan. 16 Why do you jump, you high hills? This is the hill that God desires to live in, yes, the Lord will live in it forever. 17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, thousands of angels, the Lord is among them, like in Sinai, in the holy place. 18 You've ascended on high, you've led captivity captive, you've received gifts for men, yes, for the rebellious also, so that the Lord God will live among them. 19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation. (Pause.) 20 He that is our God is the God of salvation, and to God the Lord belong the issues from death. 21 But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of those who continue in their trespasses. 22 The Lord said, "I'll bring back from Bashan, I'll bring my people back from the depths of the sea, 23 So that your foot will be dipped in the blood of your enemies, and the tongue of your dogs in the same." 24 They've seen your goings, O God, even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary. 25 The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after, among them were the young women playing with tamborines. 26 Bless God in the congregations, the Lord, from the fountain of Israel. 27 There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their Council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali. 28 Your God has commanded your strength, strengthen, O God, what you've made for us. 29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings shall bring presents to you. 30 Reprimand the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, 'til every one submits himself with pieces of silver, scatter the people that delight in war. 31 Princes shall come out of Egypt, Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands to God. 32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth, O sing praises to the Lord, (Pause), 33 To him that rides on the heavens of heavens, that were of old, see, he sends out his voice, and that a mighty voice. 34 Ascribe strength to God, his excellence is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds. 35 O God, you are terrible out of your holy places, the God of Israel is he that gives strength and power to his people. Blessed be God. ___Psalm 69 1 Save me, O God, for the waters have come in to my soul. 2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing, I've come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. 3 I'm weary of my crying, my throat is dry, my eyes fail while I wait for my God. 4 Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head, those who would destroy me, being my enemies wrongfully, are mighty, then I restored that which I didn't take away. 5 O God, you know my foolishness, and my sins are not hidden from you. 6 Don't let those who wait on you, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed for my sake, don't let those who seek you be confused for my sake, O God of Israel. 7 Because for your sake I've carried reproach, shame has covered my face. 8 I've become a stranger to my brothers, and an alien to my mother's children. 9 For the zeal of your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those who reproached you have fallen on me. 10 When I cried, and punished my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach. 11 I also made burlap my garment, and I became a proverb to them. 12 Those who sit in the gate speak against me, and I was the song of the drunkards. 13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord, in an acceptable time, O God, in the multitude of your mercy hear me, in the truth of your salvation. 14 Deliver me out of the mire, and don't let me sink, let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters. 15 Don't let the flood waters overflow me, and don't let the deep swallow me up, and don't let the pit shut its mouth on me. 16 Hear me, O Lord, for your loving kindness is good, turn to me according to the multitude of your tender mercies. 17 And don't hide your face from your servant, for I'm in trouble, hear me speedily. 18 Draw near to my soul, and redeem it, deliver me because of my enemies. 19 You've known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonor, my adversaries are all before you. 20 Reproach has broken my heart, and I'm full of heaviness, and I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found no one. 21 They gave me also gall for my food, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. 22 Let their table become a trap before them, and what should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. 23 Let their eyes be darkened, so they don't see, and make their midsections to continually shake. 24 Pour out your indignation on them, and let your anger take hold of them. 25 Let their habitation be desolate, and let no one live in their tents. 26 For they persecute him whom you've struck, and they talk to the grief of those whom you've wounded. 27 Add sin to their sin, and don't let them come into your righteousness. 28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. 29 But I am poor and sorrowful, let your salvation, O God, set me up on high. 30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. 31 This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that has horns and hoofs. 32 The humble shall see this, and be glad, and your hearts shall live that seek God. 33 For the Lord hears the poor, and doesn't despise his prisoners. 34 Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and everything that moves in it. 35 For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah, so that they can live there, and have it in possession. 36 The descendants also of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall live in it. ___Psalm 70 1 Make haste, O God, to give me deliverance, make haste to help me, O Lord. 2 Let them be ashamed and confused that seek after my soul, let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt. 3 Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, "Aha, aha." 4 Let all those that seek you rejoice and be glad in you, and let such as love your salvation say continually, "Let God be magnified." 5 But I am poor and needy, make haste to me, O God, you're my help and my deliverer, O Lord, don't delay. ___Psalm 71 1 I put my trust in you, O Lord, let me never be put to confusion. 2 Give me deliverance in your righteousness, and cause me to escape, incline your ear to me, and save me. 3 Be my strong habitation, to which I can continually resort, you've given commandment to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. 4 Give me deliverance, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. 5 For you are my hope, O Lord God, you are my trust from my youth. 6 I've been supported by you since the womb, you are he that took me out of my mother's belly, my praise shall continually be of you. 7 I'm like a wonder to many, but you are my strong refuge. 8 Let my mouth be filled with your praise and with your honor all day long. 9 Don't throw me away in the time of old age, don't forsake me when my strength fails. 10 For my enemies speak against me, and those who lay wait for my soul plot together, 11 Saying, "God has forsaken him, persecute and take him, for there is no one to deliver him." 12 O God, don't be far from me, O my God, hurry up for my help. 13 Let them be confused and consumed that are adversaries to my soul, let them be covered with reproach and dishonor that seek my hurt. 14 But I will hope continually, and will yet praise you more and more. 15 My mouth shall show forth your righteousness and your salvation all the day, for I don't know the numbers about that. 16 I will go in the strength of the Lord God, I will make mention of your righteousness, of yours only. 17 O God, you've taught me from my youth, and until now I've declared your wondrous works. 18 Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O God, don't forsake me, until I have shown your strength to this generation, and your power to everyone that is to come. 19 Your righteousness also, O God, is very high, who has done great things, O God, who is like you! 20 You, who has shown me great and severe troubles, shall make me alive again, and shall bring me up again from the depths of the earth. 21 You'll increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side. 22 I will also praise you with the psaltery, your truth, O my God, I'll sing to you sing with the harp, O you Holy one of Israel. 23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to you, and my soul, that you've redeemed. 24 Also my tongue shall talk of your righteousness all day long, for they're confused, for they're brought to shame, that seek my hurt. ___Psalm 72 1 Give the king your judgments, O God, and your righteousness to the king's son. 2 He shall judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with judgment. 3 The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. 4 He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. 5 They shall fear you as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. 6 He'll come down like rain on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth. 7 In his days the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace as long as the moon endures. 8 He'll have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. 9 Those who live in the wilderness shall bow before him, and his enemies shall lick the dust. 10 The kings of Tarshish and of the islands shall bring presents, the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. 11 Yes, all kings shall fall down before him, all nations shall serve him. 12 For he shall deliver the needy when he shouts, the poor also, and him that has no helper. 13 He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. 14 He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence, and precious shall their blood be in his sight. 15 And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba, prayer also shall be made for him continually, and he'll be praised daily. 16 There shall be a handful of corn on the earth on the top of the mountains, the fruit of which shall shake like Lebanon, and those of the city shall flourish like the grass of the earth. 17 His name shall endure forever, his name shall be continued as long as the sun, and men shall be blessed in him, all nations shall call him blessed. 18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only does wondrous things. 19 And blessed be his glorious name forever, and let the whole earth be filled with his glory, Amen, and Amen. 20 The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended. ___Psalm 73 1 Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are of a clean heart. 2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had nearly slipped. 3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no bands in their death, but their strength is firm. 5 They are not in trouble like other men, nor are they plagued like other men. 6 Therefore pride surrounds them like a chain, violence covers them like a garment. 7 Their eyes stand out with fatness, they have more than heart could wish. 8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression, they speak loftily. 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth. 10 Therefore his people return here, and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. 11 And they say, "How does God know? And is there knowledge in the most high?" 12 See, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world, they increase in riches. 13 Truly I've cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence. 14 For all day long I've been plagued, and punished every morning. 15 If I say, I will speak thus, see, I would offend against the generation of your children. 16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me, 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God, then I understood their end. 18 Surely you've set them in slippery places, you threw them down into destruction. 19 How are they brought into desolation, like in a moment! They are completely consumed with terrors. 20 Like a dream when someone awakes, so, O Lord, when you awake, you'll despise their image. 21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. 22 So foolish was I, and ignorant, I was like an animal before you. 23 But I am continually with you, you've held me by my right hand. 24 You'll guide me with your advice, and afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom do I have in heaven but you? And there is no one on earth that I desire beside you. 26 My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever. 27 For see, those who are far from you shall die, you've destroyed all of those who go a whoring from you. 28 But it is good for me to draw near to God, I've put my trust in the Lord God, so that I can declare all your works. ___Psalm 74 1 O God, why have you thrown us away forever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture? 2 Remember your congregation, that you've purchased of old, the rod of your inheritance, that you've redeemed, this Mount Zion, in which you've lived. 3 Lift up your feet to the perpetual desolations, all that the enemy has done wickedly in the sanctuary. 4 Your enemies roar among your congregations, they set up their ensigns for signs. 5 A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes on the thick trees. 6 But now they break down the carved work of it at once with axes and hammers. 7 They've thrown fire into your sanctuary, they have defiled by throwing down the dwelling place of your name to the ground. 8 They said in their hearts, "Let us destroy them together," they've burned up all the synagogues of God in the land. 9 We don't see our signs, there is no longer any prophet, nor is there anyone among us that knows how long. 10 O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme your name forever? 11 Why do you withdraw your hand, your right hand? Pluck it out of your bosom. 12 For God is my King of old, working salvation in the earth. 13 You divided the sea by your strength, you broke the heads of the dragons in the waters. 14 You broke the heads of whale in pieces, and gave him to be food for the people inhabiting the wilderness. 15 You split the fountain and the flood, you dried up mighty rivers. 16 The day is yours, the night also is yours, you've prepared the light and the sun. 17 You've set all the borders of the earth, you've made summer and winter. 18 Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O Lord, and that the foolish people have blasphemed your name. 19 O don't give the soul of your turtledove to the multitude of the wicked, don't forget the congregation of your poor forever. 20 Have respect to the covenant, for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty. 21 O don't let the oppressed return ashamed, let the poor and needy praise your name. 22 Get up, O God, plead your own cause, remember how the foolish man reproaches you daily. 23 Don't forget the voice of your enemies, the tumult of those that rise up against you increases continually. ___Psalm 75 1 We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks to you, for your wondrous works declare that your name is near. 2 When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly. 3 The earth and all the inhabitants of it are dissolved, I carry the pillars of it. (Pause.) 4 I said to the fools, don't deal foolishly, and to the wicked, don't lift up the horn, 5 Don't lift up your horn on high, don't speak with a stiff neck. 6 For promotion comes neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. 7 But God is the judge, he puts down one, and sets up another. 8 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red, it is full of mixture, and he pours out of the same, but the dregs of it, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them. 9 But I will declare forever, I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. 10 I will also cut off all the horns of the wicked, but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted. ___Psalm 76 1 God is known in Judah, his name is great in Israel. 2 In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion. 3 There he broke the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. (Pause.) 4 You are more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey. 5 The stout hearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep, and none of the men of might has found his hands. 6 At your reprimand, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are thrown into a dead sleep. 7 You, even you, are to be feared, and who may stand in your sight when once you are angry? 8 You caused judgment to be heard from heaven, the earth feared, and was still, 9 When God rose up to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. (Pause.) 10 Surely the anger of man shall praise you, the remainder of anger you'll restrain. 11 Vow, and pay to the Lord your God, let all that are around him bring presents to him that ought to be feared. 12 He shall cut off the spirit of princes, he is terrible to the kings of the earth. ___Psalm 77 1 I cried to God with my voice, to God with my voice, and he listened to me. 2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord, my sore ran in the night, and didn't stop, my soul refused to be comforted. 3 I remembered God, and was troubled, I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. (Pause.) 4 You hold my eyes waking, I am so troubled that I can't speak. 5 I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. 6 I remember my song in the night, I commune with my own heart, and my spirit made diligent search. 7 Will the Lord throw away forever? And will he be favorable no more? 8 Is his mercy completely gone forever? Does his promise fail forever? 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his tender mercies? (Pause.) 10 And I said, this is my illness, but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most high. 11 I will remember the works of the Lord, surely I will remember your wonders of old. 12 I will meditate also on all your work, and talk of your doings. 13 Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary, who is so great a God as our God? 14 You are the God that does wonders, you've declared your strength among the people. 15 With your arm you've redeemed your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. (Pause.) 16 The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you, they were afraid, the depths also were troubled. 17 The clouds poured out water, the skies sent out a sound, your arrows also went abroad. 18 The voice of your thunder was in the heaven, the lightnings illuminated the world, the earth trembled and shook. 19 Your way is in the sea, and your path in the great waters, and your footsteps are not known. 20 You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. ___Psalm 78 1 Give ear, O my people, to my law, incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable, I will speak dark sayings of old, 3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. 4 We won't hide them from their children, showing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he has done. 5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, that he commanded our fathers, so that they would make them known to their children, 6 So that the generation to come would know them, the children that would be born, who would grow up and teach them to their children, 7 So that they would set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments, 8 And wouldn't be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that didn't set their heart right, and whose spirit was not steady with God. 9 The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. 10 They didn't keep the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law, 11 And forgot his works, and his wonders that he had shown them. 12 He did marvelous things in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. 13 He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through, and he made the waters to stand like a heap. 14 In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire. 15 He split the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink like out of the great depths. 16 He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers. 17 And they sinned against him still more by provoking the most high in the wilderness. 18 And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. 19 Yes, they spoke against God, they said, "Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? 20 See, he struck the rock, so that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed, can he give bread also? Can he provide flesh for his people?" 21 Therefore the Lord heard this, and was angry, so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel, 22 Because they didn't believe God, and didn't trust in his salvation, 23 Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, 24 And had rained down manna on them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. 25 Man ate angels' food, he sent them food to the full. 26 He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven, and by his power he brought in the south wind. 27 He rained flesh also on them like dust, and feathered fowls like the sand of the sea, 28 And he let it fall in the middle of their camp, around their habitations. 29 So they ate, and were well filled, for he gave them their own desire, 30 They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths, 31 The anger of God came on them, and killed the fattest of them, and struck down the chosen men of Israel. 32 For all this they sinned still, and didn't believe for his wondrous works. 33 Therefore he consumed their days in vanity, and their years in trouble. 34 When he killed them, then they sought him, and they returned and inquired early after God. 35 And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. 36 But they flattered him with their mouth, and they lied to him with their tongues. 37 For their heart was not right with him, nor were they steady in his covenant. 38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their sin, and didn't destroy them, yes, he turned his anger away many times, and did not stir up all his anger. 39 For he remembered that they were just flesh, a wind that passes away, and doesn't come again. 40 How often did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert! 41 Yes, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. 42 They didn't remember his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy. 43 How he had made his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan, 44 And had turned their rivers into blood, and their floods, so that they couldn't drink. 45 He sent various sorts of flies among them, that devoured them, and frogs, that destroyed them. 46 He gave also their increase to the caterpillar, and their labor to the locust. 47 He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycamore trees with frost. 48 He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts. 49 He threw on them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil spirits among them. 50 He made a way for his anger, he didn't spare their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence, 51 And struck all the firstborn in Egypt, the chief of their strength in the tents of Ham, 52 But made his own people to go out like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. 53 And he led them on safely, so that they didn't fear, but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. 54 And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, to this mountain, that his right hand had purchased. 55 He threw out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to live in their tents. 56 Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and didn't keep his testimonies, 57 But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers, they were turned aside like a deceitful bow. 58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their engraved images. 59 When God heard this, he was angry, and found Israel to stink very much, 60 So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent that he placed among men, 61 And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand. 62 He gave his people over also to the sword, and was angry with his inheritance. 63 The fire consumed their young men, and their young women were not given to marriage. 64 Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows made no lamentation. 65 Then the Lord awoke like someone out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouts because of wine. 66 And he struck his enemies in the hinder parts, he put them to a perpetual reproach. 67 Also he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and didn't choose the tribe of Ephraim, 68 But chose the tribe of Judah, the Mount Zion that he loved. 69 And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth that he has established forever. 70 He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds, 71 From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. 72 So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands. ___Psalm 79 1 O God, the heathen have come into your inheritance, they have defiled your holy temple, they have laid Jerusalem in heaps. 2 The dead bodies of your servants they've given to be meat to the birds of the heaven, the flesh of your saints to the beasts of the earth. 3 They've shed their blood like water around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them. 4 We've become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to those who are around us. 5 How long, Lord? Will you be angry forever? Shall your jealousy burn like fire? 6 Pour out your anger on the heathen that have not known you, and on the kingdoms that have not called on your name. 7 For they've devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place. 8 O don't remember against us former sins, let your tender mercies speedily go before us, for we are brought very low. 9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name, and give us deliverance, and purge away our sins, for your name's sake. 10 Why should the heathen say, where is their God? Let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the avenging of the blood of your servants that has been shed. 11 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before you, according to the greatness of your power preserve those who are appointed to die, 12 And give to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, with which they've reproached you, O Lord. 13 So we your people and sheep of your pasture will give you thanks forever, we will show forth your praise to all generations. ___Psalm 80 1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you that led Joseph like a flock, you that lives between the cherubims, shine forth. 2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up your strength, and come and save us. 3 Turn us again, O God, and cause your face to shine, and we shall be saved. 4 O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry against the prayer of your people? 5 You feed them with the bread of tears, and give them tears to drink in great measure. 6 You make us a strife to our neighbors, and our enemies laugh among themselves. 7 Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause your face to shine, and we shall be saved. 8 You have brought a vine out of Egypt, you have thrown out the heathen, and planted it. 9 You prepared room before it, and caused it to take deep root, and it filled the land. 10 The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs of it were like the goodly cedars. 11 She sent out her boughs to the sea, and her branches to the river. 12 Why then have you broken down her hedges, so that all of those who pass by the way pluck her? 13 The boar out of the wood wastes it, and the wild beasts of the field devour it. 14 Return, we beg of you, O God of hosts, look down from heaven, and see, and visit this vine, 15 And the vineyard that your right hand has planted, and the branch that you made strong for yourself. 16 It's been burned with fire, it's been cut down, they die at the reprimand of your facial expression. 17 Let your hand be on the man of your right hand, on the son of man whom you made strong for yourself. 18 So we won't go back from you, make us alive, and we will call on your name. 19 Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts, cause your face to shine, and we shall be saved. ___Psalm 81 1 Sing out loud to God our strength, make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob. 2 Take a psalm, and bring the tamborine here, the pleasant harp with the psaltery. 3 Blow the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day. 4 For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob. 5 He ordained this in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt, where I heard a language that I didn't understand. 6 I removed his shoulder from the burden, his hands were delivered from the pots. 7 You called in trouble, and I gave you deliverance, I answered you in the secret place of thunder, I tested you at the waters of Meribah. (Pause.) 8 Hear, O my people, and I will testify to you, O Israel, if you'll listen to me, 9 No strange god shall be in you, nor shall you worship any strange god. 10 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. 11 But my people wouldn't listen to my voice, and Israel wanted none of me. 12 So I gave them up to their own hearts' lust, and they walked in their own advice. 13 Oh that my people had listened to me, and Israel had walked in my ways! 14 I would soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. 15 The haters of the Lord would have submitted themselves to him, but their time would have endured forever. 16 He would have fed them also with the finest of the wheat, and with honey out of the rock I would have satisfied you. ___Psalm 82 1 God stands in the congregation of the mighty, he judges among the gods. 2 How long will you judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? (Pause.) 3 Defend the poor and fatherless, do justice to the afflicted and needy. 4 Deliver the poor and needy, deliver them out of the hand of the wicked. 5 They don't know, nor will they understand, they walk on in darkness, all the foundations of the earth are out of course. 6 I have said, "You are gods, and all of you are children of the most high. 7 But you'll die like men, and fall like one of the princes." 8 Arise, O God, judge the earth, for you'll inherit all nations. ___Psalm 83 1 Don't keep silence, O God, don't be silent, and don't be still, O God. 2 For see, your enemies make a tumult, and those who hate you have lifted up the head. 3 They've taken crafty advice against your people, and have consulted against your hidden ones. 4 They've said, "Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, so that the name of Israel will no more be in remembrance." 5 For they have consulted together unanimously, they're confederate against you, 6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites, of Moab, and the Hagarenes, 7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek, the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre, 8 Assur also is joined with them, they have helped the children of Lot. (Pause.) 9 Do to them like to the Midianites, like to Sisera, like to Jabin, at the brook of Kison, 10 Who perished at Endor, they became like manure for the earth. 11 Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb, yes, all their princes like Zebah, and like Zalmunna, 12 Who said, "Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession." 13 O my God, make them like a wheel, like the kindling wood before the wind. 14 Like the fire burns wood, and like the flame sets the mountains on fire, 15 So persecute them with your tempest, and make them afraid with your storm. 16 Fill their faces with shame, so that they'll seek your name, O Lord. 17 Let them be confused and troubled forever, yes, let them be put to shame, and die, 18 So that men will know that you, who's the only one with the name Jehovah, are the most high over all the earth. ___Psalm 84 1 How amiable are your tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! 2 My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord, my heart and my flesh cries out for the living God. 3 Yes, the sparrow has found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she can lay her young, your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God. 4 Blessed are those who live in your house, they'll be still praising you. (Pause.) 5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the ways of them. 6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well, the rain also fills the pools. 7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appears before God. 8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer, give ear, O God of Jacob. (Pause.) 9 See, O God our shield, and look at the face of your anointed. 10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand. I'd rather be a door keeper in the house of my God, than to live in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield, the Lord will give grace and glory, no good thing will he withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusts in you. ___Psalm 85 1 Lord, you've been favorable to your land, you've undone the captivity of Jacob. 2 You've forgiven the sin of your people, you have covered all their sin. (Pause.) 3 You've taken away all your anger, you've turned yourself from the fierceness of your anger. 4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause your anger toward us to stop. 5 Will you be angry with us forever? Will you draw out your anger to all generations? 6 Won't you revive us again, so that your people will rejoice in you? 7 Show us your mercy, O Lord, and grant us your salvation. 8 I will hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, and to his saints, but let them not turn back to foolishness. 9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, so that glory will live in our land. 10 Mercy and truth have met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other. 11 Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. 12 Yes, the Lord shall give that which is good, and our land shall yield its increase. 13 Righteousness shall go before him, and shall set us in the way of his steps. ___Psalm 86 1 Bow down your ear, O Lord, hear me, for I am poor and needy. 2 Preserve my soul, for I am holy, O my God, save your servant that trusts in you. 3 Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I call to you daily. 4 Make the soul of your servant rejoice, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 5 For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy to all those who call on you. 6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer, and attend to the voice of my supplications. 7 In the day of my trouble I'll call on you, for you'll answer me. 8 Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord, nor are there any works like your works. 9 All nations whom you've made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. 10 For you are great, and do wondrous things, you are God alone. 11 Teach me your way, O Lord, I'll walk in your truth, unite my heart to fear your name. 12 I'll praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I'll glorify your name forever. 13 For great is your mercy toward me, and you've delivered my soul from the lowest hell. 14 O God, the proud have risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul, and haven't set you before them. 15 But you, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, patient, and plenteous in mercy and truth. 16 O turn to me, and have mercy on me, give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your handmaid. 17 Show me a token for good, so that those who hate me will see it, and be ashamed, because you, Lord, have helped me, and comforted me. ___Psalm 87 1 His foundation is in the holy mountains. 2 The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. 3 Glorious things are spoken about you, O city of God. (Pause.) 4 I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to those who know me, see Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia, this man was born there. 5 And about Zion it shall be said, "This and that man were born in her, and the highest himself shall establish her." 6 The Lord shall count, when he writes up the people, that this man was born there. (Pause.) 7 As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there, all my springs are in you. ___Psalm 88 1 O Lord God of my salvation, I've cried day and night before you, 2 Let my prayer come before you, incline your ear to my cry, 3 For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to the grave. 4 I'm counted with those who go down into the pit, I am like a man that has no strength, 5 Free among the dead, like the dead that lie in the grave, whom you don't remember anymore, and they are cut off from your hand. 6 You have laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps. 7 Your anger lies hard on me, and you've afflicted me with all your waves. (Pause.) 8 You've put away my acquaintance far from me, you've made me a dirty thing to them, I am shut up, and I can't come out. 9 My eye mourns because of affliction, Lord, I've called daily on you, I've stretched out my hands to you. 10 Will you show wonders to the dead? Shall the dead get up and praise you? (Pause.) 11 Shall your loving kindness be declared in the grave? Or your faithfulness in destruction? 12 Shall your wonders be known in the dark? And your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? 13 But I've called to you, O Lord, and in the morning my prayer shall go before you. 14 Lord, why do you throw away my soul? Why do you hide your face from me? 15 I'm afflicted and ready to die from my youth up, while I endure your terrors I'm distracted. 16 Your fierce anger goes over me, your terrors have cut me off. 17 They came around me daily like water, they surrounded me together. 18 You've put lover and friend far from me, and my acquaintance into darkness. ___Psalm 89 1 I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, with my mouth I'll make known your faithfulness to all generations. 2 For I've said, "Mercy shall be built up forever, your faithfulness you'll establish in the very heavens." 3 I've made a covenant with my chosen, I've sworn to David my servant, 4 I'll establish your descendants forever, and build up your throne to all generations. (Pause.) 5 And the heavens shall praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints. 6 For who in the heaven can be compared to the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord? 7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be shown reverence by all of those who are around him. 8 O Lord God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like you? Or to your faithfulness around you? 9 You rule the raging of the sea, when the waves of it arise, you still them. 10 You've broken Rahab in pieces, like one that is killed, you've scattered your enemies with your strong arm. 11 The heavens are yours, the earth also is yours, as for the world and the fullness of it, you've founded them. 12 You've created the north and the south, Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in your name. 13 You have a mighty arm, strong is your hand, and high is your right hand. 14 Justice and judgment are the habitation of your throne, mercy and truth shall go before your face. 15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound, they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of your facial expression. 16 In your name they'll rejoice all day long, and in your righteousness they'll be exalted. 17 For you are the glory of their strength, and in your favor our horn shall be lifted up. 18 For the Lord is our defense, and the Holy one of Israel is our king. 19 Then you spoke in vision to your holy one, and said, "I've laid help on someone that is mighty, I've exalted someone chosen out of the people. 20 I've found David my servant, I've anointed him with my holy oil, 21 With whom my hand shall be established, my arm also shall strengthen him. 22 The enemy shall not exact on him, nor the son of wickedness afflict him. 23 And I will beat down his enemies before his face, and plague those who hate him. 24 But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him, and in my name his horn shall be exalted. 25 I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. 26 He shall cry to me, You are my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. 27 Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. 28 I will keep my mercy for him forever, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. 29 I will also make his descendants to endure forever, and his throne like the days of heaven. 30 If his children forsake my law, and don't walk in my judgments, 31 If they break my statutes, and don't keep my commandments, 32 Then I'll visit their transgression with the rod, and their sin with strokes of the whip. 33 But I won't completely take my loving kindness from him, nor allow my faithfulness to fail. 34 I won't break my covenant, nor alter the thing that has gone out of my lips. 35 I have sworn once by my holiness that I won't lie to David. 36 His descendants shall endure forever, and his throne like the sun before me. 37 It shall be established forever like the moon, and like a faithful witness in heaven." (Pause.) 38 But you've thrown away and hated, you've been angry with your anointed. 39 You've made void the covenant of your servant, you have profaned his crown by throwing it to the ground. 40 You've broken down all his hedges, you have brought his strong holds to ruin. 41 All that pass by the way spoil him, he is a reproach to his neighbors. 42 You've set up the right hand of his adversaries, you've made all his enemies to rejoice. 43 You've also turned the edge of his sword, and haven't made him to stand in the battle. 44 You've made his glory to stop, and thrown his throne down to the ground. 45 You've shortened the days of his youth, you've covered him with shame. (Pause.) 46 How long, Lord? Will you hide yourself forever? Shall your anger burn like fire? 47 Remember how short my time is, why have you made all men in vain? 48 What man is he that lives, and shall not see death? Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah. 49 Lord, where are your former loving kindnesses, that you promised to David in your truth? 50 Remember, Lord, the reproach of your servants, how I carry in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people, 51 With which your enemies have reproached, O Lord, with which they've reproached the footsteps of your anointed. 52 Blessed be the Lord forever. Amen, and Amen. ___Psalm 90 1 Lord, you've been our dwelling place in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting, you are God. 3 You turn man to destruction, and say, "Return, you children of men." 4 For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it's past, and like a soldier's watch in the night. 5 You carry them away like with a flood, they are like a sleep, in the morning they are like grass that grows up. 6 In the morning it flourishes, and grows up, in the evening it is cut down, and withers. 7 For we are consumed by your anger, and by your anger we are troubled. 8 You've set our sins before you, our secret sins in the light of your facial expression. 9 For all our days are passed away in your anger, we spend our years like a story that is told. 10 The days of our years are seventy years, and if because of strength they are eighty years, yet their strength is labor and sorrow, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 11 Who knows the power of your anger? According to your fear, so is your anger. 12 Teach us to number our days in such a way that we'll apply our hearts to wisdom. 13 Return, O Lord, how long? And let it change your mind concerning your servants. 14 O satisfy us early with your mercy, so we can rejoice and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad according to the days in which you've afflicted us, and the years in which we've seen evil. 16 Let your work appear to your servants, and your glory to their children. 17 And let the beauty of the Lord our God be on us, and establish the work of our hands on us, yes, the work of our hands establish it. ___Psalm 91 1 He that dwells in the secret place of the most high shall live under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say about the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, I'll trust in him." 3 Surely he'll deliver you from the trap of the bird catcher, and from the noisome pestilence. 4 He'll cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you'll trust, his truth shall be your shield and buckler. 5 You won't be afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flies by day, 6 Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it won't come near you. 8 Only with your eyes shall you see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because you've made the Lord your habitation, who is my refuge, the most high, 10 No evil shall happen you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling. 11 For he'll give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. 12 They'll support you in their hands, so you don't dash your foot against a stone. 13 You'll tread on the lion and snake, you'll trample the young lion and the dragon under feet. 14 Because he has set his love on me, therefore I'll give him deliverance, I'll set him on high, because he has known my name. 15 He'll call on me, and I'll answer him, I'll be with him in trouble, I'll give him deliverance, and honor him. 16 I'll satisfy him with long life, and show him my salvation. ___Psalm 92 1 It's a good thing to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to your name, O most high, 2 To show forth your loving kindness in the morning, and your faithfulness every night, 3 On an instrument of ten strings, and on the psaltery, on the harp with a solemn sound. 4 For you, Lord, have made me glad through your work, I'll triumph in the works of your hands. 5 O Lord, how great are your works! And your thoughts are very deep. 6 A brutish man doesn't know, nor does a fool understand this. 7 When the wicked spring like the grass, and when all the sinners flourish, it is that they shall be destroyed forever, 8 But you, Lord, are most high forever. 9 For see, your enemies, O Lord, for see, your enemies shall perish, all the sinners shall be scattered. 10 But you'll exalt my horn like the horn of a rhinocerous, I'll be anointed with fresh oil. 11 My eye also shall see my desire on my enemies, and my ears shall hear my desire about the wicked that rise up against me. 12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree, they shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 Those that are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age, they shall be fat and flourishing, 15 To show that the Lord is upright, he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. ___Psalm 93 1 The Lord rules, he is clothed with majesty, the Lord is clothed with strength, with which he has clothed himself, the world also is established, so that it can't be moved. 2 Your throne is established of old, you are from everlasting. 3 The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice, the floods lift up their waves. 4 The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yes, than the mighty waves of the sea. 5 Your testimonies are very sure, holiness is appropriate for your house, O Lord, forever. ___Psalm 94 1 O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongs, O God, to whom vengeance belongs, show yourself. 2 Lift up yourself, you judge of the earth, give a repayment to the proud. 3 Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? 4 How long shall they utter and speak hard things? And all the doers of sin boast themselves? 5 They break your people in pieces, O Lord, and afflict your heritage. 6 They kill the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. 7 Yet they say, "The Lord won't see, nor shall the God of Jacob regard it." 8 Understand, you brutish among the people, and you fools, when will you be wise? 9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? He that formed the eye, shall he not see? 10 He that chastises the heathen, shall he not correct? He that teaches man knowledge, shall he not know? 11 The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are vanity. 12 Blessed is the man whom you punish, O Lord, and teach him out of your law, 13 So that you will give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit has been dug for the wicked. 14 For the Lord won't throw away his people, nor will he forsake his inheritance. 15 But justice shall return to righteousness, and all the upright in heart shall follow it. 16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Or who will stand up for me against the sinners? 17 Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost lived in silence. 18 When I said, "My foot is slipping," your mercy, O Lord, held me up. 19 In the multitude of my thoughts inside me your comforts delight my soul. 20 Shall the throne of sin have fellowship with you, that frames mischief by a law? 21 They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood. 22 But the Lord is my defense, and my God is the rock of my refuge. 23 And he shall bring on them their own sin, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness, yes, the Lord our God shall cut them off. ___Psalm 95 1 O come, let us sing to the Lord, let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise to him with psalms. 3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth, the strength of the hills is his also. 5 The sea is his, and he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. 6 O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our maker. 7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you'll hear his voice, 8 Don't harden your heart, like in the provocation, and like in the day of temptation in the wilderness, 9 When your fathers tempted me, tested me, and saw my work. 10 I was grieved forty years long with this generation and said, "These people err in their heart, and they haven't known my ways," 11 To whom I swore in my anger that they would not enter into my rest. ___Psalm 96 1 O sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name, show forth his salvation from day to day. 3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. 4 For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised, he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. 6 Honor and majesty are before him, strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 7 Give to the Lord, O you kindreds of the people, give to the Lord glory and strength. 8 Give to the Lord the glory due to his name, bring an offering, and come into his courts. 9 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness, fear before him, all the earth. 10 Say among the heathen that the Lord rules, the world also shall be established so it won't be moved, he shall judge the people righteously. 11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad, let the sea roar, and the fullness of it. 12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it, then shall all the trees of the woods rejoice 13 Before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth, he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth. ___Psalm 97 1 The Lord rules, let the earth rejoice, let the multitude of islands be glad about it. 2 Clouds and darkness are around him, righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. 3 A fire goes before him, and burns up his enemies all around. 4 His lightnings illuminated the world, the earth saw, and trembled. 5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. 6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory. 7 All of those who serve engraved images are confused, that boast themselves of idols, worship him, all you gods. 8 Zion heard, and was glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of your judgments, O Lord. 9 For you, Lord, are high above all the earth, you are exalted far above all gods. 10 You that love the Lord, hate evil, he preserves the souls of his saints, he gives them deliverance out of the hand of the wicked. 11 Light is planted for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. 12 Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. ___Psalm 98 1 O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things, his right hand, and his holy arm, has gotten him the victory. 2 The Lord has made known his salvation, he has openly shown his righteousness in the sight of the heathen. 3 He has remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel, all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth, make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. 5 Sing to the Lord with the harp, with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. 6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King. 7 Let the sea roar, and the fullness of it, the world, and those who live in it. 8 Let the floods clap their hands, let the hills be joyful together 9 Before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth, he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with equity. ___Psalm 99 1 The Lord rules, let the people tremble, he sits between the cherubims, let the earth be moved. 2 The Lord is great in Zion, and he is high above all the people. 3 Let them praise your great and terrible name, for it is holy. 4 The king's strength also loves judgment, you establish what is fair, you execute judgment and righteousness in Jacob. 5 Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool, for he is holy. 6 Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among those who call on his name, they called on the Lord, and he answered them. 7 He spoke to them in the cloudy pillar, they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them. 8 You answered them, O Lord our God, you were a God that forgave them, though you took vengeance against their inventions. 9 Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill, for the Lord our God is holy. ___Psalm 100 1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness, come before his presence with singing. 3 Know that the Lord he is God, it is he that has made us, and not we ourselves, we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise, be thankful to him, and bless his name. 5 For the Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endures to all generations. ___Psalm 101 1 I'll sing of mercy and justice, to you, O Lord, I'll sing. 2 I'll behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when will you come to me? I'll walk inside my house with a perfect heart. 3 I'll set no wicked thing before my eyes, I hate the work of those who turn aside, it won't stick to me. 4 A perverse heart shall depart from me, I won't know a wicked person. 5 I will cut off whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, he that has a high look and a proud heart I won't allow. 6 My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land, so that they'll live with me, he that walks in a perfect way, he shall serve me. 7 He that works deceit shall not live in my house, he that tells lies shall not remain in my sight. 8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land, so that I can cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord. ___Psalm 102 1 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my shout come to you. 2 Don't hide your face from me in the day when I am in trouble, incline your ear to me, in the day when I call, answer me speedily. 3 For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned like a hearth. 4 My heart is struck and withered like grass, so that I forget to eat my bread. 5 By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones stick to my skin. 6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness, I am like an owl of the desert. 7 I watch, and am like a sparrow alone on the house top. 8 My enemies reproach me all day long, and those who are insane against me are sworn against me. 9 For I've eaten ashes like bread, and mixed my drink with weeping, 10 Because of your indignation and your anger, for you've lifted me up, and thrown me down. 11 My days are like a shadow that declines, and I am withered like grass. 12 But you, O Lord, shall endure forever, and the memory of you to all generations. 13 You'll get up, and have mercy on Zion, for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, has come. 14 For your servants take pleasure in her stones, and favor the dust of it. 15 So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth your glory. 16 When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. 17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. 18 This shall be written for the generation to come, and the people that shall be created shall praise the Lord. 19 For he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary, from heaven, the Lord saw the earth, 20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner, to release those that are appointed to death, 21 To declare the name of the Lord in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem, 22 When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord. 23 He weakened my strength in the way, he shortened my days. 24 I said, "O my God, don't take me away in the middle of my days, your years are throughout all generations. 25 Of old you've laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 26 They shall perish, but you'll endure, yes, all of them shall grow old like a garment, like a vesture you'll change them, and they'll be changed, 27 But you are the same, and your years shall have no end. 28 The children of your servants shall continue, and their descendants shall be established before you." ___Psalm 103 1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is inside me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and don't forget all his benefits, 3 Who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. 6 The Lord executes righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. 7 He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the children of Israel. 8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 9 He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward those who fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins from us. 13 Like a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear him. 14 For he knows our frame, he remembers that we are dust. 15 As for man, his days are like grass, like a flower of the field, so he flourishes. 16 For the wind passes over it, and it's gone, and the place of it shall know it no more. 17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, 18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. 19 The Lord has prepared his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. 20 Bless the Lord, you his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, listening to the voice of his word. 21 Bless the Lord, all of you his hosts, you ministers of his, that do his pleasure. 22 Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion, bless the Lord, O my soul. ___Psalm 104 1 Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great, you are clothed with honor and majesty. 2 Who covers himself with light like with a garment, who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, 3 Who lays the beams of his rooms in the waters, who makes the clouds his chariot, who walks on the wings of the wind, 4 Who makes his angels spirits, his ministers a flaming fire, 5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, so that it would not be removed forever. 6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment, the waters stood above the mountains. 7 At your reprimand they fled, at the voice of your thunder they hurried away. 8 They go up by the mountains, they go down by the valleys to the place that you've founded for them. 9 You've set a bound so that they can't pass over, so that they don't return to cover the earth. 10 He sends the springs into the valleys, that run among the hills. 11 They give drink to every beast of the field, the wild donkeys quench their thirst. 12 The fowls of the heaven shall have their habitation by them, who sing among the branches. 13 He waters the hills from his rooms, the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your works. 14 He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetables for the service of man, so that he can bring forth food out of the earth, 15 And wine that makes glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face shine, and bread that strengthens man's heart. 16 The trees of the Lord are full of sap, the cedars of Lebanon that he has planted, 17 Where the birds make their nests, as for the stork, the fir trees are her house. 18 The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats, and the rocks for the conies. 19 He appointed the moon for seasons, the sun knows its going down. 20 You make darkness, and it's night, in which all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. 21 The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. 22 The sun arises, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. 23 Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening. 24 O Lord, how many are your works! In wisdom you've made them all, the earth is full of your riches. 25 So is this great and wide sea, in which are uncountable creeping things, both small and great beasts. 26 There go the ships, there are the whales, that you've made to play in it. 27 These all wait on you, so you'll give them their food in due season. 28 They gather what you give them, you open your hand, they are filled with good. 29 You hide your face, they are troubled, you take away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. 30 You send out your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth. 31 The glory of the Lord shall endure forever, the Lord shall rejoice in his works. 32 He looks at the earth, and it trembles, he touches the hills, and they smoke. 33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live, I'll sing praise to my God while I have my being. 34 My meditation of him shall be sweet, I'll be glad in the Lord. 35 Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord. ___Psalm 105 1 O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the people. 2 Sing to him, sing psalms to him, talk of all his wondrous works. 3 Glory in his holy name, let the heart of those rejoice who seek the Lord. 4 Seek the Lord, and his strength, seek his face always more. 5 Remember his marvelous works that he has done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth, 6 O you descendants of Abraham his servant, you children of Jacob his chosen. 7 He is the Lord our God, his judgments are in all the earth. 8 He has remembered his covenant forever, the word that he commanded to a thousand generations. 9 Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath to Isaac, 10 And confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant, 11 Saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance," 12 When they were but a few men in number, yes, very few, and strangers in it. 13 When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people, 14 He allowed no man to do them wrong, yes, he reprimanded kings for their sakes, 15 Saying, "Don't touch my anointed, and do my prophets no harm." 16 Also he called for a famine on the land, he broke the whole staff of bread. 17 He sent a man before them, Joseph, who was sold for a servant, 18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters, he was laid in iron, 19 Until the time that his word came, the word of the Lord tested him. 20 The king sent and loosed him, the ruler of the people, and let him go free. 21 He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance, 22 To bind his princes at his pleasure, and teach his senators wisdom. 23 Israel also came into Egypt, and Jacob visited in the land of Ham. 24 And he increased his people greatly, and made them stronger than their enemies. 25 He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtlely with his servants. 26 He sent Moses his servant, and Aaron whom he had chosen. 27 They showed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham. 28 He sent darkness, and made it dark, and they didn't rebel against his word. 29 He turned their waters into blood, and killed their fish. 30 Their land produced frogs in abundance, in the rooms of their kings. 31 He spoke, and there came various sorts of flies, and lice in all their borders. 32 He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land. 33 He struck their vines also and their fig trees, and broke the trees of their borders. 34 He spoke, and the locusts came, and caterpillars, without number, 35 And ate up all the vegetables in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground. 36 He struck also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength. 37 He brought them out also with silver and gold, and there was not one feeble person among their tribes. 38 Egypt was glad when they departed, for the fear of them fell on them. 39 He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light in the night. 40 The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven. 41 He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out, they ran in the dry places like a river. 42 For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant. 43 And he brought out his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness, 44 And gave them the lands of the heathen, and they inherited the labor of the people, 45 So that they would observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise the Lord. ___Psalm 106 1 Praise the Lord. O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. 2 Who can tell the mighty acts of the Lord? Who can show forth all his praise? 3 Blessed are those who keep judgment, and he that does righteousness at all times. 4 Remember me, O Lord, with the favor that you bear to your people, O visit me with your salvation, 5 So that I'll see the good of your chosen, so that I'll rejoice in the gladness of your nation, so that I'll glory with your inheritance. 6 We've sinned with our fathers, we've committed sin, we have done wickedly. 7 Our fathers didn't understand your wonders in Egypt, they didn't remember the multitude of your mercies, but provoked him at the sea, at the Red Sea. 8 But he saved them for his name's sake, so that he could make his mighty power to be known. 9 He reprimanded the Red Sea also, and it was dried up, so he led them through the depths, like through the wilderness. 10 And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. 11 And the waters covered their enemies, there wasn't one of them left. 12 Then they believed his words, they sang his praise. 13 They soon forgot his works, they didn't wait for his advice, 14 But lusted very much in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. 15 And he gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul. 16 They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the Lord. 17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram. 18 And a fire was kindled in their company, the flame burned up the wicked. 19 They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the image cast in foundry. 20 Thus they changed their glory into the likeness of an ox that eats grass. 21 They forgot God their savior, who had done great things in Egypt, 22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red Sea. 23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them, if Moses his chosen hadn't stood before him in the gap, to turn away his anger, so that he wouldn't destroy them. 24 Yes, they despised the pleasant land, they didn't believe his word, 25 But murmured in their tents, and didn't listen to the voice of the Lord. 26 Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness, 27 To overthrow their descendants also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands. 28 They joined themselves also to Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead. 29 Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions, and the plague broke in on them. 30 Then Phinehas stood up, and executed justice, and so the plague was stopped. 31 And that was counted to him for righteousness to all generations forever. 32 They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes, 33 Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spoke unadvisedly with his lips. 34 They didn't destroy the nations, concerning whom the Lord commanded them, 35 But were mixed among the heathen, and learned their works. 36 And they served their idols, which were a trap to them. 37 Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to devils, 38 And shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood. 39 Thus they were defiled with their own works, and went whoring with their own inventions. 40 Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against his people, since he hated his own inheritance. 41 And he gave them into the hand of the heathen, and those who hated them ruled over them. 42 Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand. 43 He gave them deliverance many times, but they provoked him with their advice, and were brought low for their sin. 44 But he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry, 45 And he remembered for them his covenant, and changed his mind according to the multitude of his mercies. 46 He made them also to be pitied by all those that carried them captives. 47 Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks to your holy name, and to triumph in your praise. 48 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting, and let all the people say, "Amen." Praise the Lord. ___Psalm 107 1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, 3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south. 4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way, they found no city to live in. 5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. 6 Then they called to the Lord in their trouble, and he gave them deliverance them out of their distresses. 7 And he led them out by the right way, so that they would go to a city of habitation. 8 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 9 For he satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness. 10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron, 11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and held in contempt the advice of the most high, 12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labor, they fell down, and there was no one to help. 13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. 14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their bonds in pieces. 15 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 16 For he has broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in pieces. 17 Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their sins, are afflicted. 18 Their soul hates all kinds of food, and they draw near to the gates of death. 19 Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, and he saves them out of their distresses. 20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. 21 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. 23 Those who go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters, 24 These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. 25 For he commands, and raises the stormy wind, that lifts up its waves. 26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths, their soul is melted because of trouble. 27 They reel back and forth, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. 28 Then they call to the Lord in their trouble, and he brings them out of their distresses. 29 He makes the storm a calm, so that the waves of it are still. 30 Then are they glad because they are quiet, so he brings them to their desired haven. 31 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 32 Let them praise him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. 33 He turns rivers into a wilderness, and the water springs into dry ground, 34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of those who live in it. 35 He turns the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into water springs. 36 And he makes the hungry to live there, so that they can prepare a city for habitation, 37 And plant the fields, and plant vineyards, that will yield fruits of increase. 38 He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly, and doesn't allow their cattle to decrease. 39 Again, they are diminished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow. 40 He pours contempt on princes, and causes them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way. 41 Yet he sets the poor on high from affliction, and makes him families like a flock. 42 The righteous shall see it, and rejoice, and all sin shall stop its mouth. 43 Whoever is wise, and will observe these things, they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord. ___Psalm 108 1 O God, my heart is fixed, I will sing and give praise with my glory. 2 Awake, psaltery and harp, I myself will wake up early. 3 I will praise you, O Lord, among the people, and I will sing praises to you among the nations. 4 For your mercy is great above the heavens, and your truth reaches to the clouds. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and your glory above all the earth, 6 So that your beloved will receive deliverance, save with your right hand, and answer me. 7 God has spoken in his holiness, I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and measure out the valley of Succoth. 8 Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine, Ephraim also is the strength of my head, Judah is my lawgiver, 9 Moab is my wash pot, over Edom I'll empty my shoe, I'll triumph over Philistia. 10 Who will bring me into the strong city? Who will lead me into Edom? 11 Won't you, O God, who had thrown us away? And won't you, O God, go out with our armies? 12 Give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless. 13 Through God we shall do valiantly, for he it is that shall tread down our enemies. ___Psalm 109 1 Don't be silent, O God of my praise, 2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful have opened against me, they've spoken against me with a lying tongue. 3 They surrounded me also with words of hatred, and fought against me without a reason. 4 For my love they are my adversaries, but I give myself to prayer. 5 And they've rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love. 6 Set a wicked man over him, and let Satan stand at his right hand. 7 When he shall be judged, let him be condemned, and let his prayer become sin. 8 Let his days be few, and let another take his office. 9 Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. 10 Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg, let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places. 11 Let the extortionist catch all that he has, and let the strangers spoil his labor. 12 Let there be no one to extend mercy to him, nor let there be anyone to favor his fatherless children. 13 Let his descendants be cut off, and in the generation following, let their name be blotted out. 14 Let the sin of his fathers be remembered with the Lord, and don't let the sin of his mother be blotted out. 15 Let them be before the Lord continually, so that he'll cut off the memory of them from the earth. 16 Because he didn't remember to show mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, so that he could kill the broken hearted. 17 As he loved cursing, so let it come to him, as he didn't delight in blessing, so let it be far from him. 18 As he clothed himself with cursing like with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones. 19 Let it be to him like the garment that covers him, and for a girdle with which he is girded continually. 20 Let this be the reward of my adversaries from the Lord, and of those who speak evil against my soul. 21 But do for me, O God the Lord, for your name's sake, because your mercy is good, deliver me. 22 For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded inside me. 23 I am gone like the shadow when it declines, I'm tossed up and down like the locust. 24 My knees are weak through fasting, and my flesh has lost its fatness. 25 I became also a reproach to them, when they looked at me they shook their heads. 26 Help me, O Lord my God, O save me according to your mercy, 27 So that they'll know that this is your hand, that you, Lord, have done it. 28 Let them curse, but you bless, when they arise, let them be ashamed, but let your servant rejoice. 29 Let my adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, like with a mantle. 30 I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth, yes, I will praise him among the multitude. 31 For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul. ___Psalm 110 1 The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool." 2 The Lord shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion, rule among your enemies. 3 Your people shall be willing in the day of your power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning, you have the dew of your youth. 4 The Lord has sworn, and will not repent, "You're a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." 5 The Lord at your right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his anger. 6 He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies, he shall wound the heads over many countries. 7 He shall drink of the brook in the way, therefore shall he lift up the head. ___Psalm 111 1 Praise the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. 2 The works of the Lord are great, sought out by all of those who have pleasure in them. 3 His work is honorable and glorious, and his righteousness endures forever. 4 He has made his wonderful works to be remembered, the Lord is gracious and full of compassion. 5 He has given food to those who fear him, he will always be mindful of his covenant. 6 He has shown his people the power of his works, so that he can give them the heritage of the heathen. 7 The works of his hands are truth and judgment, all his commandments are sure. 8 They stand fast forever and always, and are done in truth and uprightness. 9 He sent redemption to his people, he has commanded his covenant forever, holy and reverend is his name. 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, a good understanding have all of those who do his commandments, his praise endures forever. ___Psalm 112 1 Praise the Lord. Blessed is the man that fears the Lord, that greatly delights in his commandments. 2 His descendants shall be mighty on earth, the generation of the upright shall be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. 4 To the upright, light arises in the darkness, he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. 5 A good man shows favor, and lends, he will guide his affairs with discretion. 6 Surely he shall not be moved forever, the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. 7 He shall not be afraid of bad news, his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. 8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he sees his desire on his enemies. 9 He has dispersed, he has given to the poor, his righteousness endures forever, his horn shall be exalted with honor. 10 The wicked shall see it, and be grieved, he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away, the desire of the wicked shall be destroyed. ___Psalm 113 1 Praise the Lord. Praise, O you servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. 2 Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forever. 3 From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised. 4 The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory is above the heavens. 5 Who is like the Lord our God, who dwells on high, 6 Who humbles himself to see the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! 7 He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the manure pile, 8 So that he can set him with princes, with the princes of his people. 9 He makes the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise you the Lord. ___Psalm 114 1 When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language, 2 Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion. 3 The sea saw it, and fled, Jordan was driven back. 4 The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs. 5 What ailed you, O sea, that you fled? You Jordan, that you were driven back? 6 You mountains, that you skipped like rams, and you little hills, like lambs? 7 Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, 8 Who turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters. ___Psalm 115 1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for your mercy, and for your truth's sake. 2 Why should the heathen say, where is now their God? 3 But our God is in the heavens, he has done whatever he pleased. 4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. 5 They have mouths, but they don't speak, they have eyes, but they don't see, 6 They have ears, but they don't hear, they have noses, but they don't smell, 7 They have hands, but they don't handle, they have feet, but they don't walk, nor do they speak through their throat. 8 Those who make them are like them, so is everyone that trusts in them. 9 O Israel, trust in the Lord, he is their help and their shield. 10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord, he is their help and their shield. 11 You that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord, he is their help and their shield. 12 The Lord has been mindful of us, he will bless us, he will bless the house of Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron. 13 He will bless those who fear the Lord, both small and great. 14 The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children. 15 You are blessed by the Lord who made heaven and earth. 16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's, but the earth he has given to the children of men. 17 The dead don't praise the Lord, nor any that go down into silence. 18 But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forever. Praise the Lord. ___Psalm 116 1 I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my supplications. 2 Because he has inclined his ear to me, therefore I'll call on him as long as I live. 3 The sorrows of death surrounded me, and the pains of hell took hold of me, I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then I called on the name of the Lord, O Lord, I beg of you, deliver my soul. 5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous, yes, our God is merciful. 6 The Lord preserves the simple, I was brought low, and he helped me. 7 Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt abundantly with you. 8 For you've delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. 9 I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. 10 I believed, therefore I've spoken, I was greatly afflicted, 11 I said in my haste, "All men are liars." 12 What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits toward me? 13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord. 14 I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all his people. 15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. 16 O Lord, truly I am your servant, I am your servant, and the son of your handmaid, you have undone my handcuffs. 17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call on the name of the Lord. 18 I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all his people, 19 In the courts of the Lord's house, in you, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord. ___Psalm 117 1 O praise the Lord, all you nations, praise him, all you people. 2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord. ___Psalm 118 1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, because his mercy endures forever. 2 Let Israel now say, that his mercy endures forever. 3 Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endures forever. 4 Let those now who fear the Lord say, that his mercy endures forever. 5 I called on the Lord in distress, the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place. 6 The Lord is on my side, I will not fear, what can man do to me? 7 The Lord takes my part with those who help me, therefore I'll see my desire on those who hate me. 8 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. 9 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. 10 All nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I'll destroy them. 11 They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I'll destroy them. 12 They surrounded me like bees, they are quenched like the fire of thorns, for in the name of the Lord I'll destroy them. 13 You've thrust severely at me so that I'd fall, but the Lord helped me. 14 The Lord is my strength and song, and has become my salvation. 15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous, the right hand of the Lord does valiantly. 16 The right hand of the Lord is exalted, the right hand of the Lord does valiantly. 17 I won't die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. 18 The Lord has punished me severely, but he hasn't given me over to death. 19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord, 20 This gate of the Lord, into which the righteous shall enter. 21 I will praise you, for you've heard me, and have become my salvation. 22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 23 This is the Lord's doing, it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Please save now, O Lord. O Lord, please send prosperity now. 26 Blessed be him that comes in the name of the Lord, we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord. 27 God is the Lord, who has shown us light, bind the sacrifice with cords, to the horns of the altar. 28 You are my God, and I'll praise you, you are my God, I will worship you. 29 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. ___Psalm 119 1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. 2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. 3 They also don't sin, they walk in his ways. 4 You've commanded us to keep your precepts diligently. 5 O that my ways were directed to keep your statutes! 6 Then I won't be ashamed, when I have respect to all your commandments. 7 I'll praise you with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned your righteous judgments. 8 I'll keep your statutes, O don't completely forsake me. 9 How shall a young man cleanse his way? By giving heed to your word. 10 I've sought you with my whole heart, O don't let me wander from your commandments. 11 I've hidden your word in my heart so that I won't sin against you. 12 Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your statutes. 13 I've declared with my lips all the judgments of your mouth. 14 I've rejoiced in the way of your testimonies, as much as in all riches. 15 I'll meditate in your precepts, and have respect to your ways. 16 I'll delight myself in your statutes, I won't forget your word. 17 Deal abundantly with your servant, so I can live, and keep your word. 18 Open my eyes so that I'll see wondrous things out of your law. 19 I'm a stranger in the earth, don't hide your commandments from me. 20 My soul breaks for the longing that it has to your judgments at all times. 21 You've reprimanded the proud that are cursed, who err from your commandments. 22 Remove reproach and contempt from me, for I've kept your testimonies. 23 Princes also sat and spoke against me, but your servant meditated in your statutes. 24 Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors. 25 My soul sticks to the dust, make me alive according to your word. 26 I've declared my ways, and you heard me, teach me your statutes. 27 Make me to understand the way of your precepts, so I shall talk of your wondrous works. 28 My soul melts for heaviness, strengthen me according to your word. 29 Remove the way of lying from me, and grant me your law graciously. 30 I've chosen the way of truth, I've laid your judgments before me. 31 I've stuck to your testimonies, O Lord, don't put me to shame. 32 I will run the way of your commandments, when you enlarge my heart. 33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, and I'll keep it to the end. 34 Give me understanding, and I'll keep your law, yes, I'll observe it with my whole heart. 35 Make me to go in the path of your commandments, for in it I delight. 36 Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to covetousness. 37 Turn my eyes away from seeing vanity, and make me alive in your way. 38 Establish your word to your servant, who is devoted to your fear. 39 Turn away my reproach that I fear, for your judgments are good. 40 See, I've longed after your precepts, make alive me in your righteousness. 41 Let your mercies come also to me, O Lord, your salvation, according to your word. 42 So I shall have what to answer to him that reproaches me, for I trust in your word. 43 And don't take the word of truth completely out of my mouth, for I've hoped in your judgments. 44 So I shall keep your law continually forever and always. 45 And I'll walk at liberty, for I seek your precepts. 46 I will speak of your testimonies also before kings, and won't be ashamed. 47 And I'll delight myself in your commandments that I've loved. 48 I will also lift up my hands to your commandments that I have loved, and I will meditate in your statutes. 49 Remember the word to your servant, on which you have caused me to hope. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction, for your word has made me alive. 51 The proud have had me greatly in derision, yet I haven't declined from your law. 52 I remembered your judgments of old, O Lord, and have comforted myself. 53 Horror has taken hold on me because of the wicked that forsake your law. 54 Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. 55 I've remembered your name, O Lord, in the night, and have kept your law. 56 This I had, because I kept your precepts. 57 You are my portion, O Lord, I've said that I would keep your words. 58 I prayed for your favor with my whole heart, be merciful to me according to your word. 59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet to your testimonies. 60 I made haste, and didn't delay to keep your commandments. 61 The gangs of the wicked have robbed me, but I haven't forgotten your law. 62 At midnight I'll rise to give thanks to you because of your righteous judgments. 63 I'm a companion of all of those who fear you, and of those who keep your precepts. 64 The earth, O Lord, is full of your mercy, teach me your statutes. 65 You've dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word. 66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I've believed your commandments. 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I've kept your word. 68 You are good, and do good, teach me your statutes. 69 The proud have forged a lie against me, but I'll keep your precepts with my whole heart. 70 Their heart is as fat as grease, but I delight in your law. 71 It is good for me that I've been afflicted, so that I would learn your statutes. 72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver. 73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me, give me understanding, so I will learn your commandments. 74 Those who fear you will be glad when they see me, because I've hoped in your word. 75 I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right, and that you in faithfulness have afflicted me. 76 Please let your merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to your word to your servant. 77 Let your tender mercies come to me, so I'll live, for your law is my delight. 78 Let the proud be ashamed, for they dealt perversely with me without a reason, but I will meditate in your precepts. 79 Let those that fear you turn to me, and those that have known your testimonies. 80 Let my heart be sound in your statutes, so I'm not ashamed. 81 My soul faints for your salvation, but I hope in your word. 82 My eyes fail for your word, saying, when will you comfort me? 83 For I've become like a bottle in the smoke, yet I don't forget your statutes. 84 How many are the days of your servant? When will you execute judgment on those who persecute me? 85 The proud have dug pits for me, which are not according to your law. 86 All your commandments are faithful, they persecute me wrongfully, help me. 87 They almost consumed me on earth, but I didn't forsake your precepts. 88 Make me alive according to your loving kindness, so I'll keep the testimony of your mouth. 89 Forever, O Lord, your word is settled in heaven. 90 Your faithfulness is to all generations, you've established the earth, and it remains. 91 They continue this day according to your ordinances, for all are your servants. 92 Unless your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction. 93 I'll never forget your precepts, for with them you've made me alive. 94 I am yours, save me, for I've sought your precepts. 95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me, but I will consider your testimonies. 96 I've seen an end of all perfection, but your commandment is very broad. 97 O how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 You, through your commandments, have made me wiser than my enemies, for they are always with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep your precepts. 101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, so that I would keep your word. 102 I haven't departed from your judgments, for you've taught me. 103 How sweet are your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through your precepts I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way. 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path. 106 I've sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep your righteous judgments. 107 I am afflicted very much, make alive me, O Lord, according to your word. 108 Please accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me your judgments. 109 My soul is continually in my hand, yet I don't forget your law. 110 The wicked have laid a trap for me, yet I didn't err from your precepts. 111 I've taken your testimonies as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart. 112 I have inclined my heart to perform your statutes always, even to the end. 113 I hate vain thoughts, but I love your law. 114 You are my hiding place and my shield, I hope in your word. 115 Depart from me, you evildoers, for I will keep the commandments of my God. 116 Uphold me according to your word, so I'll live, and don't let me be ashamed of my hope. 117 Hold me up, and I shall be safe, and I'll have respect to your statutes continually. 118 You've walked on all those who err from your statutes, for their deceit is falsehood. 119 You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross, therefore I love your testimonies. 120 My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I'm afraid of your judgments. 121 I've done judgment and justice, don't leave me to my oppressors. 122 Be surety for your servant for good, don't let the proud oppress me. 123 My eyes fail for your salvation, and for the word of your righteousness. 124 Deal with your servant according to your mercy, and teach me your statutes. 125 I am your servant, give me understanding, so I will know your testimonies. 126 It is time for you, Lord, to work, for they've made void your law. 127 Therefore I love your commandments more than gold, yes, more than fine gold. 128 Therefore I view all your precepts concerning all things to be right, and I hate every false way. 129 Your testimonies are wonderful, therefore my soul keeps them. 130 The entrance of your word gives light, it gives understanding to the simple. 131 I opened my mouth, and panted, for I longed for your commandments. 132 Look at me, and be merciful to me, as you used to do to those that love your name. 133 Order my steps in your word, and don't let any sin have dominion over me. 134 Deliver me from the oppression of man, so I will keep your precepts. 135 Make your face shine on your servant, and teach me your statutes. 136 Rivers of waters run down my eyes, because they don't keep your law. 137 Righteous are you, O Lord, and upright are your judgments. 138 Your testimonies that you have commanded are righteous and very faithful. 139 My zeal has consumed me, because my enemies have forgotten your words. 140 Your word is very pure, therefore your servant loves it. 141 I am small and despised, yet I don't forget your precepts. 142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your law is the truth. 143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me, yet your commandments are my delight. 144 The righteousness of your testimonies is everlasting, give me understanding, and I'll live. 145 I called with my whole heart, hear me, O Lord, I'll keep your statutes. 146 I called to you, save me, and I'll keep your testimonies. 147 I got up before the dawning of the morning, and called, I hoped in your word. 148 My eyes go before the night watches, so I can meditate on your word. 149 Hear my voice according to your loving kindness, O Lord, make me alive according to your judgment. 150 They draw near who follow after mischief, they are far from your law. 151 You are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are truth. 152 Concerning your testimonies, I have known of old that you have founded them forever. 153 Consider my affliction, and deliver me, for I do not forget your law. 154 Plead my cause, and deliver me, make me alive according to your word. 155 Salvation is far from the wicked, for they don't seek your statutes. 156 Great are your tender mercies, O Lord, make me alive according to your judgments. 157 My persecutors and my enemies are many, yet I don't decline from your testimonies. 158 I saw the transgressors, and was grieved, because they didn't keep your word. 159 Consider how I love your precepts, make alive me, O Lord, according to your loving kindness. 160 Your word is true from the beginning, and every one of your righteous judgments endures forever. 161 Princes have persecuted me without a reason, but my heart stands in awe of your word. 162 I rejoice at your word, like someone who finds great treasure. 163 I hate and abhor lying, but I love your law. 164 I praise you seven times a day because of your righteous judgments. 165 Those who love your law have great peace, and nothing shall offend them. 166 Lord, I've hoped for your salvation, and done your commandments. 167 My soul has kept your testimonies, and I love them very much. 168 I have kept your precepts and your testimonies, for all my ways are before you. 169 Let my cry come near before you, O Lord, give me understanding according to your word. 170 Let my prayer come before you, deliver me according to your word. 171 My lips shall speak praise, when you've taught me your statutes. 172 My tongue shall speak of your word, for all your commandments are righteousness. 173 Let your hand help me, for I've chosen your precepts. 174 I've longed for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight. 175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise you, and let your judgments help me. 176 I've gone astray like a lost sheep, seek your servant, for I don't forget your commandments. ___Psalm 120 1 In my distress, I cried to the Lord, and he heard me. 2 Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. 3 What shall be given to you? Or what shall be done to you, you false tongue? 4 Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper. 5 Woe is me, that I visit in Mesech, that I live in the tents of Kedar! 6 My soul has lived for a long time with him that hates peace. 7 I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war. ___Psalm 121 1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills, where my help comes from. 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not allow your foot to be moved, he that keeps you will not sleep. 4 See, he that keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is your keeper, the Lord is your shade on your right hand. 6 The sun won't strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil, he shall preserve your soul. 8 The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time onward, and even forever. ___Psalm 122 1 I was glad when they said to me, "Let's go into the house of the Lord." 2 Our feet shall stand inside your gates, O Jerusalem. 3 Jerusalem is built like a city that is compact together, 4 Where the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, to the testimony of Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. 5 For thrones of judgment are set there, the thrones of the house of David. 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper that love you. 7 Peace be inside your walls, and prosperity inside your palaces. 8 For my brothers and companions' sakes, I will now say, "Peace be inside you." 9 Because of the house of the Lord our God I'll seek your good. ___Psalm 123 1 I lift up my eyes to you, O you that lives in the heavens. 2 See, like the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, and like the eyes of a maiden to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes wait on the Lord our God, until he has mercy on us. 3 Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for we are very much filled with contempt. 4 Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud. ___Psalm 124 1 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, Israel can now say, 2 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us, 3 Then they would have swallowed us up quickly, when their anger was kindled against us, 4 Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul, 5 Then the proud waters would have gone over our soul. 6 Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth. 7 Our soul has escaped like a bird out of the trap of the bird catchers, the trap has been broken, and we are escaped. 8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. ___Psalm 125 1 Those who trust in the Lord shall be like Mount Zion, that can't be removed, but remains forever. 2 As the mountains are around Jerusalem, so the Lord is around his people from now on, forever. 3 For the rod of the wicked shall not rest on the lot of the righteous, so that the righteous don't put out their hands to sin. 4 Do good, O Lord, to those that are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts. 5 As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them out with the sinners, but peace shall be on Israel. ___Psalm 126 1 When the Lord undid the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing, then they said among the heathen, "The Lord has done great things for them." 3 The Lord has done great things for us, for which we are glad. 4 Undo our captivity, O Lord, like the streams in the south. 5 Those who plant in tears shall harvest in joy. 6 He that goes out crying, carrying precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. ___Psalm 127 1 Unless the Lord builds the house, they're wasting their time who build it, unless the Lord keeps the city, the staying awake of the watchman does no good. 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows, for so he gives his beloved sleep. 3 See, children are a heritage of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4 Like arrows are in the hand of a mighty man, so are children of the youth. 5 Happy is the man that has his quiver full of them, they won't be ashamed, but they'll speak with the enemies in the gate. ___Psalm 128 1 Blessed is everyone that fears the Lord, that walks in his ways. 2 For you'll eat the labor of your hands, happy shall you be, and it shall be well with you. 3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine by the sides of your house, your children like olive plants around your table. 4 See, thus shall the man be blessed that fears the Lord. 5 The Lord shall bless you out of Zion, and you'll see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life. 6 Yes, you'll see your children's children, and peace on Israel. ___Psalm 129 1 They've afflicted me many times from my youth, Israel can now say, 2 They've afflicted me many times from my youth, yet they haven't prevailed against me. 3 The plowers plowed on my back, they made long their furrows. 4 The Lord is righteous, he has cut in pieces the cords of the wicked. 5 Let them all be confused and turned back that hate Zion. 6 Let them be like the grass on the housetops, that withers before it grows up, 7 With which the mower doesn't fill his hand, nor he that ties sheaves his bosom. 8 Nor do those who go by say, "The blessing of the Lord be on you, we bless you in the name of the Lord." ___Psalm 130 1 Out of the depths I've cried to you, O Lord. 2 Lord, hear my voice, let your ears be attentive to the voice of my prayers. 3 If you, Lord, would point out sins, O Lord, who shall stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with you, so that you'll be feared. 5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word do I hope. 6 My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, I say, more than those who watch for the morning. 7 Let Israel hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. 8 And he shall redeem Israel from all his sins. ___Psalm 131 1 Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes lofty, nor do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. 2 Surely I've behaved and quieted myself, like a child that is weaned from his mother, my soul is like a weaned child. 3 Let Israel hope in the Lord from now on and forever. ___Psalm 132 1 A song of degrees. Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions, 2 How he swore to the Lord, and vowed to the mighty God of Jacob, 3 Surely I won't come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed, 4 I won't give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids, 5 Until I find a place for the Lord, a habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. 6 See, we heard of it at Ephratah, we found it in the fields of the woods. 7 We will go into his tabernacles, we will worship at his footstool. 8 Arise, O Lord, into your rest, you, and the ark of your strength. 9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your saints shout for joy. 10 For your servant David's sake don't turn away the face of your anointed. 11 The Lord has sworn in truth to David, he will not turn from it, of the fruit of your body, I'll set on your throne. 12 If your children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit on your throne forever. 13 For the Lord has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his habitation. 14 This is my rest forever, here I will live, for I have desired it. 15 I will abundantly bless her provision, I will satisfy her poor with bread. 16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall shout out loud for joy. 17 I will make the horn of David to bud there, I have ordained a lamp for my anointed. 18 I will clothe his enemies with shame, but on himself, his crown shall flourish. ___Psalm 133 1 See, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity! 2 It is like the precious ointment on the head, that ran down on the beard, Aaron's beard, that went down to the skirts of his garments, 3 Like the dew of Hermon, and like the dew that went down on the mountains of Zion, for the Lord commanded the blessing there, life forever. ___Psalm 134 1 See, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who at night stand in the house of the Lord. 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. 3 The Lord that made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion. ___Psalm 135 1 Praise the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord, praise him, O you servants of the Lord. 2 You that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God, 3 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good, sing praises to his name, for it is pleasant. 4 For the Lord has chosen Jacob to himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure. 5 For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. 6 The Lord did whatever he pleased in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. 7 He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth, he makes lightnings for the rain, he brings the wind out of his treasuries. 8 Who struck the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and animal. 9 Who sent tokens and wonders among you, O Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his servants. 10 Who struck great nations, and killed mighty kings, 11 Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan, 12 And gave their land for a heritage, a heritage to Israel his people. 13 Your name, O Lord, endures forever, and your memorial, O Lord, throughout all generations. 14 For the Lord will judge his people, and he will change his mind concerning his servants. 15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. 16 They have mouths, but they don't speak, they have eyes, but they don't see, 17 They have ears, but they don't hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. 18 Those who make them are like them, so is everyone that trusts in them. 19 Bless the Lord, O house of Israel, bless the Lord, O house of Aaron, 20 Bless the Lord, O house of Levi, you that fear the Lord, bless the Lord. 21 Blessed be the Lord out of Zion, who lives at Jerusalem. Praise the Lord. ___Psalm 136 1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. 2 O give thanks to the God of gods, for his mercy endures forever. 3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his mercy endures forever. 4 To him who alone does great wonders, for his mercy endures forever. 5 To him that by wisdom made the heavens, for his mercy endures forever. 6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters, for his mercy endures forever. 7 To him that made great lights, for his mercy endures forever, 8 The sun to rule by day, for his mercy endures forever, 9 The moon and stars to rule by night, for his mercy endures forever. 10 To him that struck Egypt in their firstborn, for his mercy endures forever, 11 And brought out Israel from among them, for his mercy endures forever, 12 With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, for his mercy endures forever. 13 To him who divided the red sea into parts, for his mercy endures forever, 14 And made Israel to pass through the middle of it, for his mercy endures forever, 15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the red sea, for his mercy endures forever. 16 To him who led his people through the wilderness, for his mercy endures forever. 17 To him who struck great kings, for his mercy endures forever, 18 And killed famous kings, for his mercy endures forever, 19 Sihon king of the Amorites, for his mercy endures forever, 20 And Og the king of Bashan, for his mercy endures forever, 21 And gave their land for a heritage, for his mercy endures forever, 22 A heritage to Israel his servant, for his mercy endures forever. 23 Who remembered us in our low estate, for his mercy endures forever, 24 And has redeemed us from our enemies, for his mercy endures forever. 25 Who gives food to all flesh, for his mercy endures forever. 26 O give thanks to the God of heaven, for his mercy endures forever. ___Psalm 137 1 By the rivers of Babylon, we sat down there, yes, we cried, when we remembered Zion. 2 We hung our harps on the willows in the middle of it. 3 For those who carried us away captive required of us a song there, and those who wasted us required of us mirth, saying, sing us one of the songs of Zion. 4 How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land? 5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. 6 If I don't remember you, let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I don't prefer Jerusalem more than my top joy. 7 Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem, who said, "Raze it, raze it, to the foundation of it." 8 O daughter of Babylon, who is to be destroyed, happy shall he be, that rewards you like you have served us. 9 Happy shall he be, that takes and smashes your little ones against the stones. ___Psalm 138 1 I will praise you with my whole heart, before the gods I will sing praise to you. 2 I will worship toward your holy temple, and praise your name, for your loving kindness and for your truth, for you've magnified your word above all your name. 3 In the day when I called, you answered me, and strengthened me with strength in my soul. 4 All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord, when they hear the words of your mouth. 5 Yes, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord. 6 Though the Lord is high, yet he has respect to the lowly, but the proud he knows far off. 7 Though I walk in the middle of trouble, you'll revive me, you'll stretch out your hand against the anger of my enemies, and your right hand shall save me. 8 The Lord will perfect that which concerns me, your mercy, O Lord, endures forever, don't forsake the works of your own hands. ___Psalm 139 1 O Lord, you've searched me, and known me. 2 You know my sitting down and my getting up, you understand my thoughts from afar. 3 You surround my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word in my vocabulary, but see, O Lord, you know it completely. 5 You have beset me behind and before, and laid your hand on me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, it is high, I can't attain to it. 7 Where shall I go from your spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, you're there, if I make my bed in hell, see, you're there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and live in the farthest parts of the ocean, 10 Even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me," even the night shall be light around me. 12 Yes, the darkness doesn't hide from you, but the night shines like the day, the darkness and the light are both alike to you. 13 For you've possessed my reins, you have covered me in my mother's womb. 14 I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are marvelous, and my soul knows that very well. 15 My substance was not hidden from you, when I was made in secret, and curiously made in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my substance, yet being imperfect, and in your book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there were none of them. 17 How precious also are your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! 18 If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand, when I awake, I'm still with you. 19 Surely you will kill the wicked, O God, depart from me therefore, you bloody men. 20 For they speak against you wickedly, and your enemies take your name in vain. 21 Don't I hate them, O Lord, that hate you? And am I not grieved with those that rise up against you? 22 I hate them with perfect hatred, I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts, 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. ___Psalm 140 1 Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man, preserve me from the violent man, 2 Who imagine mischiefs in their heart, continually they're gathered together for war. 3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent, adders' poison is under their lips. (Pause.) 4 Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked, preserve me from the violent man, who have purposed to overthrow my goings. 5 The proud have hidden a trap for me, and cords, they've spread a net by the wayside, they've set traps for me. (Pause.) 6 I said to the Lord, "You are my God," hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord. 7 O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you've covered my head in the day of battle. 8 Don't grant the desires of the wicked, O Lord, don't further his wicked device, so that they don't exalt themselves. (Pause.) 9 As for the head of those that surround me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them. 10 Let burning coals fall on them, let them be thrown into the fire, into deep pits, so that they don't rise up again. 11 Don't let an evil speaker be established in the earth, evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him. 12 I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor. 13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name, the upright shall live in your presence. ___Psalm 141 1 Lord, I call to you, make haste to me, give ear to my voice, when I call to you. 2 Let my prayer be set before you like incense, and the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice. 3 Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, keep the door of my lips. 4 Don't incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that sin, and don't let me eat of their dainties. 5 Let the righteous strike me, it shall be a kindness, and let him reprimand me, it shall be an excellent oil, that won't break my head, for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities. 6 When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words, for they are sweet. 7 Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, like when someone cuts and splits wood on the earth. 8 But my eyes are to you, O God the Lord, my trust is in you, don't leave my soul destitute. 9 Keep me from the traps that they've laid for me, and the traps of the sinners. 10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I am escaping. ___Psalm 142 1 I cried to the Lord with my voice, I made my prayer to the Lord with my voice. 2 I poured out my complaint before him, I showed my trouble before him. 3 When my spirit was overwhelmed inside me, then you knew my path. In the way in which I walked they've secretly laid a trap for me. 4 I looked on my right hand, and saw, but there was no man that would know me, refuge failed me, no man cared for my soul. 5 I cried to you, O Lord, I said, "You are my refuge and my portion in the land of the living." 6 Give attention to my cry, for I am brought very low, give me deliverance from my persecutors, for they're stronger than I am. 7 Bring my soul out of prison, so that I will praise your name, the righteous shall surround me, for you'll deal abundantly with me. ___Psalm 143 1 Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications, in your faithfulness answer me, and in your righteousness. 2 And don't enter into judgment with your servant, for in your sight shall no man living be justified. 3 For the enemy has persecuted my soul, he has struck my life down to the ground, he has made me to live in darkness, like those who've been dead for a long time. 4 Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed inside me, my heart inside me is desolate. 5 I remember the days of old, I meditate on all your works, I muse on the work of your hands. 6 I stretch out my hands to you, my soul thirsts for you, like a thirsty land. (Pause.) 7 Hear me speedily, O Lord, my spirit fails, don't hide your face from me, so that I'm not like those who go down into the pit. 8 Cause me to hear your loving kindness in the morning, for I trust in you, cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to you. 9 Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies, I flee to you to hide me. 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God, your spirit is good, lead me into the land of uprightness. 11 Make me alive, O Lord, for your name's sake, for your righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble. 12 And in your mercy cut off my enemies, and destroy all of those who afflict my soul, for I am your servant. ___Psalm 144 1 Blessed be the Lord my strength, who teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to fight, 2 My goodness, and my fortress, my high tower, and my deliverer, my shield, and he in whom I trust, who subdues my people under me. 3 Lord, what is man, that you take knowledge of him! Or the son of man, that you make account of him! 4 Man is like vanity, his days are like a shadow that passes away. 5 Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down, touch the mountains, and they'll smoke. 6 Throw out lightning, and scatter them, shoot out your arrows, and destroy them. 7 Send your hand from above, rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children, 8 Whose mouth speaks vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood. 9 I will sing a new song to you, O God, on a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings I will sing praises to you. 10 It is he that gives salvation to kings, who delivers David his servant from the hurtful sword. 11 Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouths speak vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood, 12 So that our sons will be like plants grown up in their youth, so that our daughters will be like corner stones, polished after the likeness of a palace, 13 So that our garners will be full, affording all kinds of stored goods, so that our sheep will produce thousands and ten thousands in our streets, 14 So that our oxen will be strong to labor, so that there's no breaking in, nor going out, so there's no complaining in our streets. 15 Happy are the people, that are in such a case, yes, happy are those people, whose God is the Lord. ___Psalm 145 1 I will praise you, my God, O king, and I will bless your name forever and always. 2 Every day I'll bless you, and I'll praise your name forever and always. 3 The Lord is great, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. 4 One generation shall praise your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. 5 I'll speak of the glorious honor of your majesty, and of your wondrous works. 6 And men shall speak of the might of your terrible acts, and I'll declare your greatness. 7 They shall abundantly tell the memory of your great goodness, and shall sing about your righteousness. 8 The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion, slow to anger, and of great mercy. 9 The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works. 10 All your works shall praise you, O Lord, and your saints shall bless you. 11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and talk of your power, 12 To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. 14 The Lord supports all who fall, and raises up all those who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all wait on you, and you give them their food in due season. 16 You open your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing. 17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. 18 The Lord is near to all those who call on him, to all that call on him in truth. 19 He'll fulfill the desire of those who fear him, he'll also hear their cry, and will save them. 20 The Lord preserves all those who love him, but all the wicked, he'll destroy. 21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and always. ___Psalm 146 1 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul. 2 While I live I will praise the Lord, I will sing praises to my God while I have any being. 3 Don't put your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there's no help. 4 His breath goes out, he returns to his earth, in that very day his thoughts die. 5 Happy is he that has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God, 6 Who made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that's in it, who keeps truth forever, 7 Who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free, 8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind, the Lord raises those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous, 9 The Lord preserves the strangers, he relieves the fatherless and widow, but the way of the wicked he turns upside down. 10 The Lord shall rule forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord. ___Psalm 147 1 Praise the Lord, for it is good to sing praises to our God, for it is pleasant, and praise is attractive. 2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem, he gathers together the outcasts of Israel. 3 He heals the broken in heart, and bandages their wounds. 4 He tells the number of the stars, he calls them all by their names. 5 Great is our Lord, and of great power, his understanding is infinite. 6 The Lord lifts up the meek, he throws the wicked down to the ground. 7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving, sing praise on the harp to our God, 8 Who covers the heaven with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass to grow on the mountains. 9 He gives to the animals their food, and to the young ravens that cry. 10 He doesn't delight in the strength of the horse, he doesn't take pleasure in the legs of a man. 11 The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his mercy. 12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem, praise your God, O Zion. 13 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates, he has blessed your children inside you. 14 He makes peace in your borders, and fills you with the finest of the wheat. 15 He sends out his commandment on earth, his word runs very swiftly. 16 He gives snow like wool, he scatters the hoarfrost like ashes. 17 He throws out his ice like morsels, who can stand before his cold? 18 He sends out his word, and melts them, he causes his wind to blow, and the waters flow. 19 He shows his word to Jacob, his statutes and his judgments to Israel. 20 He has not dealt so with any nation, and as for his judgments, they haven't known them. Praise the Lord. ___Psalm 148 1 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights. 2 Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his hosts. 3 Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you stars of light. 4 Praise him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters that are above the heavens. 5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded, and they were created. 6 He has also established them forever and always, he has made a decree that won't be exceeded. 7 Praise the Lord from the earth, you dragons, and all deeps, 8 Fire, and hail, snow, and vapor, stormy wind fulfilling his word, 9 Mountains, and all hills, fruitful trees, and all cedars, 10 Beasts, and all cattle, creeping things, and flying fowl, 11 Kings of the earth, and all people, princes, and all judges of the earth, 12 Both young men, and maidens, old men, and children, 13 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is excellent, his glory is above the earth and heaven. 14 He also exalts the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints, of the children of Israel, a people near to him. Praise the Lord. ___Psalm 149 1 Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. 2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him, let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. 3 Let them praise his name in the dance, let them sing praises to him with the tamborine and harp. 4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people, he will beautify the meek with salvation. 5 Let the saints be joyful in glory, let them sing out loud on their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two edged sword in their hand, 7 To execute vengeance on the heathen, and punishments on the people, 8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron, 9 To execute on them the judgment written, all his saints have this honor. Praise the Lord. ___Psalm 150 1 Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary, praise him in the firmament of his power. 2 Praise him for his mighty acts, praise him according to his excellent greatness. 3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet, praise him with the psaltery and harp. 4 Praise him with the tamborine and dance, praise him with stringed instruments and organs. 5 Praise him on the loud cymbals, praise him on the high sounding cymbals. 6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. ___Proverbs chapter 1 1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel, 2 To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity, 4 To give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. 5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning, and a man of understanding shall attain to wise counsels, 6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation, the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8 My son, listen to the instruction of your father, and don't forsake the law of your mother, 9 For they shall be an ornament of grace to your head, and chains around your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, don't say yes. 11 If they say, "Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk secretly for the innocent without a reason, 12 Let's swallow them up alive like the grave, and whole, like those that go down into the pit, 13 We'll find all precious substance, we'll fill our houses with spoil, 14 Throw in with us, let's all have one money pouch," 15 My son, don't walk in the way with them, refrain your foot from their path, 16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. 17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. 18 And they lay in ambush for their own blood, they lurk secretly for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone that is greedy of gain, who take away the lives of the owners of those possessions. 20 Wisdom shouts outside, she shouts her voice in the streets, 21 She shouts in the main place of concourse, in the openings of the gates, in the city she speaks her words, and says, 22 "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? And the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn when I reprove, see, I will pour out my spirit to you, I will make known my words to you. 24 Because I've called, and you refused, I've stretched out my hand, and no man paid attention, 25 But you've viewed all my advice as nothing, and didn't want any of my reproof, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity, I will make fun of it when your fear comes, 27 When your fear comes like desolation, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come on you. 28 Then they'll call on me, but I won't answer, they'll seek me early, but they won't find me, 29 Because they hated knowledge, and didn't choose the fear of the Lord, 30 They didn't want any of my advice, they despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore they'll eat of the fruit of their own ways, and be filled with their own devices. 32 For the turning away of the simple shall kill them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 33 But whoever listens to me shall live safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil." ___Proverbs chapter 2 1 My son, if you'll receive my words, and hide my commandments with you, 2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding, 3 Yes, if you call after knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding, 4 If you seek her like for silver, and search for her like for hidden treasures, 5 Then you'll understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom, out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. 7 He lays up sound wisdom for the righteous, he is a buckler to those who walk uprightly. 8 He keeps the paths of justice, and preserves the way of his saints. 9 Then you'll understand righteousness, and justice, and equity, yes every good path. 10 When wisdom enters into your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, 11 Discretion shall preserve you, understanding shall keep you, 12 To give you deliverance from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaks perverse things, 13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness, 14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the perverseness of the wicked, 15 Whose ways are crooked, and perverse in their paths, 16 To deliver you from the strange woman, from the stranger who flatters with her words, 17 Who forsakes the guide of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God. 18 For her house inclines to death, and her paths to the dead. 19 No one that goes to her escapes, nor do they take hold of the paths of life. 20 So that you'll walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright shall live in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. 22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be uprooted from it. ___Proverbs chapter 3 1 My son, don't forget my law, but let your heart keep my commandments, 2 For they shall add length of days to you, and long life, and peace. 3 Don't let mercy and truth forsake you, tie them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, 4 That's how you'll find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and don't lean to your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he'll direct your paths. 7 Don't be wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord, and go away from evil. 8 It shall be health to your navel, and marrow to your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your substance, and with the first fruits of all your increase, 10 Then your barns shall be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst out with new wine. 11 My son, don't despise the punishment of the Lord, and don't be weary of his correction, 12 For whom the Lord loves, he corrects, like a father corrects the son in whom he delights. 13 Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets understanding. 14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain of it than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you can desire are not to be compared to her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honor. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold on her, and happy is everyone that retains her. 19 By wisdom, the Lord has founded the earth, by understanding he has established the heavens. 20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. 21 My son, don't let them depart from your eyes, keep sound wisdom and discretion, 22 So they'll be life to your soul, and grace to your neck. 23 Then you'll walk in your way safely, and your foot won't stumble. 24 When you lie down, you won't be afraid, yes, you'll lie down, and your sleep shall be sweet. 25 Don't be afraid of sudden fear, nor of the desolation of the wicked when it comes. 26 For the Lord shall be your confidence, and shall keep your foot from being taken. 27 Don't withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it's in the power of your hand to do it. 28 Don't say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back later, and tomorrow I will give, when you already have it." 29 Don't devise evil against your neighbor, since he lives securely near you. 30 Don't strive with a man without a reason, if he's done you no harm. 31 Don't envy the oppressor, and don't choose any of his ways. 32 For the perverse person is a dirty thing to the Lord, but his secret is with the righteous. 33 The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling place of the just. 34 Surely he scorns the scorners, but he gives grace to the lowly. 35 The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the repayment for fools. ___Proverbs chapter 4 1 Hear the instruction of a father, you children, and pay attention to getting understanding. 2 For I give you good doctrine, don't forsake my law. 3 For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. 4 He taught me also, and said to me, "Let your heart retain my words, keep my commandments, and live. 5 Get wisdom, get understanding, don't forget it, and don't decline from the words of my mouth. 6 Don't forsake her, and she'll preserve you, love her, and she'll keep you. 7 Wisdom is the main thing, therefore get wisdom, and with all your getting get understanding. 8 Lift her up, and she'll promote you, she'll bring you to honor when you embrace her. 9 She'll put an ornament of grace on your head, she'll deliver to you a crown of glory. 10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life shall be many. 11 I've taught you in the way of wisdom, I've led you in right paths. 12 When you go, your steps won't be restricted, and when you run, you won't stumble. 13 Grab tight hold of instruction, don't let her go, keep her, for she is your life. 14 Don't enter into the path of the wicked, and don't go in the way of evil men. 15 Avoid it, don't go near it, turn from it, and go away. 16 For they don't sleep unless they've done mischief, and they're deprived of sleep unless they cause someone to fall. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. 18 But the path of the just is like the shining light, that shines more and more until the perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked is like darkness, they don't know what they're stumbling at. 20 My son, pay attention to my words, incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Don't let them depart from your eyes, keep them in your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. 23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. 24 Put a perverse mouth away from you, and put perverse lips far from you. 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, and let your eyelids look straight before you. 26 Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. 27 Don't turn to the right hand nor to the left, remove your foot from evil. ___Proverbs chapter 5 1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom, and submit your ear to my understanding, 2 So that you'll pay attention to discretion, and so that your lips will keep knowledge. 3 For the lips of a strange woman drip like a honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil, 4 But her end is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death, her steps take hold on hell. 6 So that you won't ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, so you can't know them. 7 Hear me now therefore, O you children, and don't depart from the words of my mouth. 8 Remove your way far from her, and don't go near the door of her house, 9 So that you don't give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel, 10 So that strangers aren't filled with your wealth, and your labors be in the house of a stranger, 11 And you mourn at the end, when your flesh and your body are consumed, 12 And say, "Look how I've hated instruction, and how my heart despised correction, 13 And haven't obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me! 14 I was almost in all evil among the congregation and assembly." 15 Drink waters out of your own cistern, and running waters out of your own well. 16 Let your fountains be dispersed around, and rivers of waters in the streets. 17 Let them be only your own, and not shared with strangers. 18 Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth. 19 Let her be like the loving deer and pleasant roe, let her breasts satisfy you at all times, and always be ravished with her love. 20 And why will you be ravished, my son, with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger? 21 For the ways of man are in front of the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his goings. 22 His own sins shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be tied with the cords of his sins. 23 He shall die without instruction, and in the greatness of his foolishness he'll go astray. ___Proverbs chapter 6 1 My son, if you're a loan co-signer for your friend, if you've shaken hands with a stranger, 2 You're trapped by the words of your mouth, you're ensnared by the words of your mouth. 3 Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself, when you've come into the hand of your friend, go, humble yourself, and make your friend sure. 4 Don't give sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids. 5 Deliver yourself like a roe from the hand of the hunter, and like a bird from the hand of the bird catcher. 6 Go to the ant, you sluggard, consider her ways, and be wise, 7 Who having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8 Provides her food in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. 9 How long will you sleep, O sluggard? When will you get up out of your sleep? 10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep, 11 So your poverty shall come like someone that travels, and your want like an armed man. 12 A naughty person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth. 13 He winks with his eyes, he speaks with his feet, he teaches with his fingers, 14 Perverseness is in his heart, he devises mischief all the time, he plants discord. 15 Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly, suddenly he shall be broken with no remedy. 16 The Lord hates these six things, yes, seven are a dirty thing to him, 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that are swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaks lies, and he that plants discord among brothers. 20 My son, keep your father's commandment, and don't forsake the law of your mother, 21 Tie them continually on your heart, and tie them around your neck. 22 When you go, it shall lead you, when you sleep, it shall keep you, and when you awaken, it shall talk with you. 23 For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light, and reprimands of instruction are the way of life, 24 To keep you from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. 25 Don't lust for her beauty in your heart, and don't let her take you with her eyelids. 26 For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread, and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. 27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? 28 Can someone go on hot coals, and his feet not get burned? 29 So he that goes in to his neighbor's wife, whoever touches her shall not be innocent. 30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steals to satisfy his soul when he is hungry, 31 But if he's found, he shall restore sevenfold, he shall give all the possessions in his house. 32 But whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding, he that does it destroys his own soul. 33 He shall get a wound and dishonor, and his reproach shall not be wiped away. 34 For jealousy is the rage of a man, therefore he won't give any slack in the day of vengeance. 35 He won't regard any ransom, nor will he rest content, though you give many gifts. ___Proverbs chapter 7 1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with you. 2 Keep my commandments and live, and my law like the apple of your eye. 3 Tie them on your fingers, write them on the table of your heart. 4 Say to wisdom, "You're my sister, and call understanding your kinswoman," 5 So that they'll keep you from the strange woman, from the stranger who flatters with her words. 6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, 7 And saw among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man without understanding, 8 Passing through the street near her corner, and he went the way to her house, 9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night, 10 And see, a woman dressed like a prostitute met him, and subtle of heart. 11 (She is loud and stubborn, her feet don't remain in her house, 12 Now she is outside, now in the streets, and lies in wait at every corner.) 13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with a naughty face said to him, 14 "I have peace offerings with me, I've paid my vows today. 15 Therefore I came out to meet you, to diligently seek your face, and I've found you. 16 I've decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen from Egypt. 17 I've perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning, let us solace ourselves with loves. 19 For the owner of the house is not at home, he has gone on a long journey, 20 He has taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed." 21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. 22 He goes after her immediately, like an ox goes to the slaughter, or like a fool to the correction of the stocks, 23 'Til a dart strikes through his liver, like a bird hurries to the trap, and doesn't know that it is for his life. 24 Listen to me now therefore, O you children, and pay attention to the words of my mouth. 25 Don't let your heart decline to her ways, don't go astray in her paths. 26 For she has thrown down many wounded, yes, many strong men have been killed by her. 27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the rooms of death. ___Proverbs chapter 8 1 Doesn't wisdom cry? And understanding cause her voice to be heard? 2 She stands at the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. 3 She shouts at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. 4 "To you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of man. 5 O you simple, understand wisdom, and you fools, be of an understanding heart. 6 Hear, for I will speak of excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things. 7 For my mouth shall speak truth, and wickedness is a dirty thing to my lips. 8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness, there is nothing froward or perverse in them. 9 They are all plain to him that has understanding, and right to those who find knowledge. 10 Receive my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold. 11 For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things that can be desired are not to be compared to it. 12 I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of clever inventions. 13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil, I hate pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the perverse mouth. 14 Advice is mine, and sound wisdom, I am understanding, I have strength. 15 Kings rule by me, and princes decree justice. 16 Princes rule by me, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. 17 I love those who love me, and those that seek me early shall find me. 18 Riches and honor are with me, yes, durable riches and righteousness. 19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver. 20 I lead in the way of righteousness, among the paths of justice, 21 So that I can cause those that love me to inherit substance, and I will fill their treasuries. 22 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth was. 24 When there were no depths, I was brought out, when there were no fountains abundant with water. 25 I was brought out before the mountains were settled, before the hills, 26 While he hadn't yet made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there, when he set a circle on the face of the depth, 28 When he established the clouds above, when he strengthened the fountains of the deep, 29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment, when he appointed the foundations of the earth, 30 Then I was by him, like someone brought up with him, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him, 31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and my delights were with the sons of men. 32 Now therefore listen to me, O you children, for blessed are those who keep my ways. 33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and don't refuse it. 34 Blessed is the man that hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 35 For whoever finds me finds life, and shall obtain favor from the Lord. 36 But he that sins against me wrongs his own soul, all who hate me love death." ___Proverbs chapter 9 1 Wisdom has built her house, she has carved out her seven pillars, 2 She has killed her beasts, she has mixed her wine, she has also furnished her table. 3 She has sent out her maidens, she shouts in the highest places of the city, 4 "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here, as for him that is lacking in understanding," she says to him, 5 "Come and eat of my bread, and drink of the wine that I've mixed. 6 Forsake the foolish, and live, and go in the way of understanding." 7 He that reproves a scorner gets shame for himself, and he that reprimands a wicked man gets himself a blot. 8 Don't reprove a scorner, so that he won't hate you, reprimand a wise man, and he'll love you. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser, teach a just man, and he'll increase in learning. 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 11 For by me, your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased. 12 If you're wise, you'll be wise not just for yourself, but if you're a scorner, you'll have to carry that alone. 13 A foolish woman is clamorous, she is simple and knows nothing. 14 For she sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, 15 To call travelers who continue right on their ways, 16 "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here, and as for him that lacks understanding," she says to him, 17 "Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant." 18 But he doesn't know that the dead are there, and that her guests are in the depths of hell. ___Proverbs chapter 10 1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. 2 There is no profit in treasures of wickedness, but righteousness yields deliverance from death. 3 The Lord won't allow the soul of the righteous to starve, but he throws away the goods of the wicked. 4 He that deals with a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes him rich. 5 He that gathers in summer is a wise son, but he that sleeps in harvest is a son that causes shame. 6 Blessings are on the head of the just, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. 7 The memory of the just is blessed, but the name of the wicked shall rot. 8 The wise in heart will receive commandments, but a prating fool shall fall. 9 He that walks uprightly walks surely, but he that perverts his ways shall be known. 10 He that winks with the eye causes sorrow, but a prating fool shall fall. 11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. 12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins. 13 Wisdom is found in the lips of him that has understanding, but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding. 14 Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. 15 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, the destruction of the poor is their poverty. 16 The labor of the righteous tends to life, the fruit of the wicked to sin. 17 He is in the way of life that keeps instruction, but he that refuses reproof errs. 18 He that hides hatred with lying lips, and he that speaks a slander, is a fool. 19 In the multitude of words there's no lack of sin, but he that restrains his lips is wise. 20 The tongue of the honest man is like choice silver, the heart of the wicked is worth little. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for want of wisdom. 22 The blessing of the Lord makes people rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. 23 It's fun for a fool to do mischief, but a man of understanding has wisdom. 24 The fear of the wicked shall come on him, but the desire of the righteous shall be granted. 25 As the whirlwind passes, so the wicked is no more, but the righteous is an everlasting foundation. 26 Like vinegar to the teeth, and like smoke to the eyes, that's how the sluggard is to those who send him. 27 The fear of the Lord gives long life, but the number of years of the wicked shall be decreased. 28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness, but the expectation of the wicked shall die. 29 The way of the Lord is strength to the upright, but destruction shall be to the workers of sin. 30 The righteous shall never be removed, but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth. 31 The mouth of the honest man speaks wisdom, but the perverse tongue shall be cut out. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perversity. ___Proverbs chapter 11 1 A false balance is dirty thing to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight. 2 Shame comes along, too, when pride comes, but with the lowly is wisdom. 3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. 4 Riches don't profit in the day of anger, but righteousness delivers from death. 5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way, but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. 6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. 7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation shall perish, and the hope of unjust men perishes. 8 The righteous gets deliverance out of trouble, and the wicked comes instead of him. 9 A hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, but the honest man shall be delivered through knowledge. 10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked die, there is shouting. 11 By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. 12 He that is void of wisdom despises his neighbor, but a man of understanding is silent. 13 A talebearer reveals secrets, but he that is of a faithful spirit conceals the matter. 14 Where no advice is, the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety. 15 He that is collateral for a stranger shall be hurt for it, and he that hates co-signing of loans is sure. 16 A gracious woman retains honor, and strong men retain riches. 17 The merciful man does good to his own soul, but he that is cruel troubles his own flesh. 18 The wicked works a deceitful work, but to him that plants righteousness there'll be a sure reward. 19 Like righteousness tends to life, so he that pursues evil pursues it to his own death. 20 Those who are of a perverse heart are dirty thing to the Lord, but those who are upright in their way are his delight. 21 Though hand joins with hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished, but the descendants of the righteous shall get deliverance. 22 Like a jewel of gold in a pigs snout, so is a fair woman who is without discretion. 23 The desire of the righteous is only good, but the expectation of the wicked is anger. 24 There are those who scatter and yet increase, and there are those who withhold more than what's right, but it tends to poverty. 25 The liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that waters shall also be watered himself. 26 He that withholds corn, the people shall curse him, but blessing shall be on the head of him that sells it. 27 He that diligently seeks good procures favor, but he that seeks mischief, it shall come to him. 28 He that trusts in his riches shall fall, but the righteous shall flourish like a branch. 29 He that troubles his own house shall inherit the wind, and the fool shall be servant to the wise hearted. 30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he that wins souls is wise. 31 See, the righteous shall be repaid in the earth, much more the wicked and the sinner. ___Proverbs chapter 12 1 If you love instruction, you love knowledge, but he that hates reprimand is crude and rude. 2 A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but he will condemn a man of wicked devices. 3 A man shall not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous shall not be moved. 4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband, but she that makes ashamed is like rottenness in his bones. 5 The thoughts of the righteous are right, but the advice of the wicked is deceit. 6 The words of the wicked are to lie in ambush for blood, but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them. 7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not, but the house of the righteous shall stand. 8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom, but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised. 9 He that is despised, and has a servant, is better than he that honors himself, and doesn't have enough bread. 10 A righteous man pays attention to the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. 11 He that tills his land shall be satisfied with bread, but he that follows vain people is void of understanding. 12 The wicked desires the net of evil men, but the root of the righteous yields fruit. 13 The wicked are trapped by the transgression of their lips, but the just shall come out of trouble. 14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, and the wages of a man's hands shall be rendered to him. 15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he that listens to advice is wise. 16 A fool's anger is presently known, but a prudent man conceals shame. 17 He that speaks truth shows forth righteousness, but a false witness deceit. 18 There is that speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise is health. 19 The lips of truth shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. 20 Deceit is in the heart of those who imagine evil, but joy shall be for the counselors of peace. 21 No evil shall happen to the just, but the wicked shall be filled with mischief. 22 Lying lips are a dirty thing to the Lord, but those who deal truly are his delight. 23 A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims foolishness. 24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule, but the slothful shall be under tribute. 25 Heaviness in the heart of man makes it stoop, but a good word makes it glad. 26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbor, but the way of the wicked seduces them. 27 The slothful man doesn't roast what he took in hunting, but the substance of a diligent man is precious. 28 In the way of righteousness is life, and in the pathway of it there is no death. ___Proverbs chapter 13 1 A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scorner won't listen to reprimand. 2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth, but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence. 3 He that keeps his mouth keeps his life, but he that opens wide his lips shall have destruction. 4 The soul of the sluggard desires and has nothing, but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. 5 A righteous man hates lying, but a wicked man is repulsive, and comes to shame. 6 Righteousness keeps him that is upright in the way, but wickedness overthrows the sinner. 7 There is that makes himself rich, yet has nothing, there is that makes himself poor, yet has great riches. 8 The ransom of a man's life are his riches, but the poor won't listen to reprimand. 9 The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out. 10 Contention comes only by pride, but with the well advised is wisdom. 11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished, but he that gathers by labor shall increase. 12 Deferred hope makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. 13 Whoever despises the word shall be destroyed, but he that fears the commandment shall be rewarded. 14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the traps of death. 15 Good understanding gives favor, but the way of transgressors is hard. 16 Every prudent man deals with knowledge, but a fool lays open his foolishness. 17 A wicked messenger falls into mischief, but a faithful ambassador is health. 18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuses instruction, but he that regards reprimand shall be honored. 19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, but it is a dirty thing to fools to depart from evil. 20 He that walks with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. 21 Evil pursues sinners, but to the righteous, good shall be repaid. 22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. 23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor, but there is that is destroyed for lack of judgment. 24 He that spares his rod hates his son, but he that loves him punishes him at times. 25 The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of the wicked shall be in want. ___Proverbs chapter 14 1 Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands. 2 He that walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, but he that is perverse in his ways despises him. 3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride, but the lips of the wise shall preserve them. 4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean, but much increase is by the strength of the ox. 5 A faithful witness won't lie, but a false witness will tell lies. 6 A scorner seeks wisdom and doesn't find it, but knowledge is easy to him that has understanding. 7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when you perceive that the lips of knowledge aren't in him. 8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, but the foolishness of fools is deceit. 9 Fools mock at sin, but among the righteous there is favor. 10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and a stranger doesn't intermeddle with its joy. 11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown, but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish. 12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of it are the ways of death. 13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of that mirth is heaviness. 14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways, and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. 15 The simple believes every word, but the prudent man looks well to his goings. 16 A wise man fears, and departs from evil, but the fool rages, and is confident. 17 He that is soon angry deals foolishly, and a man of wicked devices is hated. 18 The simple inherit foolishness, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. 19 The evil bow before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous. 20 The poor are hated even by their own neighbors, but the rich have many friends. 21 He that despises his neighbor sins, but he that has mercy on the poor is happy. 22 Do they not err that devise evil? But mercy and truth shall be to those who devise good. 23 In all labor there is profit, but the talk of the lips tends only to poverty. 24 The crown of the wise is their riches, but the silliness of fools is foolishness. 25 A true witness delivers souls, but a deceitful witness speaks lies. 26 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge. 27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the traps of death. 28 In the multitude of people is the king's honor, but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince. 29 He that is slow to anger is of great understanding, but he that is hasty of spirit exalts foolishness. 30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh, but envy is the rottenness of the bones. 31 He that oppresses the poor reproaches his maker, but he that honors Him has mercy on the poor. 32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness, but the righteous has hope in his death. 33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him that has understanding, but what is among fools is made known. 34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any nation. 35 The king's favor is toward a wise servant, but his anger is against him that causes shame. ___Proverbs chapter 15 1 A soft answer turns away anger, but grievous words stir up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge right, but the mouth of fools pours out foolishness. 3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, seeing the evil and the good. 4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it is a wound in the spirit. 5 A fool despises his father's instruction, but he that pays attention to reprimand is prudent. 6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble. 7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, but the heart of the foolish doesn't. 8 The sacrifice of the wicked is a dirty thing to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is his delight. 9 The way of the wicked is a dirty thing to the Lord, but he loves him that pursues righteousness. 10 Correction is grievous to him that forsakes the way, and he that hates reprimand shall die. 11 Hell and destruction are before the Lord, how much more then the hearts of the children of men? 12 A scorner doesn't love someone that reprimands him, nor will he go to the wise. 13 A merry heart makes a cheerful facial expression, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. 14 The heart of him that has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness. 15 All the days of the afflicted are evil, but he that is of a merry heart has a continual feast. 16 Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it. 17 Better is a dinner of vegetables where love is, than an ox fattened in the stall and hatred with it. 18 A angry man stirs up strife, but he that is slow to anger appeases strife. 19 The way of the slothful man is like a hedge of thorns, but the way of the righteous is made plain. 20 A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother. 21 Foolishness is joy to him that has no wisdom, but a man of understanding walks uprightly. 22 Without advice, purposes are disappointed, but in the multitude of counselors they are established. 23 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is! 24 The way of life is above to the wise, so he'll depart from hell beneath. 25 The Lord will destroy the house of the proud, but he'll establish the border of the widow. 26 The thoughts of the wicked are a dirty thing to the Lord, but the words of the pure are pleasant words. 27 He that is greedy of gain troubles his own house, but he that hates gifts shall live. 28 The heart of the righteous studies to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. 29 The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. 30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and a good report makes the bones fat. 31 The ear that hears the reproof of life lives among the wise. 32 He that refuses instruction despises his own soul, but he that hears reprimand gets understanding. 33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and humility goes before honor. ___Proverbs chapter 16 1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, are from the Lord. 2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits. 3 Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts shall be established. 4 The Lord has made all things for himself, yes, even the wicked for the day of evil. 5 Everyone that is proud in heart is a dirty thing to the Lord, though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. 6 By mercy and truth, sin is purged, and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil. 7 When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. 8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right. 9 A man's heart devises his way, but the Lord directs his steps. 10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king, his mouth doesn't transgress in judgment. 11 A just weight and balance are the Lord's, all the weights of the bag are his work. 12 It is a dirty thing to kings to commit wickedness, for the throne is established by righteousness. 13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings, and they love him that speaks right. 14 Provoking the anger of a king is suicidal, but a wise man will pacify it. 15 In the light of the king's facial expression is life, and his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain. 16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver! 17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil, he that keeps his way preserves his soul. 18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. 19 It is better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. 20 He that handles a matter wisely shall find good, and whoever trusts in the Lord is happy. 21 The wise of heart shall be called prudent, and the sweetness of the lips increases learning. 22 Understanding is a wellspring of life to him that has it, but the instruction of fools is foolishness. 23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth and adds learning to his lips. 24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. 25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of it are the ways of death. 26 He that labors, does so for himself, for his mouth craves it from him. 27 An ungodly man digs up evil, and in his lips there is like a burning fire. 28 A perverse man plants strife, and a whisperer separates main friends. 29 A violent man entices his neighbor, and leads him into the way that is not good. 30 He shuts his eyes to devise perverse things, moving his lips he makes evil happen. 31 The gray head is a crown of glory, if it's found in the way of righteousness. 32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city. 33 The straws can be drawn, but the whole disposing of it is from the Lord. ___Proverbs chapter 17 1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness with it, than a house full of sacrifices with strife. 2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causes shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brothers. 3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the hearts. 4 Those who do wickedly pay attention to false lips, and a liar gives ear to a naughty tongue. 5 Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his maker, and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. 6 Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children are their fathers. 7 Excellent speech is not appropriate for a fool, much less lying lips for prince. 8 A gift is like a precious stone in the eyes of him that has it, wherever it turns, it prospers. 9 He that covers a transgression seeks love, but he that repeats a matter separates very friends. 10 A reproof enters more into a wise man than a hundred stripes of the whip into a fool. 11 An evil man seeks only rebellion, therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. 12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his foolishness. 13 Whoever repays evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. 14 The beginning of strife is like when someone opens the water valve, therefore leave off with contention and don't mess with it. 15 He that justifies the wicked, and he that condemns the just, both of them are a dirty thing to the Lord. 16 Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, since he has no heart for it? 17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. 18 A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes surety in the presence of his friend. 19 He loves transgression that loves strife, and he that makes his gate high seeks destruction. 20 He that has a perverse heart finds no good, and he that has a perverse tongue falls into mischief. 21 He that fathers a fool does it to his sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy. 22 A merry heart does good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones. 23 A wicked man takes a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of justice. 24 Wisdom is before him that has understanding, but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. 25 A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her that bore him. 26 Also, to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity. 27 He that has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. 28 Even a fool, when he remains silent, is counted wise, and he that shuts his lips is esteemed to be a man of understanding. ___Proverbs chapter 18 1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeks and mixes with all wisdom. 2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but that his heart can get what it wants. 3 When the wicked comes, then contempt also comes, and with dishonor, reprimand. 4 The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom like a flowing brook. 5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment. 6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for strokes. 7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. 8 The words of a talebearer are like wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. 9 He also that is slothful in his work is a brother to him that is a great waster. 10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous runs into it, and is safe. 11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his own conceit. 12 Before destruction the heart of man is proud, and humility goes before honor. 13 He that answers a matter before he hears it, it is foolishness and shame to him. 14 The spirit of a man will carry his illness, but who can carry a wounded spirit? 15 The heart of the prudent gets knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. 16 A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men. 17 He that is first in his own cause seems just, but his neighbor comes and searches him. 18 Drawing straws causes contentions to stop, and divides between the mighty. 19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, and their contentions are like the bars of a castle. 20 A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth, and he shall be filled with the increase of his lips. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it shall eat the fruit of it. 22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord. 23 The poor uses persuasion, but the rich answers roughly. 24 A man that has friends must show himself to be friendly, and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. ___Proverbs chapter 19 1 Better is the poor that walks in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool. 2 Also, if the soul is without knowledge, it is not good, and he that hurries with his feet is sinning. 3 The foolishness of man perverts his way, and his heart frets against the Lord. 4 Wealth makes many friends, but the poor is separated from his neighbor. 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaks lies shall not escape. 6 Many will seek the favor of the prince, and every man is a friend to him that gives gifts. 7 All the brothers of the poor hate him, how much more do his friends go far from him? He pursues them with words, yet they go away from him. 8 He that gets wisdom loves his own soul, he that keeps understanding shall find good. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaks lies shall be destroyed. 10 Delight is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man defers his anger, and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. 12 The king's anger is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father, and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping. 14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers, and a prudent wife is from the Lord. 15 Slothfulness throws into a deep sleep, and an idle soul shall endure hunger. 16 He that keeps the commandment keeps his own soul, but he that despises his ways shall die. 17 He that has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay what he has given. 18 Punish your son while there is hope, and don't let your soul spare for his crying. 19 A man of great anger shall suffer punishment, for if you deliver him, yet you must do it again. 20 Listen to advice, and receive instruction, so you'll be wise at the end. 21 There are many devices in a man's heart, but the teachings of the Lord shall stand. 22 The desire of a man is his kindness, and a poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of the Lord tends to life, and he that has it shall live satisfied, he won't be visited with evil. 24 A slothful man hides his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Strike a scorner, and the simple will beware, and reprimand someone who has understanding, and he will understand knowledge. 26 He that wastes his father, and chases away his mother, is a son that causes shame, and brings dishonor. 27 Stop, my son, from hearing the instruction that causes you to err from the words of knowledge. 28 An ungodly witness scorns judgment, and the mouth of the wicked devours sin. 29 Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the backs of fools. ___Proverbs chapter 20 1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whoever is deceived by it is not wise. 2 The fear of a king is like the roaring of a lion, whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own soul. 3 It is an honor for a man to stop from fighting, but every fool will be meddling. 4 The lazy person will not plow because of the cold, therefore he'll beg in harvest, and have nothing. 5 Advice in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. 6 Most men will tell you how good they are, but who can find a faithful man? 7 The just man walks in his integrity, his children are blessed after him. 8 A king that sits in the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes. 9 Who can say, I've made my heart clean, I'm pure from my sin? 10 Fraudulent weights, and fraudulent measures, are both dirty things to the Lord. 11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether what he does is pure, and whether it's right. 12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord has made both of them. 13 Don't love sleep so you don't become poor, open your eyes, and you'll be satisfied with bread. 14 "It is nothing, it is nothing," says the buyer, but when he has gone his way, then he boasts. 15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. 16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a security deposit from him for a strange woman. 17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth shall be filled with gravel. 18 Every purpose is established by advice, and with good advice make war. 19 He that goes around as a talebearer reveals secrets, therefore don't meddle with him that flatters with his lips. 20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. 21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning, but the end of it won't be blessed. 22 Don't say, "I'll repay evil," but wait on the Lord, and he'll save you. 23 Fraudulent weights are a dirty thing to the Lord, and a fraudulent weighing scale is not good. 24 Man's goings are of the Lord, how can a man then understand his own way? 25 It is a snare to the man who devours what is holy, and after vows to make inquiry. 26 A wise king scatters the wicked, and brings the wheel over them. 27 The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly. 28 Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is upheld by mercy. 29 The glory of young men is their strength, and the beauty of old men is the gray head. 30 The blueness of a wound cleanses away evil, so stokes of the whip cleanse the inward parts of the belly. ___Proverbs chapter 21 1 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water, he turns it wherever he wants. 2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord ponders the hearts. 3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. 4 A high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. 5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness, but of everyone that is hasty only to being in want. 6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed back and forth by those who seek death. 7 The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them, because they refuse to do justice. 8 The way of man is perverse and strange, but as for the pure, his work is right. 9 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house. 10 The soul of the wicked desires evil, his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes. 11 When the scorner is punished, the simple are made wise, and when the wise are instructed, they receive knowledge. 12 The righteous man wisely considers the house of the wicked, but God overthrows the wicked for their wickedness. 13 Whoever plugs his ears at the cry of the poor, he shall also cry himself, but shall not be heard. 14 A gift in secret pacifies anger, and a reward in the bosom pacifies strong anger. 15 It is joy to the just to do justice, but destruction shall be to the workers of sin. 16 The man that wanders out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead. 17 He that loves pleasure shall be a poor man, he that loves wine and oil shall not be rich. 18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright. 19 It is better to live in the woods, than with a contentious and an angry woman. 20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man spends it up. 21 He that pursues righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honor. 22 A wise man climbs the city of the mighty, and throws down the strength of the confidence of it. 23 Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles. 24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who deals in proud anger. 25 The desire of the slothful kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. 26 He covets greedily all the day long, but the righteous gives and doesn't hold back. 27 The sacrifice of the wicked is a dirty thing, how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind? 28 A false witness shall perish, but the man that hears speaks faithfully. 29 A wicked man hardens his face, but as for the upright, he directs his way. 30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor advice against the Lord. 31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but safety is from the Lord. ___Proverbs chapter 22 1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold. 2 The rich and poor meet together, the Lord is the maker of them all. 3 A prudent man foresees the evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on, and are punished. 4 By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor, and life. 5 Thorns and traps are in the way of the perverse person, he that keeps his soul shall be far from them. 6 Train up a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old, he won't depart from it. 7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. 8 He that plants sin shall harvest vanity, and the rod of his anger shall fail. 9 He that has an abundant eye shall be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor. 10 Throw out the scorner, and contention shall go out, yes, strife and reproach shall stop. 11 He that loves pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend. 12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, and he overthrows the words of the transgressor. 13 The slothful man says, there is a lion outside, I shall be killed in the streets. 14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit, he that is hated by the Lord shall fall into it. 15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. 16 He that oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he that gives to the rich, shall surely become needy. 17 Bow down your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge. 18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them inside you, by that means they'll be fitted to your lips. 19 So that your trust will be in the Lord, I have made known to you this day, even to you. 20 Haven't I written to you excellent things in advice and knowledge, 21 So that I would make you know the certainty of the words of truth, so that you would answer the words of truth to those who send to you? 22 Don't rob the poor because he is poor, and don't oppress the afflicted in the gate, 23 For the Lord will plead their cause, and will spoil the soul of those that spoiled them. 24 Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man you shall not go, 25 So you don't learn his ways and entrap your soul. 26 Don't be one of those who strike hands, or of those who are sureties for debts. 27 If you have nothing to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you? 28 Don't remove the ancient landmark that your fathers have set. 29 Do you see a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings, he shall not stand before men of low degree. ___Proverbs chapter 23 1 When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you, 2 And if you're a man given to appetite, put a knife to your throat. 3 Don't be desirous of his dainties, for they are deceitful food. 4 Don't labor to be rich, stop from your own wisdom. 5 Will you set your eyes on what doesn't exist? For riches certainly make themselves wings, they fly away like an eagle toward heaven. 6 Don't eat the bread of him that has an evil eye, nor desire his dainty foods, 7 For he is like he thinks in his heart, "Eat and drink," he says to you, but his heart is not with you. 8 You'll vomit out the morsel that you've eaten, and lose your sweet words. 9 Don't speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. 10 Don't remove the old landmark, and don't enter into the fields of the fatherless, 11 For their redeemer is mighty, he shall plead their case against you. 12 Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge. 13 Don't withhold correction from the child, for if you beat him with the rod, he won't die. 14 You shall beat him with the rod, and shall deliver his soul from hell. 15 My son, if your heart is wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. 16 Yes, my reins shall rejoice, when your lips speak right things. 17 Don't let your heart envy sinners, but be in the fear of the Lord all day long. 18 For surely there is an end, and your expectation won't be destroyed. 19 Hear, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart in the way. 20 Don't be among drunkards, among riotous eaters of flesh, 21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty, and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. 22 Listen to your father who begot you, and don't despise your mother when she is old. 23 Buy the truth, and don't sell it, also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. 24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice, and he that fathers a wise child shall have joy from him. 25 Your father and your mother shall be glad, and she that bore you shall rejoice. 26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways. 27 For a whore is a deep ditch, and a strange woman is a narrow pit. 28 She also lies in wait like for a prey, and increases the transgressors among men. 29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has babbling? Who has unnecessary wounds? Who has redness of eyes? 30 Those who spend a lot of time at the wine, those who go to seek mixed wine. 31 Don't look at the wine when it is red, when it gives its color in the cup, when it moves itself aright. 32 At the end, it bites like a serpent, and stings like a snake. 33 Your eyes shall see strange women, and your heart shall speak perverse things. 34 Yes, you'll be like someone that lies down in the middle of the ocean, or like he that lies down at the top of a mast. 35 "They've struck me," you'll say, "and I wasn't sick, they've beaten me, and I didn't feel it, when will I wake up? I'll seek it yet again." ___Proverbs chapter 24 1 Don't be envious against evil men, and don't desire to be with them. 2 For their hearts study destruction, and their lips talk about mischief. 3 A house is built by wisdom, and it is established by understanding, 4 And the rooms shall be filled with all precious and pleasant riches by knowledge. 5 A wise man is strong, yes, a man of knowledge increases strength. 6 For you shall fight your war with wise advice, and in a multitude of counselors there is safety. 7 Wisdom is too high for a fool, he doesn't open his mouth in the gate. 8 He that devises to do evil shall be called a mischievous person. 9 The thought of foolishness is sin, and the scorner is a dirty thing to men. 10 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. 11 If you won't provide deliverance to those who are drawn to death, and those that are ready to be killed, 12 If you say, "See, we didn't know it," doesn't he that ponders the heart consider it? And he that keeps your soul, doesn't he know it? And won't he give to every man according to his works? 13 My son, eat honey, because it's good, and the honeycomb, that is sweet to your taste, 14 The knowledge of wisdom shall be like that to your soul, when you've found it, then there'll be a reward, and your expectation won't be destroyed. 15 Don't lay wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous, don't spoil his resting place, 16 For a just man falls seven times, and rises up again, but the wicked shall fall into mischief. 17 Don't rejoice when your enemy falls, and don't let your heart be glad when he stumbles, 18 So that the Lord doesn't see it, and it doesn't displease him, and he turns away his anger from him. 19 Don't fret because of evil men, and don't envy the wicked, 20 For there's no reward to the evil man, the candle of the wicked shall be extinguished. 21 My son, fear the Lord and the king, and don't meddle with those who are given to change, 22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly, and who knows the ruin of them both? 23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. 24 He that says "You are righteous" to the wicked, the people shall curse him, nations shall hate him, 25 But delight shall be for those who reprimand him, and a good blessing shall come on them. 26 Every man shall kiss the lips of him that gives a right answer. 27 Prepare your work outside, and make it fit for yourself in the field, and afterward build your house. 28 Don't be a witness against your neighbor without a good reason, and don't deceive with your lips. 29 Don't say, "I'll do to him like he has done to me, I'll repay the man according to what he has done." 30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man who had no understanding, 31 And see, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face of it, and the stone wall of it was broken down. 32 Then I saw, and considered it well, I looked at it, and received instruction. 33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep, 34 So shall your poverty come like someone who travels, and your want like an armed man. ___Proverbs chapter 25 1 These are also proverbs of Solomon that the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, copied out. 2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the honor of kings is to search out a matter. 3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable. 4 Take away the dross from the silver, and a container for the refiner shall be produced. 5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness. 6 Don't put yourself in the presence of the king, and don't stand in the place of great men, 7 For it's better to be told, "Come up here," than to be put lower in the presence of the prince whom your eyes have seen. 8 Don't go out in a hurry to argue, so it won't happen that at the end, you don't know what to do, when your neighbor has put you to shame. 9 Debate your cause with your neighbor himself, and don't reveal a secret to another, 10 So that he that hears it doesn't put you to shame, and your disgrace won't go away. 11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pitchers of silver. 12 Like an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover on an obedient ear. 13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him, for he refreshes the soul of his masters. 14 Whoever boasts himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain. 15 A prince is persuaded by long patience, and a soft tongue breaks the bone. 16 Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, so you're not filled with it, and vomit it. 17 Withdraw your foot from your neighbor's house, so he's not weary of you, and so hates you. 18 A man that bears false witness against his neighbor is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. 19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. 20 Like he that takes away a garment in cold weather, and like vinegar on niter, so is he that sings songs to a heavy heart. 21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he's thirsty, give him water to drink, 22 For you'll heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord shall reward you. 23 The north wind drives away rain, so does an angry facial expression a backbiting tongue. 24 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. 25 Like cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. 26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is like a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring. 27 It is not good to eat much honey, so for men to search their own glory is not glory. 28 He that has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. ___Proverbs chapter 26 1 Like snow in summer, and like rain in harvest, so honor is not appropriate for a fool. 2 Like the bird by wandering, like the swallow by flying, so the curse shall not come without a reason. 3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. 4 Don't answer a fool according to his foolishness, so that you're not also like him. 5 Answer a fool according to his foolishness, so that he's not wise in his own conceit. 6 He that sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet, and drinks damage. 7 The legs of the lame are not equal, so is a parable in the mouth of fools. 8 Like he that binds a stone in a sling, so is he that gives honor to a fool. 9 Like a thorn goes up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools. 10 The great God that formed all things both rewards the fool, and rewards transgressors. 11 Like a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his foolishness. 12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him. 13 The slothful man says, there is a lion on the road, a lion is in the streets. 14 Like the door turns on its hinges, so does the slothful on his bed. 15 The slothful hides his hand in his bosom, it grieves him to bring it again to his mouth. 16 The lazy person is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can give a reason. 17 He that passes by, and meddles with strife not belonging to him, is like someone who takes a dog by the ears. 18 Like an insane man who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, 19 So is the man that deceives his neighbor, and says, "Aren't I just kidding?" 20 The fire goes out where there's no wood, so where there's no talebearer, the trouble stops. 21 Like coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife. 22 The words of a talebearer are like wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. 23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a piece of broken pottery covered with silver dross. 24 He that hates, pretends with his lips, and stores up deceit inside himself, 25 When he speaks fair, don't believe him, for there are seven dirty things in his heart. 26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shown before the whole congregation. 27 Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it, and he that rolls a stone, it will return on him. 28 A lying tongue hates those that are afflicted by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin. ___Proverbs chapter 27 1 Don't boast about tomorrow, for you don't know what a day can bring forth. 2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth, a stranger, and not your own lips. 3 A stone is heavy, and the sand heavy, but a fool's anger is heavier than them both. 4 Anger is cruel, and anger is outrageous, but who is able to stand before envy? 5 Open reprimand is better than secret love. 6 The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. 7 The full soul hates a honeycomb, but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. 8 Like a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man that wanders from his place. 9 Ointment and perfume make the heart rejoice, so does the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty advice. 10 Don't forsake your own friend and your father's friend, and don't go into your brother's house in the day of your calamity, for better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far off. 11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, so that I can answer him that reproaches me. 12 A prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself, but the simple pass on, and are punished. 13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a security deposit from him for a strange woman. 14 He that blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him. 15 A continual dropping on a very rainy day and a feisty woman are alike. 16 Whoever hides her hides the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, that betrays itself. 17 Iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the facial expression of his friend. 18 Whoever keeps the fig tree shall eat the fruit of it, so he that waits on his master shall be honored. 19 Like in water face answers to face, so the heart of man to man. 20 Hell and destruction are never full, so the eyes of man are never satisfied. 21 Like the refining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold, so is a man to his praise. 22 Though you bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet his foolishness won't depart from him. 23 Be diligent to know the condition of your flocks, and look well to your herds. 24 For riches are not forever, and does the crown endure to every generation? 25 The hay appears, and the tender grass shows itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered. 26 The lambs are for your clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. 27 And you'll have goats' milk enough for your food, for the food of your household, and for the maintenance for your maidens. ___Proverbs chapter 28 1 The wicked flee when no man pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. 2 For the transgression of a land, many are the princes of it, but by a man of understanding and knowledge the condition of it shall be prolonged. 3 A poor man that oppresses the poor is like a sweeping rain that leaves no food. 4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law contend with them. 5 Evil men don't understand judgment, but those who seek the Lord understand all things. 6 Better is the poor that walks in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he's rich. 7 Whoever keeps the law is a wise son, but he that is a companion of riotous men shames his father. 8 He that by interest on loans and unjust gain increases his wealth, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor. 9 He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be a dirty thing. 10 Whoever causes the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he himself shall fall into his own pit, but the upright shall have good things in possession. 11 The rich man is wise in his own conceit, but the poor that has understanding searches him out. 12 When righteous men rejoice, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden. 13 He that covers his sins shall not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy. 14 Happy is the man that always fears, but he that hardens his heart shall fall into mischief. 15 Like a roaring lion, and a greedy bear, so is a wicked ruler over the poor people. 16 The prince that lacks understanding is also a great oppressor, but he that hates covetousness shall prolong his days. 17 A man that does violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit, let no man stop him. 18 Whoever walks uprightly shall be saved, but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once. 19 He that tills his land shall have plenty of bread, but he that follows after vain persons shall have poverty enough. 20 A faithful man shall have abundance of blessings, but he that's in a hurry to be rich shall not be innocent. 21 To have respect of persons is not good, because for a piece of bread that man will transgress. 22 He that hurries to be rich has an evil eye, and doesn't consider that poverty shall come upon him. 23 He that reprimands a man shall afterward find more favor than he that flatters with the tongue. 24 Whoever robs his father or his mother, and says, it is no transgression, the same is the companion of a destroyer. 25 He that is of a proud heart stirs up strife, but he that puts his trust in the Lord shall be made fat. 26 He that trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely, he shall have deliverance. 27 He that gives to the poor shall not lack, but he that hides his eyes shall have many a curse. 28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves, but when they die, the righteous increase. ___Proverbs chapter 29 1 He that being frequently reproved hardens his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and with no remedy. 2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, but when the wicked bear rule, the people mourn. 3 Whoever loves wisdom rejoices his father, but he that keeps company with prostitutes spends his substance. 4 By justice, the king establishes the land, but he that takes bribes overthrows it. 5 A man that flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet. 6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a trap, but the righteous sing and rejoice. 7 The righteous consider the cause of the poor, but the wicked don't consider it. 8 Scornful men bring a city into a trap, but wise men turn away anger. 9 If a wise man contends with a foolish man, whether he rages or laughs, there is no rest. 10 The bloodthirsty hate the upright, but the just seek his soul. 11 A fool speaks all his mind, but a wise man keeps it in 'til afterward. 12 If a ruler listens to lies, all his servants are wicked. 13 The poor and the deceitful man meet together, the Lord illuminates the eyes of both of them. 14 The throne of the king that faithfully judges the poor shall be established forever. 15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings his mother to shame. 16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases, but the righteous shall see their fall. 17 Correct your son, and he'll give you rest, yes, he'll give delight to your soul. 18 Where there is no vision the people perish, but he that keeps the law is happy. 19 A servant won't be corrected by words, for though he understands he won't answer. 20 Do you see a man that is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him. 21 He that delicately raises his servant from a child shall have him become his son by the end. 22 An angry man stirs up strife, and a furious man is abundant in transgression. 23 A man's pride shall bring him low, but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit. 24 Whoever is partner with a thief hates his own soul, he hears cursing, and doesn't betray it. 25 The fear of men brings a trap, but whoever puts his trust in the Lord shall be safe. 26 Many seek the ruler's favor, but every man's judgment comes from the Lord. 27 An unjust man is a dirty thing to the just, and he that is upright in the way is a dirty thing to the wicked. ___Proverbs chapter 30 1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the prophecy, the man spoke to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal, 2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, and don't have the understanding of a man. 3 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. 4 Who has ascended up into heaven, or gone down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if you can tell? 5 Every word of God is pure, he is a shield to those who put their trust in him. 6 Don't add to his words, so he doesn't reprove you, and you are found to be a liar. 7 I've required two things from you, don't deny them to me before I die, 8 Remove far from me vanity and lies, give me neither poverty nor riches, feed me with food convenient for me, 9 So that I'm not full, and deny you, and say, who is the Lord? Or so that I'm not poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. 10 Don't accuse a servant to his master, so that he doesn't curse you, and you are found to be guilty. 11 There is a generation that curses their father, and doesn't bless their mother. 12 There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, and yet is not washed from its filthiness. 13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up. 14 There is a generation, whose teeth are like swords, and their jaw teeth like knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men. 15 The horse leach has two daughters, crying, "Give, give." There are three things that are never satisfied, yes, four things don't say, "It is enough," 16 The grave, and the barren womb, the earth that is not filled with water, and the fire that doesn't say, "It is enough." 17 The eye that mocks at its father, and despises to obey its mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it. 18 There are three things that are too wonderful for me, yes, four that I don't know, 19 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 ocean, and the way of a man with a young woman. 20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman, she eats, and wipes her mouth, and says, "I've done no wickedness." 21 For three things, the earth is disquieted, and for four that it can't bear, 22 For a servant when he rules, and a fool when he is filled with food, 23 For an odious woman when she is married, and a handmaid that is heir to her mistress. 24 There are four things that are little on the earth, but they are very wise, 25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer, 26 The conies are just a feeble folk, yet they make their houses in the rocks, 27 The locusts have no king, yet all of them go out in swarms, 28 The spider takes hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces. 29 There are three things that go well, yes, four are attractive in going, 30 A lion that is strongest among beasts, and doesn't turn away from any, 31 A greyhound, a he goat also, and a king, against whom there is no rising up. 32 If you've done foolishly in lifting up yourself, or if you've thought evil, lay your hand on your mouth. 33 Surely the churning of milk produces butter, and the wringing of the nose brings forth blood, so the forcing of anger brings forth strife. ___Proverbs chapter 31 1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. 2 What, my son? And what, the son of my womb? And what, the son of my vows? 3 Don't give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings. 4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes strong drink, 5 So that they don't drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice of any of the afflicted. 6 Give strong drink to him that is ready to die, and wine to those who are of heavy hearts. 7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. 8 Open your mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. 10 Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. 11 The heart of her husband safely trusts in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. 13 She seeks wool, and flax, and works willingly with her hands. 14 She is like the merchants' ships, she brings her food from far. 15 She arises also while it is still night, and gives food to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 16 She considers a field, and buys it, with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. 17 She clothes her midsection with strength, and strengthens her arms. 18 She perceives that her merchandise is good, her candle doesn't go out at night. 19 She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20 She stretches out her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with red cloth. 22 She makes herself coverings of tapestry, her clothing is silk and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. 24 She makes fine linen, and sells it, and delivers girdles to the merchant. 25 Strength and honor are her clothing, and she'll be rejoicing in the future. 26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the law of kindness is in her tongue. 27 She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn't eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children get up and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praises her. 29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but you excel them all. 30 Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman that fears the Lord, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates. ___Ecclesiastes chapter 1 1 The words of the preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 Vanity of vanities, says the preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity. 3 What profit does a man have of all his labor that he takes under the sun? 4 One generation passes away, and another generation comes, but the earth remains forever. 5 The sun also arises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to his place where it came up. 6 The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north, it whirls around continually, and the wind returns again according to its circuits. 7 All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full, to the place from where the rivers come, there they return again. 8 All things are full of labor, man can't speak it, the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 9 The thing that has been is that which shall be, and that which has been done is what shall be done, and there is no new thing under the sun. 10 Is there anything about which it can be said, "See, this is new?" It has already been of old time, that was before us. 11 There is no remembrance of previous things, nor shall there be any remembrance of things that will come with those that shall come after them. 12 I the preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven, God has given this severe labor to the sons of man to be exercised by it. 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and see, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 15 That which is crooked can't be made straight, and that which is lacking can't be numbered. 16 I communed with my own heart, saying, see, I've come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all of those who've been before me in Jerusalem, yes, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. 17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know insanity and foolishness, I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. 18 For in much wisdom is much grief, and he that increases knowledge increases sorrow. ___Ecclesiastes chapter 2 1 I said in my heart, "Go on now, I will prove you with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure," and see, this is also vanity. 2 I said about laughter, "It's crazy, and of humor, what does it do?" 3 I sought in my heart to give myself to wine, yet acquainting my heart with wisdom, and to take hold of foolishness, until I could see what was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives. 4 I made myself great works, I built myself houses, I planted myself vineyards, 5 I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruits, 6 I made myself pools of water, to use them to water the woods that produce trees, 7 I got myself servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house, also I had great possessions of large and small cattle more than all that were in Jerusalem before me, 8 I gathered myself also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces, I got myself men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, like all sorts of musical instruments. 9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem, also my wisdom remained with me. 10 And whatever my eyes desired I didn't keep from them, I didn't withhold any joy from my heart, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor, and this was my portion of all my labor. 11 Then I looked at all the works that my hands had made, and on the labor that I had labored to do, and see, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun. 12 And I turned myself to see wisdom, and insanity, and foolishness, for what can the man do that comes after the king? That which has already been done. 13 Then I saw that wisdom excels foolishness, as far as light excels darkness. 14 The wise man's eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness, and I myself perceived also that one event happens to them all. 15 Then I said in my heart, "As it happens to the fool, so it happens even to me, and why am I then wiser?" Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity. 16 For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool forever, seeing that which is now, in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how does the wise man die? Like the fool. 17 Therefore I hated life, because the work that is made under the sun is grievous to me, for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 18 Yes, I hated all my labor that I had done under the sun, because I would leave it to the man that shall be after me. 19 And who knows whether he'll be a wise man or a fool? Yet he'll have rule over all my labor in which I've labored, and in which I've shown myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity. 20 Therefore I went to cause my heart to despair of all the labor that I did under the sun. 21 For there is a man whose labor is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity, yet to a man that has not labored in it, he'll leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. 22 For what does man have of all his labor, and of the vexation of his heart, in which he has labored under the sun? 23 For all his days are sorrows, and his labor grief, yes, his heart doesn't rest in the night. This is also vanity. 24 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat, or who else can hasten until now, more than I? 26 For God gives to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, so that he can give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit. ___Ecclesiastes chapter 3 1 To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven, 2 A time to be born, and a time to die, a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what has been planted, 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal, a time to break down, and a time to build up, 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance, 5 A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing, 6 A time to get, and a time to lose, a time to keep, and a time to throw away, 7 A time to tear, and a time to sew, a time to keep silence, and a time to speak, 8 A time to love, and a time to hate, a time of war, and a time of peace. 9 What profit does the worker have in that in which he labors? 10 I've seen the travail that God has given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time, also he has set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God makes from the beginning to the end. 12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. 13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God. 14 I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever, nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it, and God does it, so that men should fear before him. 15 That which has been is now, and that which is to be has already been, and God requires that which is past. 16 And also I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there, and the place of righteousness, that sin was there. 17 I said in my heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work. 18 I said in my heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are animals. 19 For that which happens to the sons of men happens to animals, one thing happens to them, like the one dies, so does the other, yes, they all have one breath, so that a man has no preeminence above an animal, for all is vanity. 20 All go to one place, all are of the dust, and all return to dust again. 21 Who knows the spirit of man that goes upward, and the spirit of the animal that goes downward to the earth? 22 So I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his portion, for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him? ___Ecclesiastes chapter 4 1 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and look at the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter, and on the side of their oppressors there was power, but they had no comforter. 2 So I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still alive. 3 Yes, better is he than both of them, who hasn't yet been, who hasn't seen the evil work that is done under the sun. 4 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit. 5 The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh. 6 Better is a handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit. 7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. 8 There is one alone, and there is not a second, yes, he has neither child nor brother, yet there's no end of all his labor, nor is his eye satisfied with riches, nor does he say, for whom do I labor, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yes, it is a severe travail. 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow, but woe to him that is alone when he falls, for he doesn't have someone to help him up. 11 Also, if two sleep in the same bed, then they have heat, but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevails against him, two shall withstand him, and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be reprimanded. 14 For out of prison he comes to rule, whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becomes poor. 15 I considered all the living that walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up instead of him. 16 There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them, they also that come afterward shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit. ___Ecclesiastes chapter 5 1 Keep your foot when you go to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they don't consider that they're doing evil. 2 Don't be rash with your mouth, and don't let your heart be hasty to speak anything before God, for God is in heaven, and you're on earth, therefore let your words be few. 3 For a dream comes through the multitude of business, and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words. 4 When you vow a vow to God, don't fail to pay it, for he has no pleasure in fools, pay what you've vowed. 5 Better is it that you shouldn't vow, than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Don't allow not your mouth to cause your flesh to sin, and don't say before the angel, that it was an error, why should God be angry at your voice, and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also various vanities, but fear God. 8 If you see the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, don't be amazed at the matter, for he that is higher than the highest regards, and there are higher than those. 9 Also, the profit of the earth is for all, the king himself is served by the field. 10 He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver, nor he that loves abundance with increase, this is also vanity. 11 When goods increase, they are increased who eat them, and what good is there to the owners of them, except the seeing of them with their eyes? 12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich won't allow him to sleep. 13 There is a severe evil that I've seen under the sun, specifically, riches kept for the owners of them to their hurt. 14 But those riches perish by evil travail, and he fathers a son, and there is nothing in his hand. 15 As he came out from his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labor, that he can carry away in his hand. 16 And this also is a severe evil, that in all points like he came, so shall he go, and what profit has he that has labored for the wind? 17 All his days, also, he eats in darkness, and he has much sorrow and anger with his sickness. 18 See that which I have seen, it is good and attractive for someone to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor that he takes under the sun all the days of his life, that God gives him, for it is his portion. 19 Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat of it, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor, this is the gift of God. 20 For he shall not much remember the days of his life, because God answers him in the joy of his heart. ___Ecclesiastes chapter 6 1 There is an evil that I've seen under the sun, and it is common among men, 2 A man to whom God has given riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God doesn't give him the ability to eat of it, but a stranger eats it, this is vanity, and it is an evil disease. 3 If a man fathers a hundred children, and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, and his soul isn't filled with good, and also that he has no burial, I say that an untimely birth is better than him. 4 For he comes in with vanity, and departs in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness. 5 Also he has not seen the sun, nor known anything, this has more rest than the other. 6 Yes, though he lives a thousand years twice told, yet has he seen no good, don't all go to one place? 7 All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. 8 For what does the wise have more than the fool? What does the poor have, that knows to walk before the living? 9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire, this is also vanity and vexation of spirit. 10 That which has been is named already, and it is known that it is man, nor may he contend with him that is mightier than he is. 11 Seeing there are many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? 12 For who knows what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life that he spends like a shadow? For who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun? ___Ecclesiastes chapter 7 1 A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one's birth. 2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to his heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for by the sadness of the facial expression the heart is made better. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of humor. 5 It is better to hear the reprimand of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. 6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool, this also is vanity. 7 Surely oppression makes a wise man crazy, and a bribe destroys the heart. 8 The end of a thing is better than the beginning of it, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 9 Don't be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools. 10 Don't say, "What is the reason that the former days were better than these?" For you're not inquiring wisely concerning this. 11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance, and by it there is profit to those who see the sun. 12 For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense, but the excellence of knowledge is, that wisdom gives life to those who have it. 13 Consider the work of God, for who straighten what he has made crooked? 14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider, God also has set the one opposite the other, so that man should find nothing after him. 15 I've seen all things in the days of my vanity, there is a just man that perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongs his life in his wickedness. 16 Be not righteous over much, and don't make yourself overly wise, why should you destroy yourself? 17 Don't be too much wicked, and don't be foolish, why should you die before your time? 18 It is good that you should take hold of this, yes, also from this don't withdraw your hand, for he that fears God shall come forth from them all. 19 Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men that are in the city. 20 For there is not a just man on earth, that does good, and doesn't sin. 21 Also don't pay attention to all words that are spoken, so you don't hear your servant curse you, 22 For often also your own heart knows that you yourself likewise have cursed others. 23 I've proven all this by wisdom, I said, "I'll be wise, but it was far from me." 24 That which is far off, and very deep, who can find it out? 25 I applied my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of foolishness, even of foolishness and insanity, 26 And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is traps and nets, and her hands as bands, whoever pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her. 27 See, I've found this, says the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account, 28 Which yet my soul seeks, but I don't find, I've found one man among a thousand, but a woman among all those I haven't found. 29 See, this only I've found, that God has made man upright, but they've sought out many inventions. ___Ecclesiastes chapter 8 1 Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed. 2 I advise you to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God. 3 Don't be hasty to go out of his sight, don't stand in an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him. 4 Where the word of a king is, there is power, and who can say to him, "What are you doing?" 5 Whoever keeps the commandment shall feel no evil thing, and a wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment. 6 Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great on him. 7 For he doesn't know that which shall be, for who can tell him when it shall be? 8 There is no man that has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, nor does he have power on the day of death, and there is no discharge in that war, nor shall wickedness deliver those who are given to it. 9 I've seen all this, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun, there is a time in which one man rules over another to his own hurt. 10 And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had done so, this is also vanity. 11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. 12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with those who fear God, who fear before him, 13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, nor shall he prolong his days, that are like a shadow, because he doesn't fear before God. 14 There is a vanity that is done on the earth, that there are just men, to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked, again, there are wicked men, to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous, I said that this is also vanity. 15 Then I commended mirth, because a man has no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry, for that shall abide with him of his labor the days of his life, that God gives him under the sun. 16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on the earth, (for also there is that neither day nor night sees sleep with his eyes,) 17 Then I saw all the work of God, that a man can't find out the work that is done under the sun, because though a man labors to seek it out, yet he won't find it, yes further, though a wise man thinks to know it, yet he won't be able to find it. ___Ecclesiastes chapter 9 1 For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God, no man knows either love or hatred by all that is before them. 2 All things come alike to all, there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked, to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean, to him that sacrifices, and to him that doesn't sacrifice, as is the good, so is the sinner, and he that swears, as he that fears an oath. 3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event to all, yes, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and insanity is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. 4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5 For the living know that they'll die, but the dead don't know anything, nor do they have anymore a reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished, nor do they have anymore a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun. 7 Go your way, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God now accepts your works. 8 Let your garments always be white, and let your head lack no ointment. 9 Live joyfully with the wife whom you loved all the days of the life of your vanity, that he has given you under the sun, all the days of your vanity, for that is your portion in this life, and in your labor that you take under the sun. 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, where you're going. 11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill, but time and chance happen to them all. 12 For man also doesn't know his time, like the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the trap, so are the sons of men trapped in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them. 13 I've also seen this wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me, 14 There was a little city, and few men inside it, and a great king came against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it, 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom gave deliverance to the city, yet no man remembered that same poor man. 16 Then I said, wisdom is better than strength, but the poor man's wisdom has been despised, and his words haven't been listened to. 17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that rules among fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good. ___Ecclesiastes chapter 10 1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the chemist to send out a stinking smell, so does a little foolishness him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor. 2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart is at his left. 3 Yes also, when he that is a fool walks by the way, his wisdom fails him, and he says to everyone that he's a fool. 4 If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don't leave your place, for yielding pacifies large offenses. 5 There's an evil that I've seen under the sun, as an error that proceeds from the ruler, 6 Foolishness is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. 7 I've seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth. 8 He that digs a pit shall fall into it, and whoever breaks a hedge, a snake shall bite him. 9 Whoever removes stones shall be hurt by it, and he that splits wood shall be endangered by that. 10 If the iron is blunt, and he doesn't sharpen the edge, then he must apply more strength, but wisdom is profitable to direct. 11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment, and a babbler is no better. 12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool will swallow himself up. 13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is mischievous insanity. 14 A fool also is full of words, a man can't tell what shall be, and what shall be after him, who can tell him? 15 The labor of the foolish wearies everyone of them, because he doesn't know how to go to the city. 16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning! 17 Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness! 18 By much slothfulness the building decays, and through idleness of the hands the house drops through. 19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry, but money answers all things. 20 Don't curse the king, no not in your thought, and don't curse the rich in your bedroom, for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which has wings shall tell the matter. ___Ecclesiastes chapter 11 1 Throw your bread on the waters, for you'll find it after many days. 2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight, for you don't know what evil shall be on the earth. 3 If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if the tree falls toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, that's where it shall be. 4 He that observes the wind shall not plant, and he that regards the clouds shall not harvest. 5 As you don't know what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child, even so you don't know the works of God who makes all. 6 In the morning plant your seed, and in the evening don't withhold your hand, for you don't know what shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they'll both turn out well. 7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to see the sun, 8 But if a man lives many years, and rejoices in them all, yet let him remember the days of darkness, for they'll be many. All that comes is vanity. 9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. 10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh, for childhood and youth are vanity. ___Ecclesiastes chapter 12 1 Remember now your creator in the days of your youth, while the evil days haven't come, nor the years come near when you'll say, "I have no pleasure in them," 2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, aren't darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain, 3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders stop because they are few, and those who look out of the windows are darkened, 4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low, 5 Also, when they'll be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail, because man goes to his long home, and the mourners go around the streets, 6 Before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7 Then the dust shall return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, says the preacher, all is vanity. 9 And also, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge, yes, he paid close attention, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. 10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. 11 The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, that are given from one shepherd. 12 And further, by these, my son, be instructed, of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter, fear God, and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it's good, or whether it's evil. ___Song_of_Solomon chapter 1 1 The song of songs, which is Solomon's. 2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for your love is better than wine. 3 Because of the odor of your good ointments your name is like ointment poured forth, that's why the virgins love you. 4 Draw me, we will run after you, the king has brought me into his rooms, we will be glad and rejoice in you, we will remember your love more than wine, the upright love you. 5 I am black, but attractive, O you daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. 6 Don't look at me, because I am black, because the sun has looked on me, my mother's children were angry with me, they made me the keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I haven't kept. 7 Tell me where you feed, O you whom my soul loves, where you make your flock to rest at noon, for why should I be like someone that turns aside by the flocks of your companions? 8 If you don't know, O you fairest among women, go your way out by the footsteps of the flock, and feed your young goats beside the shepherds' tents. 9 I have compared you, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots. 10 Your cheeks are attractive with rows of jewels, your neck with chains of gold. 11 We will make for you borders of gold with studs of silver. 12 While the king sits at his table, my spikenard sends forth its smell. 13 A bundle of myrrh is my well beloved to me, he shall lie all night between my breasts. 14 My beloved is to me like a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi. 15 See, you are fair, my love, see, you are fair, you have doves' eyes. 16 See, you are fair, my beloved, yes, pleasant, also our bed is green. 17 The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir. ___Song_of_Solomon chapter 2 1 I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. 2 Like the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. 3 Like the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. 4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. 5 Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples, for I am sick of love. 6 His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me. 7 I charge you, O you daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that you don't stir up, nor awake my love, until he pleases. 8 The voice of my beloved! See, he comes leaping on the mountains, skipping on the hills. 9 My beloved is like a roe or a young hart, see, he stands behind our wall, he looks out of the windows, showing himself through the lattice. 10 My beloved spoke, and said to me, rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. 11 For see, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, 12 The flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing of birds has come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land, 13 The fig tree puts forth its green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. 14 O my dove, who is in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for sweet is your voice, and your face is attractive. 15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes. 16 My beloved is mine, and I am his, he feeds among the lilies. 17 Until the day breaks, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be like a roe or a young hart on the mountains of Bether. ___Song_of_Solomon chapter 3 1 By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loves, I sought him, but I didn't find him. 2 I will rise now, and go around the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loves, I sought him, but I didn't find him. 3 The watchmen that go around the city found me, to whom I said, "Did you see him whom my soul loves?" 4 It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loves, I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the room of her that conceived me. 5 I charge you, O you daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that you don't stir up, nor awake my love, until he pleases. 6 Who is this that comes out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant? 7 See his bed, which is Solomon's, sixty valiant men are around it, of the valiant of Israel. 8 They all hold swords, being expert in war, every man has his sword on his thigh because of fear in the night. 9 King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon. 10 He made the pillars of it out of silver, the bottom of it of gold, the covering of it of purple, the middle of it being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem. 11 Go forth, O you daughters of Zion, and see king Solomon with the crown with which his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart. ___Song_of_Solomon chapter 4 1 See, you are fair, my love, see, you are fair, you have doves' eyes within your locks, your hair is like a flock of goats, that appear from Mount Gilead. 2 Your teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even sheared, that came up from the washing, of which everyone bears twins, and none is barren among them. 3 Your lips are like a thread of red cloth, and your speech is attractive, your temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within your locks. 4 Your neck is like the tower of David built for an armory, on which there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men. 5 Your two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, that feed among the lilies. 6 Until the day breaks, and the shadows flee away, I will get myself to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense. 7 You are all fair, my love, there is no spot in you. 8 Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon, look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards. 9 You have stolen my heart, my sister, my spouse, you have stolen my heart with one of your eyes, with one chain of your neck. 10 How fair is your love, my sister, my spouse! How much better is your love than wine! And the smell of your ointments than all spices! 11 Your lips, O my spouse, drop like the honeycomb, honey and milk are under your tongue, and the smell of your garments is like the smell of Lebanon. 12 A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse, a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. 13 Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits, camphire, with spikenard, 14 Spikenard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices, 15 A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon. 16 Awake, O north wind, and come, you south, blow on my garden, so that the spices of it can flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits. ___Song_of_Solomon chapter 5 1 I have come into my garden, my sister, my spouse, I have gathered my myrrh with my spice, I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey, I have drunk my wine with my milk, eat, O friends, drink, yes, drink abundantly, O beloved. 2 I sleep, but my heart stays awake, it is the voice of my beloved that knocks, saying, "Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled, for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. 3 I have put off my coat, how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet, how shall I dirty them?" 4 My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him. 5 I rose up to open to my beloved, and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, on the handles of the lock. 6 I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and had gone, my soul failed when he spoke, I sought him, but I could not find him, I called him, but he gave me no answer. 7 The watchmen that went around the city found me, they struck me, they wounded me, the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me. 8 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell him, that I am sick of love. 9 What is your beloved more than another beloved, O you fairest among women? What is your beloved more than another beloved, that you charge us like that? 10 My beloved is white and ruddy, the main one among ten thousand. 11 His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black like a raven. 12 His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set. 13 His cheeks are like a bed of spices, as sweet flowers, his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh. 14 His hands are like gold rings set with the beryl, his belly is as bright ivory plated with sapphires. 15 His legs are as pillars of marble, set on sockets of fine gold, his facial expression is like Lebanon, excellent like the cedars. 16 His mouth is most sweet, yes, he is completely lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem. ___Song_of_Solomon chapter 6 1 Where has your beloved gone, O you fairest among women? Where has your beloved turned aside? So we can help you look for him. 2 My beloved has gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies. 3 I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine, he feeds among the lilies. 4 You are beautiful, O my love, like Tirzah, attractive as Jerusalem, terrible like an army with banners. 5 Turn away your eyes from me, for they have overcome me, your hair is like a flock of goats that appear from Gilead. 6 Your teeth are like a flock of sheep that go up from the washing, from which everyone bears twins, and there is not one barren among them. 7 Your temples are like a piece of a pomegranate, within your locks. 8 There are sixty queens, and eighty concubines, and virgins without number. 9 My dove, my undefiled is but one, she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bore her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her, yes, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her. 10 Who is she that looks forth like the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible like an army with banners? 11 I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded. 12 Before I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Amminadib. 13 Return, return, O Shulamite, return, return, so we can look at you. What will you see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies. ___Song_of_Solomon chapter 7 1 How beautiful are your feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! The joints of your thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman. 2 Your navel is like a round goblet, that doesn't lack liquor, your belly is like a heap of wheat surrounded with lilies. 3 Your two breasts are like two young roes that are twins. 4 Your neck is like a tower of ivory, your eyes like the fish pools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim, your nose is like the tower of Lebanon that looks toward Damascus. 5 Your head on you is like Carmel, and the hair of your head like purple, the king is held in the galleries. 6 How fair and how pleasant you are, O love, for delights! 7 This your stature is like a palm tree, and your breasts to clusters of grapes. 8 I said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the boughs of it, now also your breasts shall be like clusters of the vine, and the smell of your nose like apples, 9 And the roof of your mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goes down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak. 10 I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me. 11 Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field, let us lodge in the villages. 12 Let us get up early to the vineyards, let us see if the vine flourishes, whether the tender grape appears, and the pomegranates bud forth, I will give you my loves there. 13 The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all kinds of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for you, O my beloved. ___Song_of_Solomon chapter 8 1 O that you were like my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! When I would find you outside, I would kiss you, yes, I would not be despised. 2 I would lead you, and bring you into my mother's house, who would instruct me, I would cause you to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate. 3 His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me. 4 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you don't stir up, nor awake my love, until he pleases. 5 Who is this that comes up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? I raised you up under the apple tree, your mother brought you forth there, there she brought you forth that bore you. 6 Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is cruel as the grave, the coals of it are coals of fire, that has a most forceful flame. 7 Many waters can't quench love, neither can the floods drown it, if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would completely be held in contempt. 8 We have a little sister, and she has no breasts, what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for? 9 If she is a wall, we will build on her a palace of silver, and if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar. 10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers, then I was in his eyes as someone that found favor. 11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon, he let out the vineyard to keepers, everyone for the fruit of it was to bring a thousand pieces of silver. 12 My vineyard, which is mine, is before me, you, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit of it two hundred. 13 You who lives in the gardens, the companions listen to your voice, cause me to hear it. 14 Make haste, my beloved, and be like a roe or to a young hart on the mountains of spices. ___Isaiah chapter 1 1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, that he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. 2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the Lord has spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. 3 The ox knows his owner, and the ass his master's crib, but Israel doesn't know, my people don't consider. 4 Ah sinful nation, a people loaded with sin, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters, they've forsaken the Lord, they've provoked the Holy One of Israel to anger, they've backslidden. 5 Why should you be stricken anymore? You'll revolt more and more, the whole head is sick, and the whole heart is faint. 6 From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in it, but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores, they haven't been closed, nor bound up, nor mollified with ointment. 7 Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire, strangers devour your land in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. 8 And the daughter of Zion is left like a cottage in a vineyard, like a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, like a besieged city. 9 Unless the Lord of hosts had left us a very small remnant, we would have been like Sodom, and we would have been like Gomorrah. 10 Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom, give ear to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah. 11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to me?, says the Lord, I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts, and I don't delight in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. 12 When you come to appear before me, who has required this from your hands, to tread my courts? 13 Don't bring any more vain offerings, incense is a dirty thing to me, the new moons and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I can't endure, it is sin, even the solemn meeting. 14 My soul hates your new moons and your appointed feasts, they are a trouble to me, I'm tired of carrying them. 15 And when you spread out your hands, I'll hide my eyes from you, yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear, your hands are full of blood. 16 Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean, put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes, stop doing evil, 17 Learn to do well, seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18 Come now, and let's reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are like red cloth, they'll be as white as snow, though they're red like crimson, they'll be like wool. 19 If you're willing and obedient, you'll eat the good of the land, 20 But if you refuse and rebel, you'll be devoured by the sword, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it. 21 How has the faithful city become a prostitute! It was full of justice, righteousness lived in it, but now murderers. 22 Your silver has become dross, your wine is diluted with water, 23 Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves, everyone loves bribes, and seeks rewards, they don't judge the fatherless, nor does the cause of the widow come to them. 24 Therefore, says the Lord, the Lord of hosts, the mighty one of Israel, ah, I will ease myself of my adversaries, and avenge myself of my enemies, 25 And I will turn my hand against you, and purely purge away your dross, and take away all your tin, 26 And I'll restore your judges like at the first, and your counselors like at the beginning, afterward you'll be called, the city of righteousness, the faithful city. 27 Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness. 28 And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed. 29 For they'll be ashamed of the oaks that you've desired, and you'll be confused for the gardens that you've chosen. 30 For you'll be like an oak whose leaf fades, and like a garden that has no water. 31 And the strong shall be like the bad part of flax, and the maker of it like a spark, and they'll both burn together, and no one shall quench them. ___Isaiah chapter 2 1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 And in the last days, the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow to it. 3 And many people shall go and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths," for out of Zion the law shall go out, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall reprimand many people, and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks, nation shall not lift up sword against nation, nor shall they learn war anymore. 5 O house of Jacob, come, and let's walk in the light of the Lord. 6 Therefore you've forsaken your people, the house of Jacob, because they're replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers. 7 Their land also is full of silver and gold, nor is there any end of their treasures, their land is also full of horses, nor is there any end of their chariots, 8 Their land also is full of idols, they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made, 9 And the man of low degree bows down, and the great man humbles himself, therefore don't forgive them. 10 Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty. 11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted on that day. 12 For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be on everyone that is proud and lofty, and on everyone that is lifted up, and he shall be brought low, 13 And on all the cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up, and on all the oaks of Bashan, 14 And on all the high mountains, and on all the hills that are lifted up, 15 And on every high tower, and on every fenced wall, 16 And on all the ships of Tarshish, and on all pleasant pictures. 17 And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low, and the Lord alone shall be exalted on that day. 18 And he shall completely abolish the idols. 19 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he arises to terribly shake the earth. 20 On that day, a man shall throw his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, that they each made for themselves to worship, to the moles and to the bats, 21 To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he arises to terribly shake the earth. 22 Stop from man, whose breath is in his nostrils, for how shall he be accounted of? ___Isaiah chapter 3 1 For see, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water, 2 The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the senior citizen, 3 The captain of fifty, and the honorable man, and the counselor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator. 4 And I'll give children to be their princes, and babies shall rule over them. 5 And the people shall be oppressed, everyone by another, and everyone by his neighbor, the child shall behave himself proudly against the senior citizen, and the lowly against the honorable. 6 When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, "You have clothing, you be our ruler, and let this ruin be under your hand," 7 In that day he'll swear, saying, "I won't be a healer, for in my house is neither bread nor clothing, don't make me a ruler of the people." 8 For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah has fallen, because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory. 9 The show of their facial expression witnesses against them, and they declare their sin like Sodom, they don't hide it. Woe to their soul! For they've rewarded evil to themselves. 10 Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. 11 Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given to him. 12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths. 13 The Lord stands up to plead, and stands to judge the people. 14 The Lord will enter into judgment with the senior citizens of his people, and the princes of them, for you have eaten up the vineyard, the spoil of the poor is in your houses. 15 What do you mean that you beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? Says the Lord God of hosts. 16 Also the Lord says, because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched out necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet, 17 Therefore the Lord will strike the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion with a scab, and the Lord will uncover their secret parts. 18 In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments around their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon, 19 The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, 20 The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings, 21 The rings, and nose jewels, 22 The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, 23 The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the veils. 24 And instead of sweet smell, there'll be stink, and instead of a girdle, a torn place, and instead of well set hair, baldness, and instead of a stomacher, clothes of sackcloth, and burning instead of beauty. 25 Your men shall fall by the sword, and your mighty in the war. 26 And her gates shall lament and mourn, and she, being desolate, shall sit on the ground. ___Isaiah chapter 4 1 And on that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, "We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel, only let us be called by your name, to take away our reproach." 2 In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and attractive for those of Israel who've escaped. 3 And he that is left in Zion, and he that remains in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, everyone that is written among the living in Jerusalem, 4 When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from among it by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. 5 And the Lord will create on every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and on her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night, for on all the glory shall be a defense. 6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covering from storm and from rain. ___Isaiah chapter 5 1 Now I'll sing to my well beloved a song of my beloved concerning his vineyard. My well beloved has a vineyard in a very fruitful hill, 2 And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones from it, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the middle of it, and also made a winepress in it, and he looked for it to produce grapes, and it produced wild grapes. 3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, please judge, between me and my vineyard. 4 What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I haven't done in it? So, when I looked for it to produce grapes, why did it produce wild grapes? 5 And now go on, I'll tell you what I'll do to my vineyard, I'll take away the hedge of it, and it shall be eaten up, and break down the wall of it, and it shall be walked on, 6 And I'll lay it waste, it shall not be pruned, nor dug, but briers and thorns shall come up, I'll also command the clouds not to rain on it. 7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant, and he looked for justice, but see, oppression, for righteousness, but see, a cry. 8 Woe to those who join house to house, that lay field to field, until there's no place, so they can be placed alone in the middle of the earth! 9 In my ears, said the Lord of hosts, truly, many houses shall be desolate, even large and fair, without inhabitant. 10 Yes, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of a homer shall yield an ephah. 11 Woe to those who rise up early in the morning, so they can follow strong drink, that continue until night, until wine inflames them! 12 And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts, but they don't regard the work of the Lord, nor consider the operations of his hands. 13 Therefore my people have gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge, and their honorable men are starving, and their multitude dried up by thirst. 14 Therefore hell has enlarged itself, and opened its mouth without limit, and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoices, shall go down into it. 15 And the poor man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled, 16 But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be made holy in righteousness. 17 Then the lambs shall feed like they do, and strangers shall eat the waste places of the fat ones. 18 Woe to those who pull sin with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope, 19 That say, "Let him make speed, and hasten his work, so that we can see it, and let the advice of the Holy one of Israel draw near and come, so we can know it! 20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil, that change darkness for light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! 22 Woe to those who are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mix strong drink, 23 Who justify the wicked for bribes, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! 24 Therefore like the fire devours the stubble, and the flame consumes the chaff, so their root shall be like rottenness, and their blossom shall go up like dust, because they've thrown away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy one of Israel. 25 Therefore the anger of the Lord is kindled against his people, and he has stretched out his hand against them, and has struck them, and the hills trembled, and their carcasses were torn among the streets. For all this his anger hasn't turned away, but his hand is still stretched out. 26 And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss to them from the end of the earth, and see, they'll come swiftly with speed, 27 No one shall be weary nor stumble among them, no one shall slumber nor sleep, nor shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor their shoelaces be broken, 28 Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind, 29 Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions, yes, they shall roar, and take hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safely, and no one shall provide deliverance for it. 30 And in that day, they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea, and if someone looks to the land, see, darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens of it. ___Isaiah chapter 6 1 In the year that king Uzziah died, I also saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphim, each one had six wings, with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And they shouted to each other, and said, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory." 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then I said, "Woe is me! For I am undone, because I'm a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts." 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having a live coal in his hand, that he had taken with the tongs from off the altar, 7 And he laid it on my mouth, and said, "Lo, this has touched your lips, and your sin has been taken away, and your sin purged." 8 Also, I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here I am, send me." 9 And he said, "Go and tell these people, hear indeed, but don't understand, and see indeed, but don't perceive. 10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes, so that they don't see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and be healed." 11 Then I said, "Lord, how long?" And he answered, "Until the cities are wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land is completely desolate, 12 And the Lord has removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the middle of the land. 13 But still a tenth shall be in it, and it shall return, and shall be eaten, like a teil tree, and like an oak, whose substance is in them, when they shed their leaves, so the holy descendants shall be the substance of it. ___Isaiah chapter 7 1 And in the days of Ahaz, the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but couldn't prevail against it. 2 And it was told the house of David, saying, "Syria is confederate with Ephraim." And his heart was moved, and the hearts of his people, like the trees of the wood are moved by the wind. 3 Then the Lord said to Isaiah, "Go out now to meet Ahaz, you, and Shearjashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field, 4 And say to him, take heed, and be quiet, don't be afraid, nor be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah. 5 Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have plotted against you wrongfully, saying, 6 Let's go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make destruction there for ourselves, and set a king in the middle of it, the son of Tabeal, 7 Thus says the Lord God, it shall not stand, nor shall it happen. 8 For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin, and within sixty five years Ephraim shall be broken, so that it's not a tribe. 9 And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If you won't believe, surely you won't be established." 10 Also the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying, 11 "Ask a sign of the Lord your God, ask it either in the depth, or in the height above." 12 But Ahaz said, "I won't ask, nor will I tempt the Lord." 13 And he said, "Hear now, O house of David, is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign, see, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 He shall eat butter and honey, so he'll know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. 16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that you hate shall be forsaken by both of her kings. 17 The Lord shall bring on you, and on your people, and on your father's house, days that haven't come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah, even the king of Assyria. 18 And in that day the Lord shall hiss for the fly that is in the farthest part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. 19 And they shall come, and shall all rest in the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and on all thorns, and on all bushes. 20 In the same day the Lord shall shave with a razor that is hired, specifically, by those beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet, and it shall also consume the beard. 21 And in that day, a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep, 22 And for the abundance of milk that they shall give, he shall eat butter, for butter and honey shall everyone eat that is left in the land. 23 And in that day, every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, it shall be for briers and thorns. 24 Men shall come there with arrows and with bows, because all the land shall become briers and thorns. 25 And on all hills that shall be dug with the mattock, the fear of briers and thorns won't come there, but it shall be for the sending out of oxen, and for the treading of lesser cattle." ___Isaiah chapter 8 1 Also the Lord said to me, "Take a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz." 2 And I took to myself faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah. 3 And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived, and bore a son. Then said the Lord to me, "Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz. 4 For before the child shall have enough knowledge to say, my father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away from before the king of Assyria." 5 The Lord also spoke to me again, saying, 6 "Since this people refuses the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son, 7 Now therefore, see, the Lord brings upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory, and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks, 8 And he shall pass through Judah, he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck, and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel. 9 Associate yourselves, O you people, and you shall be broken in pieces, and give ear, all you of far countries, dress yourselves, and you'll be broken in pieces, dress yourselves, and you'll be broken in pieces. 10 Take advice together, and it will come to nothing, speak the word, and it won't stand, for God is with us." 11 For the Lord spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I shouldn't walk in the way of these people, saying, 12 "Don't say, a confederacy, to all those to whom this people shall say, a confederacy, and don't be afraid of what they fear, and don't be afraid. 13 Make holy the Lord of hosts himself, and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14 And he shall be for a sanctuary, but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a trap and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be trapped, and be taken. 16 Binding up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. 17 And I will wait on the Lord, that hides his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. 18 See, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who lives in Mount Zion. 19 And when they shall say to you, seek to those who have familiar spirits, and to wizards that peep, and that mutter, shouldn't a people seek to their God? For the living to the dead? 20 To the law and to the testimony, if they don't talk according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. 21 And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry, and when they're hungry, they'll fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward. 22 And they shall look to the earth, and see trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish, and they'll be driven to darkness." ___Isaiah chapter 9 1 But the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. 2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light, the light has shined on those who live in the land of the shadow of death. 3 You've multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy, they rejoice before you according to the joy in harvest, and like men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For you've broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, like in the day of Midian. 5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood, but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be on his shoulders, and his name shall be called wonderful, counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the prince of peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, on the throne of David, and on his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. 8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it has landed on Israel. 9 And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart, 10 "The bricks have fallen down, but we'll build with cut stones, the sycamores have been cut down, but we'll change them into cedars. 11 Therefore, the Lord shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together, 12 The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind, and they shall devour Israel with an open mouth. For all this, his anger hasn't turned away, but his hand is still stretched out. 13 For the people don't turn to him that strikes them, nor do they seek the Lord of hosts. 14 Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day. 15 The senior citizen and honorable, he is the head, and the prophet that teaches lies, he is the tail. 16 For the leaders of these people cause them to err, and those who are led by them are destroyed. 17 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, nor shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows, for everyone is a hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks foolishness. For all this his anger has not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. 18 For wickedness burns like the fire, it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall go up like the rising up of smoke. 19 The land has been darkened through the anger of the Lord of hosts, and the people shall be like the fuel of the fire, no man shall spare his brother. 20 And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry, and he shall eat on the left hand, and they won't be satisfied, every man shall eat the flesh of his own arm, 21 Manasseh, Ephraim, and Ephraim, Manasseh, and they together shall be against Judah. For all this, his anger has not turned away, but his hand is still stretched out. ___Isaiah chapter 10 1 Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness that they've prescribed, 2 To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away what's right from the poor of my people, so that widows can be their prey, and so that they can rob the fatherless! 3 And what will you do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation that shall come from far? To whom will you run for help? And where will you leave your glory? 4 Without me they'll bow down under the prisoners, and they'll fall under those who are killed. For all this his anger has not turned away, but his hand is still stretched out. 5 O Assyrian, the rod of my anger, and the staff in their hand is my indignation. 6 I'll send him against a hypocritical nation, and against the people of my anger I'll give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the dirt in the streets. 7 But he doesn't mean so, nor does his heart think so, but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off not just a few nations. 8 For he says, "Aren't my princes completely kings? 9 Isn't Calno like Carchemish? Isn't Hamath like Arpad? Isn't Samaria like Damascus? 10 Like my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose engraved images excelled those of Jerusalem and of Samaria, 11 Shall I not, like I've done to Samaria and her idols, do also to Jerusalem and her idols?" 12 So when the Lord has performed his whole work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks. 13 For he says, "By the strength of my hand I've done it, and by my wisdom, for I'm prudent, and I've removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I've put down the inhabitants like a valiant man, 14 And my hand has found, like a nest, the riches of the people, and like someone gathers eggs that are left, I've gathered all the earth, and there was no one that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped." 15 Shall the axe boast itself against him that cuts with it? Or shall the saw magnify itself against him that moves it? As if the rod should shake itself against those who lift it up, or as if the staff should lift itself up, as if it weren't wood. 16 Therefore the Lord, the Lord of hosts, shall send leanness among his fat ones, and under his glory he'll kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. 17 And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy one for a flame, and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day, 18 And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body, and they'll be like when a standard bearer faints. 19 And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, so that a child can write their total. 20 And the remnant of Israel, and those who've escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay on him that struck them, but shall stay on the Lord, the Holy one of Israel, in truth. 21 The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. 22 For though your people Israel are like the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return, the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness. 23 For the Lord God of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the middle of all the land. 24 Therefore thus says the Lord God of hosts, "O my people that live in Zion, don't be afraid of the Assyrian, he'll strike you with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against you, after the manner of Egypt. 25 For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall stop, and my anger in their destruction. 26 And the Lord of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb, and like his rod was on the sea, so he'll lift it up after the manner of Egypt. 27 And his burden shall be taken away from off your shoulder, and his yoke from off your neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. 28 He has come to Aiath, he has passed to Migron, at Michmash he has laid up his baggage, 29 They've gone over the passage, they've taken up their lodging at Geba, Ramah is afraid, Gibeah of Saul has fled. 30 Lift up your voice, O daughter of Gallim, cause it to be heard to Laish, O poor Anathoth. 31 Madmenah is removed, the inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee. 32 As yet he'll remain at Nob that day, he shall shake his hand against the mountain of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem. 33 See, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror, and the high ones of stature shall be cut down, and the haughty shall be humbled. 34 And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by someone mighty. ___Isaiah chapter 11 1 And a rod shall come out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots, 2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of advice and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord, 3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord, and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, nor reprove after the hearing of his ears, 4 But he'll judge the poor with righteousness, and reprimand with equity for the meek of the earth, and he'll strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he'll kill the wicked. 5 And righteousness shall be the clothing around his midsection, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. 6 The wolf also shall live with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. 7 And the cow and the bear shall feed, their young ones shall lie down together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the snake, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, like the waters cover the sea. 10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, who'll stand for a flag of the people, the Gentiles shall seek it, and his rest shall be glorious. 11 And in that day, the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, that shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. 12 And he shall set up a flag for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. 13 The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off, Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. 14 But they shall fly on the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west, they shall spoil those of the east together, they shall lay their hand on Edom and Moab, and the children of Ammon shall obey them. 15 And the Lord shall completely destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea, and with his mighty wind he'll shake his hand over the river, and shall strike it in the seven streams, and make men pass over dry shod. 16 And there shall be a highway for the remnant of his people, that shall be left, from Assyria, like it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt. ___Isaiah chapter 12 1 And in that day you'll say, "O Lord, I'll praise you, though you were angry with me, your anger has turned away, and you comforted me. 2 See, God is my salvation, I will trust, and not be afraid, for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song, he also has become my salvation." 3 Therefore with joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation. 4 And in that day you'll say, "Praise the Lord, call on his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. 5 Sing to the Lord, for he has done excellent things, this is known in all the earth. 6 Cry out and shout, you inhabitant of Zion, for great is the Holy one of Israel among you." ___Isaiah chapter 13 1 The burden of Babylon that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw. 2 Lift up a banner on the high mountain, exalt the voice to them, shake the hand, so they can go into the gates of the nobles. 3 I've commanded my ones who've been made holy, I've also called my mighty ones for my anger, even those who rejoice in my highness. 4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like of a great people, a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together, the Lord of hosts musters the host of the battle. 5 They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land. 6 Howl, for the day of the Lord is at hand, it shall come like a destruction from the Almighty. 7 Therefore all hands shall be faint, and every man's heart shall melt, 8 And they'll be afraid, pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them, they'll be in pain like a woman in childbirth, they'll be amazed at each other, their faces shall be like flames. 9 See, the day of the Lord comes, cruel both with anger and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate, and he'll destroy its sinners out of it. 10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations of it shall not give their light, the sun shall be darkened in its going out, and the moon shall not cause its light to shine. 11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their sin, and I'll cause the arrogance of the proud to stop, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. 12 I'll make a man more precious than fine gold, a man more than the golden wedge of Ophir. 13 Therefore I'll shake the heavens, and the earth shall move out of its place, in the anger of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger. 14 And it shall be like the chased roe, and like a sheep that no man takes up, every man shall turn to his own people, and flee everyone into his own land. 15 Everyone that is found shall be thrust through, and everyone that is joined to them shall fall by the sword. 16 Their children also shall be dashed in pieces before their eyes, their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives raped. 17 See, I'll stir up the Medes against them, who won't regard silver, and as for gold, they won't delight in it. 18 Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces, and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb, their eye won't spare children. 19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellence, shall be like when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. 20 It shall never be inhabited, nor shall it be lived in from generation to generation, nor shall the Arabian pitch tents there, nor shall the shepherds make their fold there. 21 But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there, and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures, and owls shall live there, and satyrs shall dance there. 22 And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces, and her time is coming close, and her days shall not be prolonged. ___Isaiah chapter 14 1 For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land, and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall stick to the house of Jacob. 2 And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the Lord for servants and handmaids, and they shall take them captives whose captives they were, and they shall rule over their oppressors. 3 And in the day the Lord shall give you rest from your sorrow, and from your fear, and from the hard bondage in which you were made to serve, 4 And you'll take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, how has the oppressor stopped! The golden city stopped! 5 The Lord has broken the staff of the wicked, and the scepter of the rulers. 6 He who struck the people in anger with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and no one hinders. 7 The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet, they break out into singing. 8 Yes, the fir trees rejoice at you, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, since you've been laid down, no lumberjack has come up against us. 9 Hell from beneath is moved for you to meet you at your coming, it stirs up the dead for you, even all the main ones of the earth, it has raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. 10 All they shall speak and say to you, have you also become weak like us? Have you become like us? 11 Your pomp has been brought down to the grave, and the noise of your stringed instruments, the worm is spread under you, and the worms cover you. 12 How have you fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How have you beem cut down to the ground, who weakened the nations! 13 For you've said in your heart, "I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God, I will sit also on the mountain of the congregation, in the sides of the north, 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the most high." 15 Yet you'll be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. 16 Those who see you shall narrowly look at you, and consider you, saying, "Is this the man that made the earth tremble, that shook kingdoms, 17 That made the world like a wilderness, and destroyed the cities of it, that didn't open the house of his prisoners? 18 All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, everyone in his own house. 19 But you are thrown out of your grave like a dirty branch, and like the clothing of those who are killed, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit, like a dead body trampled under foot. 20 You won't be joined with them in burial, because you've destroyed your land, and killed your people, the descendants of evildoers shall never be renowned." 21 Prepare slaughter for his children for the sin of their fathers, so they don't rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities. 22 "For I'll rise up against them," says the Lord of hosts, "and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew," says the Lord. 23 "I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water, and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction," says the Lord of hosts. 24 The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying, "Surely as I have thought, so shall it happen, and as I've purposed, so it shall stand, 25 That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and tread him under foot on my mountains, then his yoke shall depart from off them, and his burden shall depart from off their shoulders." 26 This is the purpose that has been purposed on the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out on all the nations. 27 For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who shall cancel it? And his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back? 28 This burden was in the year that king Ahaz died. 29 Don't rejoice, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that struck you has been broken, for out of the serpent's root shall come out a snake, and its fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent. 30 And the firstborn of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety, and I'll kill your root with famine, and he shall kill your remnant. 31 Howl, O gate, cry, O city, you, whole Palestina, are dissolved, for smoke shall come from the north, and no one shall be alone in its appointed times. 32 What shall someone then answer the messengers of the nation? That the Lord has founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it. ___Isaiah chapter 15 1 The burden of Moab. Because, in the night, Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence, because, in the night, Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence, 2 He has gone up to Bajith, and to Dibon, the high places, to weep, Moab shall howl over Nebo, and over Medeba, baldness shall be on all their heads, and every beard cut off. 3 In their streets they'll gird themselves with sackcloth, on the tops of their houses, and in their streets, everyone shall howl, weeping abundantly. 4 And Heshbon shall cry, and Elealeh, their voice shall be heard even to Jahaz, therefore the armed soldiers of Moab shall cry out, he will wish to die. 5 My heart shall cry out for Moab, his fugitives shall flee to Zoar, a heifer of three years old, for by the mounting up of Luhith with weeping they'll go up, for in the way of Horonaim they'll raise up a cry of destruction. 6 For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate, for the hay has withered away, the grass fails, there is no green thing. 7 Therefore the abundance they've gotten, and that which they've laid up, they'll carry away to the brook of the willows. 8 For the cry has gone around the borders of Moab, the howling of it to Eglaim, and the howling of it to Beerelim. 9 For the waters of Dimon shall be full of blood, for I'll bring more on Dimon, lions on him that escapes of Moab, and on the remnant of the land. ___Isaiah chapter 16 1 Send the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, to the mountain of the daughter of Zion. 2 For it shall be, that like a wandering bird thrown out of the nest, so shall the daughters of Moab be, at the fords of Arnon. 3 Take advice, execute judgment, make your shadow like the night in the middle of the noonday, hide the outcasts, don't betray him that wanders. 4 Let my outcasts live with you, Moab, be a covert to them from the face of the spoiler, for the extortionist is at an end, the spoiler stops, the oppressors are consumed out of the land. 5 And in mercy shall the throne be established, and he shall sit on it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hastening righteousness. 6 We've heard of the pride of Moab, he is very proud, even of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his anger, but his lies shall not be so. 7 Therefore Moab shall howl for Moab, everyone shall howl, you'll mourn for the foundations of Kirhareseth, surely they're stricken. 8 For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah, the lords of the heathen have broken down the principal plants of it, they've even come to Jazer, they wandered through the wilderness, her branches are stretched out, they've gone over the sea. 9 Therefore I'll bewail with the weeping of Jazer the vine of Sibmah, I'll water you with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh, for the shouting for your summer fruits, and for your harvest that's fallen. 10 And gladness has been taken away, and joy out of the plentiful field, and in the vineyards there'll be no singing, nor shall there be shouting, the treaders won't tread out wine in their presses, I have made their vintage shouting to stop. 11 So my bowels shall sound like a harp for Moab, and my inward parts for Kirharesh. 12 And when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, he shall come to his sanctuary to pray, but he won't prevail. 13 This is the word that the Lord has spoken concerning Moab since that time. 14 But now the Lord has spoken, saying, within three years, like the years of a hired hand, and the glory of Moab shall be held in contempt, with all that great multitude, and the remnant shall be very small and feeble. ___Isaiah chapter 17 1 The burden of Damascus. See, Damascus has been taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. 2 The cities of Aroer have been forsaken, they'll be for flocks, that shall lie down, and no one shall make them afraid. 3 The fortress also shall stop from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria, they'll be like the glory of the children of Israel, says the Lord of hosts. 4 And in that day the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall grow lean. 5 And it shall be like when the harvestman gathers the corn, and reaps the ears with his arm, and it shall be like he that gathers ears in the valley of Rephaim. 6 Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, like the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches of it, says the Lord God of Israel. 7 At that day a man shall look to his maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy one of Israel. 8 And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, nor shall respect what his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images. 9 In that day his strong cities shall be like a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch that they left because of the children of Israel, and there shall be desolation. 10 Because you've forgotten the God of your salvation, and haven't been mindful of the rock of your strength, therefore you'll plant pleasant plants, and shall set it with strange slips, 11 In the day you'll make your plant to grow, and in the morning you'll make your seed to flourish, but the harvest shall be a heap in the day of grief, and of desperate sorrow. 12 Woe to the multitude of many people, who make a noise like the noise of the seas, and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! 13 The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters, but God shall reprimand them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased like the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. 14 And at evening, see, trouble, and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of those who spoil us, and the lot of those who rob us. ___Isaiah chapter 18 1 Woe to the land shadowing with wings, that is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, 2 That sends ambassadors by the sea, even in containers of bulrushes on the waters, saying, "Go, you swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning until now, a nation measured out and trampled, whose land the rivers have spoiled! 3 All you inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see, when he lifts up a flag on the mountains, and when he blows a trumpet, hear." 4 For so the Lord said to me, "I'll take my rest, and I'll consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat on herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest." 5 For before the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches. 6 They'll be left together to the fowls of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth, and the fowls shall summer on them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter on them. 7 In that time, the present shall be brought to the Lord of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning until now, a nation measured out and trampled under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the Lord of hosts, the Mount Zion. ___Isaiah chapter 19 1 The burden of Egypt. See, the Lord rides on a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt, and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the middle of it. 2 And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians, and everyone shall fight against his brother, and everyone against his neighbor, city against city, and kingdom against kingdom. 3 And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the middle of it, and I will destroy the advice of it, and they'll seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to those who have familiar spirits, and to the wizards. 4 And I'll give the Egyptians over into the hand of a cruel lord, and a fierce king shall rule over them, says the Lord, the Lord of hosts. 5 And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up. 6 And they'll turn the rivers far away, and the brooks of defense shall be emptied and dried up, the reeds and flags shall wither. 7 The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and everything planted by the brooks shall wither, be driven away, and be no more. 8 The fishermen also shall mourn, and all of those who cast angle into the brooks shall lament, and those who spread nets on the waters shall languish. 9 Also those who work in fine flax, and those who weave networks, shall be confused. 10 And they shall be broken in the purposes of it, all that make sluices and ponds for fish. 11 Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the advice of the wise counselors of Pharaoh has become brutish, how can you say to Pharaoh, "I'm the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?" 12 Where are they? Where are your wise men? And let them tell you now, and let them know what the Lord of hosts has purposed for Egypt. 13 The princes of Zoan have become fools, the princes of Noph have been deceived, they've also seduced Egypt, even those who are the stay of the tribes of it. 14 The Lord has mixed a perverse spirit among it, and they've caused Egypt to err in every work of it, like a man who's drunk staggers in his vomit. 15 Nor shall there be any work for Egypt, that the head or tail, branch or rush, can do. 16 In that day, Egypt shall be like women, and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the Lord of hosts, that he shakes over it. 17 And the land of Judah shall be a terror to Egypt, everyone that makes mention of it shall be afraid in himself, because of the advice of the Lord of hosts, that he has determined against it. 18 In that day, five cities in the land of Egypt shall speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the Lord of hosts, one shall be called, the city of destruction. 19 In that day, there'll be an altar to the Lord in the middle of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border of it to the Lord. 20 And it shall be for a sign and for a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt, for they'll cry to the Lord because of the oppressors, and he'll send them a savior, and a great one, and he'll deliver them. 21 And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, and shall do sacrifice and offering, yes, they'll vow a vow to the Lord, and perform it. 22 And the Lord shall strike Egypt, he shall strike and heal it, and they'll return to the Lord, and he'll be entreated by them, and shall heal them. 23 In that day there'll be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. 24 In that day Israel shall be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the middle of the land, 25 Whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, "Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance." ___Isaiah chapter 20 1 In the year that Tartan came to Ashdod, (when Sargon, the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it, 2 At the same time, the Lord spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, "Go and remove the burlap off of your midsection, and put off your shoes from your feet." And he did so, walking naked and barefoot. 3 And the Lord said, "Like my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder on Egypt and on Ethiopia, 4 So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt. 5 And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory. 6 And the inhabitant of this island shall say in that day, see, such is our expectation, where we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria, and how shall we escape?" ___Isaiah chapter 21 1 The burden of the desert of the sea. Like whirlwinds in the south pass through, so it comes from the desert, from a terrible land. 2 A grievous vision has been declared to me, the treacherous dealer deals treacherously, and the spoiler spoils. Go up, O Elam, besiege, O Media, I've made all the sighing of it to stop. 3 Therefore my loins are filled with pain, pangs have taken hold on me, like the pangs of a woman during childbirth, I was bowed down at the hearing of it, I was dismayed at the seeing of it. 4 My heart panted, fearfulness made me afraid, he has turned the night of my pleasure into fear for me. 5 Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink, arise, you princes, and anoint the shield. 6 For thus has the Lord said to me, "Go, set a watchman, let him tell what he sees." 7 And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels, and he listened diligently, paying close attention, 8 And he shouted, "A lion, my lord, I stand continually on the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights, 9 And see, here comes a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen." And he answered, "Babylon has fallen, has fallen, and all the engraved images of her gods he has broken to the ground." 10 O my threshing, and the corn of my floor, that which I've heard of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, I've told you. 11 The burden of Dumah. He calls to me out of Seir, "Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?" 12 The watchman said, "The morning is coming, and also the night, if you want to inquire, inquire, return, come." 13 The burden on Arabia. In the forest in Arabia you'll lodge, O you traveling companies of Dedanim. 14 The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they went before him that fled with their bread. 15 For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grief of war. 16 For the Lord said this to me, "Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail, 17 And the remainder of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished, for the Lord God of Israel has spoken it." ___Isaiah chapter 22 1 The burden of the valley of vision. What ails you now, since you've completely gone up to the housetops? 2 You that is full of shouting, a tumultuous city, a joyous city, your slain men weren't killed by the sword, nor dead in battle. 3 All your rulers have fled together, they are bound by the archers, all that are found in you are bound together, who have fled from far. 4 Therefore I said, look away from me, I'll weep bitterly, don't labor to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people. 5 For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the Lord God of hosts in the valley of vision, breaking down the walls, and of crying to the mountains. 6 And Elam carried the quiver with chariots of men and horsemen, and Kir uncovered the shield. 7 And your choicest valleys shall be full of chariots, and the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate. 8 And he discovered the covering of Judah, and you looked in that day to the armor of the house of the forest. 9 You've also seen the much damage to the city of David, and you gathered the waters of the lower pool together. 10 And you've numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and you've torn down the houses to fortify the wall. 11 You also made a ditch between the two walls for the water of the old pool, but you haven't looked to the maker of it, nor had respect to him that fashioned it long ago. 12 And in that day the Lord God of hosts called to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth, 13 And see, joy and gladness, killing oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we'll die. 14 And it was revealed in my ears by the Lord of hosts, surely this sin won't be purged from you until you die, says the Lord God of hosts. 15 Thus says the Lord God of hosts, "Go, get you to this treasurer, even to Shebna, who is over the house, and say, 16 What do you have here? And whom do you have here, that you've carved yourself out a tomb here, like he that cuts himself out a tomb on high, and that engraves a habitation for himself in a rock? 17 See, the Lord will carry you away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover you. 18 He will surely violently turn and toss you like a ball into a large country, you'll die there, and there the chariots of your glory shall be the shame of your lord's house. 19 And I will drive you from your station, and he shall pull you down from your condition. 20 And in that day I'll call my servant Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, 21 And I'll clothe him with your robe, and strengthen him with your girdle, and I'll commit your government into his hand, and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. 22 And I'll lay on his shoulder the key of the house of David, so he shall open, and no one shall shut, and he shall shut, and no one shall open. 23 And I'll fasten him like a nail in a sure place, and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house. 24 And they'll hang on him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the issue, all containers of small quantity, from the containers of cups, even to all the containers of flagons. 25 In that day, says the Lord of hosts, the nail that is fastened in the sure place shall be removed, and be cut down, and fall, and the burden that was on it shall be cut off, for the Lord has spoken it. ___Isaiah chapter 23 1 The burden of Tyre. Howl, you ships of Tarshish, for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in, from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them. 2 Be still, you inhabitants of the island, you whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished. 3 And by great waters the descendants of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue, and she is a market of nations. 4 Be ashamed, O Zidon, for the sea has spoken, even the strength of the sea, saying, "I don't travail, nor bring forth children, nor do I nourish up young men, nor bring up virgins. 5 As at the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be severely pained at the report of Tyre. 6 Pass over to Tarshish, howl, you inhabitants of the island. 7 Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? Her own feet shall carry her far off to live there." 8 Who has taken this advice against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honorable of the earth? 9 The Lord of hosts has purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth. 10 Pass through your land like a river, O daughter of Tarshish, there is no more strength. 11 He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms, the Lord has given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds of it. 12 And he said, "You'll no more rejoice, O you oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon, arise, pass over to Chittim, you'll have no rest there, also." 13 See the land of the Chaldeans, these were not a people until the Assyrian founded it for those who live in the wilderness, they set up the towers of it, they raised up the palaces of it, and he brought it to ruin. 14 Howl, you ships of Tarshish, for your strength has been laid waste. 15 And in that day, Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king, after the end of seventy years Tyre shall sing like a prostitute. 16 Take a harp, go around the city, you whore that's been forgotten, make sweet melody, sing many songs, so you'll be remembered. 17 And after the end of seventy years, the Lord will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world on the face of the earth. 18 And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the Lord, it shall not be treasured nor laid up, for her merchandise shall be for those who live before the Lord, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing. ___Isaiah chapter 24 1 See, the Lord makes the earth empty, and makes it waste, and turns it upside down, and scatters abroad the inhabitants of it. 2 And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest, as with the servant, so with his master, as with the maid, so with her mistress, as with the buyer, so with the seller, as with the lender, so with the borrower, as with the taker of interest, so with the giver of interest to him. 3 The land shall be completely emptied, and completely spoiled, for the Lord has spoken this word. 4 The earth mourns and fades away, the world languishes and fades away, the haughty people of the earth languish. 5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants of it, because they've transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. 6 Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, and those who live in it are desolate, therefore the inhabitants of the earth have been burned, and few men left. 7 The new wine mourns, the vine languishes, all the merry hearted sigh. 8 The mirth of tabrets stops, the noise of those who rejoice ends, the joy of the harp stops. 9 They shall not drink wine with a song, strong drink shall be bitter to those who drink it. 10 The city of confusion has been broken down, every house is shut up, so that no man can come in. 11 There is a crying for wine in the streets, all joy has been darkened, the merryment of the land is gone. 12 Desolation is left in the city, and the gate has been struck with destruction. 13 When it shall be like this among the land among the people, there shall be like the shaking of an olive tree, and like the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done. 14 They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord, they shall cry out loud from the sea. 15 So glorify the Lord in the fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel in the islands of the sea. 16 From the farthest part of the earth we've heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, "My leanness, my leanness, woe to me! The treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously, yes, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously. 17 Fear, and the pit, and the trap, are on you, O inhabitant of the earth." 18 And he who flees from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit, and he that comes up out of the pit shall be taken in the trap, for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth shake. 19 The earth has been completely broken down, the earth is completely dissolved, the earth is moved very much. 20 The earth shall reel back and forth like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage, and the transgression of it shall be heavy on it, and it shall fall, and not rise again. 21 And in that day, the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth on the earth. 22 And they shall be gathered together, like prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days they'll be visited. 23 Then the moon shall be confused, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall rule in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously. ___Isaiah chapter 25 1 O Lord, you're my God, I will exalt you, I will praise your name, for you've done wonderful things, your advice since old times is faithfulness and truth. 2 For you've made a heap out of a city, a ruin out of a defenced city, a palace of strangers to be no city, it shall never be built. 3 Therefore the strong people shall glorify you, the city of the terrible nations shall fear you. 4 For you've been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is like a storm against the wall. 5 You'll bring down the noise of strangers, like the heat in a dry place, even the heat with the shadow of a cloud, the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low. 6 And in this mountain the Lord of hosts shall make to all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. 7 And he will destroy in this mountain, the face of the covering thrown over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. 8 He will swallow up death in victory, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces, and the reprimand of his people he'll take away from off all the earth, for the Lord has spoken it. 9 And it shall be said in that day, "Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us, this is the Lord, we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation." 10 For in this mountain the hand of the Lord shall rest, and Moab shall be trampled under him, like straw is trampled for the manure pile. 11 And he shall spread out his hands in the middle of them, like he that swims spreads out his hands to swim, and he shall bring down their pride together with the spoils of their hands. 12 And he'll bring down the fortress of the high fort of your walls, lay it low, and bring it to the ground, even to the dust. ___Isaiah chapter 26 1 In that day this song shall be sung in the land of Judah, we have a strong city, God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks. 2 Open the gates, so the righteous nation that keeps the truth can enter in. 3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. 4 Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength, 5 For he brings down those who live on high, the lofty city, he lays it low, he lays it low, even to the ground, he brings it even to the dust. 6 The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy. 7 The way of the just is uprightness, you, most upright, do weigh the path of the just. 8 Yes, in the way of your judgments, O Lord, we've waited for you, the desire of our soul is to your name, and to the remembrance of you. 9 With my soul I've desired you in the night, yes, with my spirit inside me I'll seek you early, for when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. 10 Let favor be shown to the wicked, yet he won't learn righteousness, in the land of uprightness he'll deal unjustly, and won't see the majesty of the Lord. 11 Lord, when your hand is lifted up, they won't see, but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people, yes, the fire of your enemies shall devour them. 12 Lord, you'll ordain peace for us, for you've also made all our works in us. 13 O Lord our God, other lords beside you have had dominion over us, but only by you we'll make mention of your name. 14 They are dead, they shall not live, they are deceased, they shall not rise, therefore you've visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish. 15 You have increased the nation, O Lord, you've increased the nation, you are glorified, you've removed it far to all the ends of the earth. 16 Lord, they've visited you in trouble, they poured out a prayer when your punishment was on them. 17 Like a woman with child, that draws near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and cries out in her pangs, so we have been in your sight, O Lord. 18 We have been with child, we've been in pain, we have brought forth wind as it were, we haven't made any deliverance in the earth, nor have the inhabitants of the world fallen. 19 Your dead men shall live, together with my dead body they'll arise. Awake and sing, you that live in dust, for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth shall throw out the dead. 20 Come, my people, enter into your rooms, and shut your doors around you, hide yourself as it were for a little moment, until the anger has passed. 21 For see, the Lord comes out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their sin, the earth also shall reveal its blood, and shall no more conceal its slain. ___Isaiah chapter 27 1 In that day, the Lord with his very and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan, the piercing serpent, even leviathan, that crooked serpent, and he shall kill the dragon that is in the sea. 2 In that day, sing to her, a vineyard of red wine. 3 I the Lord keep it, I will water it every moment, so that no one hurts it, I will keep it night and day. 4 Fury is not in me, who would set the briers and thorns against me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together. 5 Or let him take hold of my strength, so he can make peace with me, and he shall make peace with me. 6 He shall cause those who come from Jacob to take root, Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit. 7 Has he struck him, as he struck those that struck him? Or has he been killed according to the slaughter of those who've been killed by him? 8 In measure, when it shoots forth, you'll debate with it, he holds back his rough wind in the day of the east wind. 9 By this therefore the sin of Jacob shall be purged, and this is all the fruit to take away his sin, when he makes all the stones of the altar like chalkstones that are beaten in pieces, the groves and images shall not stand up. 10 Yet the defenced city shall be desolate, and the habitation forsaken, and left like a wilderness, the calf shall feed there, and he'll lie down there, and consume the branches of it. 11 When the boughs of it are withered, they'll be broken off, the women come and set them on fire, for they are people of no understanding, therefore he that made them won't have mercy on them, and he that formed them will show them no favor. 12 And in that day, the Lord shall beat off from the channel of the river to the stream of Egypt, and you'll be gathered one by one, O you children of Israel. 13 And in that day, the great trumpet shall be blown, and those who were ready to die in the land of Assyria will come, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mountain at Jerusalem. ___Isaiah chapter 28 1 Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, that are on the head of the fat valleys of those who are overcome by wine! 2 See, the Lord has a mighty and strong one, who, like a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, like a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall throw down to the earth with the hand. 3 The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trampled under foot, 4 And the glorious beauty, that is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and like the hasty fruit before the summer, which when he that looks at it sees it, while it is still in his hand he eats it up. 5 In that day the Lord of hosts shall be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, to the remainder of his people, 6 And for a spirit of judgment to him that sits in judgment, and for strength to those who turn the battle to the gate. 7 But they've also erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way, the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they've been swallowed up by wine, they are out of the way through strong drink, they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. 8 For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean. 9 To whom shall he teach knowledge? And to whom shall he make understand doctrine? Those who are weaned from the milk, and pulled away from the breasts. 10 For precept must be on precept, precept on precept, line on line, line on line, here a little, and there a little, 11 For with stammering lips and another tongue he'll speak to these people. 12 To whom he said, "This is the rest with which you can cause the weary to rest, and this is the refreshing," yet they wouldn't hear. 13 But the word of the Lord was to them precept on precept, precept on precept, line on line, line on line, here a little, and there a little, so that they could go, and fall backward, and be broken, and trapped, and taken. 14 So hear the word of the Lord, you scornful men, that rule these people that are in Jerusalem. 15 Because you've said, we've made a covenant with death, and we're in agreement with hell, when the overflowing scourge passes through, it won't come to us, for we've made lies our refuge, and we've hidden ourselves under falsehood, 16 Therefore thus says the Lord God, "See, I lay a stone in Zion for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation, he that believes shall not make haste. 17 I'll also lay judgment to the line, and righteousness to the plummet, and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. 18 And your covenant with death shall be canceled, and your agreement with hell won't stand, when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then you'll be trampled by it. 19 From the time that it goes out it shall take you, for morning by morning it shall pass over, by day and by night, and it shall be a vexation just to understand the report. 20 For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it, and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it. 21 For the Lord shall rise up like in Mount Perazim, he shall be angry like in the valley of Gibeon, so he can do his work, his strange work, and cause to happen his act, his strange act. 22 Now therefore don't be mockers, so that your shackles won't be made strong, for I've heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption, even determined against the whole earth. 23 Give ear, and hear my voice, listen, and hear my speech. 24 Does the plowman plow all day to plant? Does he open and break the clods of his ground? 25 When he has made plain the face of it, doesn't he throw around the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and throw in the main wheat and the appointed barley and the rye in their place? 26 For his God instructs him to discretion, and teaches him. 27 For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, nor is a cart wheel turned around on the cummin, but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod. 28 Bread corn is bruised, because he won't ever be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horsemen. 29 This also comes out from the Lord of hosts, who is wonderful in advice, and excellent in working. ___Isaiah chapter 29 1 Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David lived! Add year to year, let them kill sacrifices. 2 Yet I will put Ariel in distress, and there shall be heaviness and sorrow, and it shall be to me like Ariel. 3 And I will camp against you all around, and will lay siege against you with a mount, and I'll raise forts against you. 4 And you'll be brought down, and shall speak out of the ground, and your speech shall be low out of the dust, and your voice shall be, like from someone that has a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and your speech shall whisper out of the dust. 5 Also, the multitude of your strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be like chaff that passes away, yes, it shall be at an instant, suddenly. 6 You'll be visited from the Lord of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire. 7 And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be like a dream of a night vision. 8 It shall even be like when a hungry man dreams, and see, he eats, but he wakes up, and his soul is empty, or like when a thirsty man dreams, and see, he drinks, but he wakes up, and see, he is faint, and his soul has appetite, so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against Mount Zion. 9 Stay yourselves, and wonder, cry out, and cry, they are drunken, but not with wine, they stagger, but not with strong drink. 10 For the Lord has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes, the prophets and your rulers, he has covered the seers. 11 And the vision of all has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed, which men hand to someone that is learned, saying, "Read this, please," and he says, "I can't, for it's sealed," 12 And the book is handed to him that is not learned, saying, "Read this, please," and he says, "I'm not learned." 13 So the Lord said, "Since this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the concepts of men, 14 Therefore, see, I'll proceed to do a marvelous work among these people, even a marvelous work and a wonder, for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden." 15 Woe to those who seek deep to hide their plans from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, "Who sees us? And who knows us?" 16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed like the potter's clay, for shall the work say about him that made it, he didn't make me?" Or shall the thing framed say about him that framed it, "He had no understanding?" 17 Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed to be a forest? 18 And in that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness. 19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy one of Israel. 20 For the terrible one has been brought to nothing, and the scorner has been consumed, and all that watch for sin are cut off, 21 That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a trap for him that reprimands in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nothing. 22 Therefore thus says the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, "Jacob shall not now be ashamed, nor shall his face now grow pale. 23 But when he sees his children, the work of my hands, among him, they shall my name make holy, and make holy the Holy one of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel. 24 Also, those that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and those who murmured shall learn doctrine. ___Isaiah chapter 30 1 "Woe to the rebellious children," says the Lord, "that get advice, but not from me, and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, so they can add sin to sin, 2 That walk to go down into Egypt, and haven't asked at my mouth, to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! 3 Therefore the strength of Pharaoh shall be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. 4 For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes. 5 They were all ashamed of a people that couldn't profit them, nor be a help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach." 6 The burden of the beasts of the south, into the land of trouble and anguish, from where the young and old lion come, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they'll carry their riches on the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures on the humps of camels, to a people that won't profit them. 7 For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose, therefore I've shouted concerning this, their strength is to sit still. 8 Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, so it will be for the time to come forever and always, 9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that won't listen to the law of the Lord, 10 Who say to the seers, don't see, and to the prophets, don't prophesy to us right things, speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits, 11 Get out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy one of Israel to stop from before us. 12 So thus says the Holy one of Israel, "Because you despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay on it, 13 Therefore this sin shall be to you like a broken wall ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking comes suddenly at an instant. 14 And he shall break it like the breaking of the potter's container that is broken in pieces, he shall not spare, so that there won't be found in the bursting of it a broken piece of pottery to take fire from the hearth, or to take water with it out of the pit." 15 For thus says the Lord God, the Holy one of Israel, "In returning and rest shall you be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength, and you weren't willing. 16 But you said, No, for we'll flee on horses, therefore you'll flee, and, we'll ride on the swift, therefore those who pursue you shall be swift. 17 One thousand shall flee at the reprimand of one, at the reprimand of five you'll flee, until you're left like a beacon on the top of a mountain, and like a flag on a hill." 18 And therefore the Lord will wait, so that he can be gracious to you, and therefore he'll be exalted, so he can have mercy on you, for the Lord is a God of justice, blessed are all of those who wait for him. 19 For the people shall live in Zion at Jerusalem, you'll weep no more, he will be very gracious to you at the voice of your cry, when he shall hear it, he will answer you. 20 And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet your teachers won't be removed into a corner anymore, but your eyes shall see your teachers, 21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left. 22 You shall also defile the covering of your engraved images of silver, and the ornament of your cast-in-foundry images of gold, you shall throw them away like a menstruous cloth, you'll say to it, "Get away from here." 23 Then he'll give the rain of your seed, that you'll plant the ground with, and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous, in that day your cattle shall feed in large pastures. 24 The oxen likewise and the young donkeys that ear the ground shall eat clean food, which has been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan. 25 And there shall be on every high mountain, and on every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. 26 Also the light of the moon shall be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, like the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord binds up the damage to his people, and heals the stroke of their wound. 27 See, the name of the Lord comes from far, burning with his anger, and the burden of it is heavy, his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue like a devouring fire, 28 And his breath, like an overflowing stream, shall reach to the middle of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity, and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err. 29 You'll have a song, like in the night when a holy solemnity is kept, and gladness of heart, like when someone goes with a flute to come into the mountain of the Lord, to the mighty one of Israel. 30 And the Lord shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall show the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones. 31 For through the voice of the Lord, the Assyrian shall be beaten down, who struck with a rod. 32 And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the Lord shall lay on him, it shall be with tabrets and harps, and in battles of shaking he'll fight with it. 33 For Tophet is ordained of old, yes, for the king it is prepared, he has made it deep and large, the pile of it is fire and much wood, the breath of the Lord, like a stream of sulphur, kindles it. ___Isaiah chapter 31 1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many, and in horsemen, because they are very strong, but they don't look to the Holy one of Israel, nor seek the Lord! 2 Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and won't retract his words, but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of those who sin. 3 Now the Egyptians are men, and not God, and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord shall stretch out his hand, both he that helps shall fall, and he that is helped shall fall down, and they all shall fail together. 4 For thus has the Lord spoken to me, like the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called out against him, he won't be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them, so shall the Lord of hosts come down to fight for Mount Zion, and for the hill of it. 5 Like birds flying, so the Lord of hosts will defend Jerusalem, defending also he'll deliver it, and passing over he'll preserve it. 6 Turn to him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted. 7 For in that day every man shall throw away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, that your own hands have made for you for a sin. 8 Then the Assyrian shall fall by the sword, not of a mighty man, and the sword, not of a lowly man, shall devour him, but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be struck. 9 And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the flag, says the Lord, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem. ___Isaiah chapter 32 1 See, a king shall rule in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. 2 And a man shall be like a hiding place from the wind, and a shelter from the tempest, like rivers of water in a dry place, like the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. 3 And the eyes of those who see shall not be dim, and the ears of those who hear shall listen. 4 The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly. 5 The filthy person shall no more be called liberal, nor the cheapskate said to be abundant. 6 For the filthy person will speak villainy, and his heart will work sin, to practice hypocrisy, and to speak error against the Lord, to make the soul of the hungry empty, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail. 7 The instruments also of the cheapskate are evil, he devises wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaks right. 8 But the liberal devises liberal things, and by liberal things he'll stand. 9 Rise up, you women that are at ease, hear my voice, you careless daughters, give ear to my speech. 10 You'll be troubled for many days and years, you careless women, for the vintage shall fail, the gathering won't come. 11 Tremble, you women that are at ease, be troubled, you careless ones, strip yourselves, and make youselves bare, and clothe your midsections with burlap. 12 They shall lament for the teats, for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine. 13 On the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers, yes, on all the houses of joy in the joyous city, 14 Because the palaces shall be forsaken, the multitude of the city shall be left, the forts and towers shall be for dens forever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks, 15 Until the spirit is poured on us from on high, and the wilderness is a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is counted as a forest. 16 Then judgment shall live in the wilderness, and righteousness shall remain in the fruitful field. 17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever. 18 And my people shall live in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places, 19 When it shall hail, coming down on the forest, and the city shall be low in a low place. 20 Blessed are you that plant beside all waters, that send out there the feet of the ox and the donkey. ___Isaiah chapter 33 1 Woe to you that spoil, and you were not spoiled, and deal treacherously, and they didn't deal treacherously with you! When you stop spoiling, you'll be spoiled, and when you stop dealing treacherously, they'll deal treacherously with you. 2 O Lord, be gracious to us, we have waited for you, be their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble. 3 At the noise of the rioting, the people fled, at the lifting up of yourself, the nations were scattered. 4 And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpillar, like the running back and forth of locusts he shall run at them. 5 The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high, he has filled Zion with justice and righteousness. 6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of your times, and strength of salvation, the fear of the Lord is his treasure. 7 See, their valiant ones shall cry outside, the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly. 8 The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man stops, he has broken the covenant, he has despised the cities, he regards no man. 9 The earth mourns and languishes, Lebanon is ashamed and cut down, Sharon is like a wilderness, and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits. 10 Now I'll rise, says the Lord, now I'll be exalted, now I'll lift up myself. 11 You shall conceive chaff, you shall produce stubble, your breath, like fire, shall devour you. 12 And the people shall be like the burnings of lime, like thorns cut up, they'll be burned in the fire. 13 Hear what I've done, you that are far off, and, you that are near, acknowledge my might. 14 The sinners in Zion are afraid, fearfulness has surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall live with the devouring fire? Who among us shall live with everlasting burnings? 15 He that walks righteously, and speaks uprightly, he that despises the gain of oppressions, that stops his hands from holding bribes, that stops his ears from hearing of blood sheding, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil, 16 He shall live on high, his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks, bread shall be given to him, his waters shall be sure. 17 Your eyes shall see the king in his beauty, they shall see the land that is very far off. 18 Your heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? Where is the receiver? Where is he that counted the towers? 19 You won't see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than you can perceive, of a stammering tongue, that you can't understand. 20 Look at Zion, the city of our solemnities, your eyes shall see Jerusalem, a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that won't be taken down, not one of the stakes of it shall ever be removed, nor shall any of the cords of it be broken. 21 But there, the glorious Lord will be to us a place of broad rivers and streams, in which shall go no galley with oars, nor shall gallant ships pass by there. 22 For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king, he will save us. 23 Your tacklings are loosed, they couldn't well strengthen their mast, they couldn't spread the sail, then is the prey of a great spoil divided, the lame take the prey. 24 And the inhabitant shall not say, "I am sick," the people that live in it shall be forgiven their sins. ___Isaiah chapter 34 1 Come near to hear, you nations, and listen, you people, let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world, and all things that come from it. 2 For the indignation of the Lord is on all nations, and his fury on all their armies, he has completely destroyed them, he has delivered them to the slaughter. 3 Their slain also shall be thrown out, and their stink shall come up out of their dead bodies, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood. 4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together like a scroll, and all their host shall fall down, like the leaf falls off of the vine, and like a falling fig from the fig tree. 5 For my sword shall be bathed in heaven, see, it shall come down on Idumea, and on the people of my curse, for judgment. 6 The sword of the Lord is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams, for the Lord has a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea. 7 And the wild bulls shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls, and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust shall be made fat with fatness. 8 For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year of repayments for the controversy of Zion. 9 And the streams of it shall be turned into pitch, and the dust of it into sulphur, and the land of it shall become burning pitch. 10 It shall not be quenched night nor day, the smoke of it shall go up forever, from generation to generation it shall lie waste, no one shall pass through it forever and always. 11 But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it, the owl also and the raven shall live in it, and he shall stretch out on it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness. 12 They shall call the nobles of it to the kingdom, but no one shall be there, and all her princes shall be nothing. 13 And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses of it, and it shall be a habitation of dragons, and a court for owls. 14 The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow, the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest. 15 The great owl shall make her nest there, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow, there shall the vultures also be gathered, everyone with her mate. 16 Seek out of the book of the Lord, and read, not one of these shall fail, no one shall want her mate, for my mouth has commanded, and his spirit has gathered them. 17 And he has drawn straws for them, and his hand has divided it to them by line, they shall possess it forever, from generation to generation they'll live in it. ___Isaiah chapter 35 1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom like the rose. 2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing, the glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon, they'll see the glory of the Lord, and the excellence of our God. 3 Strengthen the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. 4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart, be strong, don't be afraid, see, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a repayment, he will come and save you. 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then the lame man shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing, for in the wilderness, waters shall break out, and streams in the desert. 7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water, in the habitation of dragons, where each lies, shall be grass with bamboo and rushes. 8 And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness, the unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for those, the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err in it. 9 No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it, it won't be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there, 10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy on their heads, they'll obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. ___Isaiah chapter 36 1 Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, came up against all the defenced cities of Judah, and took them. 2 And the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem to king Hezekiah with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field. 3 Then Eliakim, Hilkiah's son came out to him, who was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, Asaph's son, the recorder. 4 And Rabshakeh said to them, "Say now to Hezekiah, thus says the great king, the king of Assyria, what confidence is this in which you trust? 5 I say that you say, (but they are but vain words) I have advice and strength for war, now on whom do you trust, that you rebel against me? 6 See, you trust in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand, and pierce it, that's what Pharaoh king of Egypt is to all who trust in him. 7 But if you say to me, we trust in the Lord our God, isn't it he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and said to Judah and to Jerusalem, you shall worship before this altar? 8 Now therefore give security deposits, please, to my master the king of Assyria, and I'll give you two thousand horses, if you're able on your part to set riders on them. 9 How then will you turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put your trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen? 10 And have I now come up without the Lord against this land to destroy it? The Lord said to me, go up against this land, and destroy it." 11 Then Eliakim and Shebna and Joah said to Rabshakeh, "Please speak to your servants in the Syrian language, for we understand it, and don't speak to us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall." 12 But Rabshakeh said, "Has my master sent me to your master and to you to speak these words? Hasn't he sent me to the men that sit on the wall, so that they can eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?" 13 Then Rabshakeh stood, and shouted with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and said, "Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria. 14 Thus says the king, don't let Hezekiah deceive you, for he won't be able to deliver you. 15 And don't let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, the Lord will surely deliver us, this city won't be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. 16 Don't listen to Hezekiah, for thus says the king of Assyria, make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and eat everyone from his vine, and everyone from his fig tree, and drink everyone the waters of his own well, 17 Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards. 18 Beware so that Hezekiah doesn't persuade you, saying, the Lord will deliver us. Have any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? 19 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arphad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? And have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? 20 Who are they among all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, so that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?" 21 But they were silent, and didn't answer him a word, for the king's commandment was, "Don't answer him." 22 Then Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, that was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of Rabshakeh. ___Isaiah chapter 37 1 And when king Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord. 2 And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz. 3 And they said to him, "Thus says Hezekiah, this day is a day of trouble, and of reprimand, and of blasphemy, for the children have come to the birth, and there isn't enough strength to give birth. 4 It may be that the Lord your God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master has sent to reproach the living God, and will reprimand the words that the Lord your God has heard, so lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left." 5 So the servants of king Hezekiah went to Isaiah. 6 And Isaiah said to them, "Thus shall you say to your master, thus says the Lord, don't be afraid of the words that you've heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. 7 See, I will send a blast against him, and he'll hear a rumor, and return to his own land, and I'll cause him to fall by the sword in his own land." 8 So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah, for he had heard that he had departed from Lachish. 9 And he heard concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia that he has come out to make war with you. And when he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, 10 "Thus shall you speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Don't let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria. 11 See, you've heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by destroying them completely, and shall you be delivered? 12 Have the gods of the nations delivered those whom my fathers have destroyed, like Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden who were in Telassar? 13 Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?" 14 And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it, and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord, saying, 16 "O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, that lives between the cherubims, you are the God, even you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth, you have made heaven and earth. 17 Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear, open your eyes, O Lord, and see, and hear all the words of Sennacherib, who has sent to reproach the living God. 18 Of a truth, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries, 19 And have thrown their gods into the fire, for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone, therefore they've destroyed them. 20 Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you are the Lord, even you only." 21 Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel, whereas you have prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, 22 This is the word that the Lord has spoken concerning him, the virgin, the daughter of Zion, has despised you, and laughed at you scornfully, the daughter of Jerusalem has shaken her head at you. 23 Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? And against whom have you exalted your voice, and lifted up your eyes on high? Even against the Holy One of Israel. 24 By your servants you've reproached the Lord, and have said, by the multitude of my chariots I've come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and I'll cut down the tall cedars of it, and the choice fir trees of it, and I'll enter into the height of his border, and the forest of his Carmel. 25 I've dug, and drunk water, and with the sole of my feet I've dried up all the rivers of the besieged places. 26 Haven't you heard long ago, how I have done it, and of ancient times, that I have formed it? Now I've made it happen that you would lay waste defenced cities into ruinous heaps. 27 Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confused, they were like the grass of the field, and like the green herb, like the grass on the housetops, and like corn blasted before it's grown up. 28 But I know where you live, and your going out, and your coming in, and your rage against me. 29 Because your rage against me, and your tumult, has come up into my ears, therefore I'll put my hook in your nose, and my bridle in your lips, and I'll turn you back the way that you came. 30 And this shall be a sign to you, you'll eat this year such as grows of itself, and the second year that which springs of the same, and in the third year plant, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruits of them. 31 And the remnant that has escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward, 32 For from Jerusalem shall go out a remnant, and those who escape out of Mount Zion, the zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this. 33 Therefore, thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, he won't come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor build a mound against it. 34 By the way that he came, by the same way he'll return, and shall not come into this city, says the Lord. 35 For I will defend this city to save it for my own sake, and for my servant David's sake." 36 Then the angel of the Lord went out, and struck one hundred eighty five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians, and when they got up early in the morning, see, they were all dead corpses. 37 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and lived at Nineveh. 38 And as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, struck him with the sword, and they escaped into the land of Armenia, and Esarhaddon his son ruled instead of him. ___Isaiah chapter 38 1 In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, "Thus says the Lord, set your house in order, for you'll die, and not live." 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, 3 And said, "Remember now, O Lord, I beg of you, how I've walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done what is good in your sight." And Hezekiah cried a lot. 4 Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying, 5 "Go, and say to Hezekiah, thus says the Lord, the God of David your father, I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears, see, I'll add to your life fifteen years. 6 And I'll deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I'll defend this city. 7 And this shall be a sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do this thing that he has spoken, 8 See, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, that has gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward." So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it had gone down. 9 The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and had recovered from his sickness, 10 "I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave, I'm deprived of the remainder of my years. 11 I said, I shall not see the Lord, even the Lord, in the land of the living, I shall see man no more with the inhabitants of the world. 12 My age has departed, and has been removed from me like a shepherd's tent, I have cut off my life like a weaver, he will cut me off with pining sickness, from day even until night you'll make an end of me. 13 I reckoned 'til morning, that, like a lion, so he'll break all my bones, from day even 'til night you'll make an end of me. 14 I chattered like a crane or a swallow, I mourned like a dove, my eyes fail by looking upward, O Lord, I'm oppressed, undertake for me. 15 What shall I say? He has both spoken to me, and himself has done it, I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul. 16 O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit, so you'll recover me, and make me live. 17 See, instead of peace I had great bitterness, but you have in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption, for you've thrown all my sins behind your back. 18 For the grave can't praise you, death can't celebrate you, those who go down into the pit can't hope for your truth. 19 The living, the living, he shall praise you, as I do this day, the father to the children shall make known your truth. 20 The Lord was ready to save me, therefore we will sing my songs accoompanied by the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the Lord." 21 For Isaiah had said, "Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaster on the boil, and he'll recover." 22 Hezekiah also had said, "What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the Lord?" ___Isaiah chapter 39 1 At that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he had heard that he had been sick, and had recovered. 2 And Hezekiah was glad about them, and showed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures, there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah didn't show them. 3 Then Isaiah, the prophet, went to king Hezekiah, and said to him, "What did these men say? And where did they come to you from?" And Hezekiah said, "They came from a far country to me, from Babylon." 4 Then he said, "What have they seen in your house?" And Hezekiah answered, "They've see all that is in my house, there is nothing among my treasures that I haven't shown them." 5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the Lord of hosts, 6 See, the days come, that all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon, nothing shall be left, says the Lord. 7 And of your sons that shall issue from you, that you'll father, they'll take away, and they'll be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. 8 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, the word of the Lord that you've spoken is good. He also said, for there shall be peace and truth in my days." ___Isaiah chapter 40 1 "Comfort you, comfort you my people," says your God. 2 "Speak comfortably to Jerusalem, and shout to her, that her warfare has been accomplished, that her sin is pardoned, for she has received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins." 3 "The voice of him that cries in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain, 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it." 6 The voice said, "Shout." And he said, "What shall I shout?" "All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness of it is like the flower of the field, 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, because the spirit of the Lord blows on it, surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God shall stand forever." 9 O Zion, that brings good news, get up into the high mountain, O Jerusalem, that brings good news, lift up your voice with strength, lift it up, don't be afraid, say to the cities of Judah, "See your God!" 10 See, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him, see, his reward is with him, and his work before him. 11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those who are with young. 12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and measured out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? 13 Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counselor has taught him? 14 From whom did he get advice, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding? 15 See, the nations are like a drop in a bucket, and are counted like the small dust of the balance, see, he takes up the islands like a very little thing. 16 And Lebanon is not enough to burn, nor the beasts of it sufficient for a burnt offering. 17 All nations before him are like nothing, and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity. 18 To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to him? 19 The workman melts a engraved image, and the goldsmith spreads it over with gold, and casts in foundry silver chains. 20 He that is so impoverished that he has no offering chooses a tree that won't rot, he seeks for himself a cunning workman to prepare an engraved image that won't be moved. 21 Haven't you known? Haven't you heard? Hasn't it been told you from the beginning? Haven't you understood from the foundations of the earth? 22 It is he that sits on the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants of it are like grasshoppers, that stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to live in, 23 That brings the princes to nothing, he makes the judges of the earth like vanity. 24 Yes, they won't be planted, yes, they won't be planted, yes, their stock won't take root in the earth, and he shall also blow on them, and they'll wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away like stubble. 25 "To whom then will you liken me, or shall I be equal?", says the Holy one. 26 Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things, that brings out their host by number, he calls them all by names by the greatness of his might, because he is strong in power, not one fails. 27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the Lord, and my judgment has passed over from my God?" 28 Haven't you known? Haven't you heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the creator of the ends of the earth, doesn't faint, nor becomes weary? There is no searching of his understanding. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to those who have no might, he increases strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall completely fall, 31 But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength, they'll mount up with wings like eagles, they'll run, and not be weary, and they'll walk, and not faint. ___Isaiah chapter 41 1 Keep silence before me, O islands, and let the people renew their strength, let them come near, then let them speak, let us come near together to judgment. 2 Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? He gave them like the dust to his sword, and like wind blown stubble to his bow. 3 He pursued them, and passed safely, even by the way that he had not gone with his feet. 4 Who has made and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the Lord, the first, and with the last, I am he. 5 The islands saw it, and feared, the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came. 6 Everyone helped his neighbor, and everyone said to his brother, "Be of good courage." 7 So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smoothes with the hammer him that struck the anvil, saying, "It is ready for the soldering," and he fastened it with nails, so that it wouldn't move. 8 But you, Israel, are my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham, my friend. 9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called you from the chief men of it, and said to you, "You're my servant, I've chosen you, and not thrown you away. 10 Don't be afraid, for I am with you, don't be dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness. 11 See, all of those who were incensed against you shall be ashamed and confused, they'll be as nothing, and those who strive with you shall die. 12 You'll seek them, and won't find them, even those who contended with you, those who war against you shall be like nothing, and a thing that is nothing. 13 For I the Lord your God will hold your right hand, saying to you, don't be afraid, I will help you. 14 Fear not, you worm Jacob, and you men of Israel, I will help you, says the Lord, and your redeemer, the Holy one of Israel. 15 See, I will make you a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth, you'll thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shall make the hills like chaff. 16 You'll fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them, and you'll rejoice in the Lord, and shall glory in the Holy one of Israel. 17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue fails for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel won't forsake them. 18 I'll open rivers in high places, and fountains among the valleys, I'll make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. 19 I'll plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree, I'll set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together, 20 So they can see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has done this, and the Holy one of Israel has created it. 21 Produce your cause, says the Lord, bring out your strong reasons, says the King of Jacob. 22 Let them bring them out, and show us what shall happen, let them show the previous things, what they are, so we can consider them, and know the latter end of them, or tell us things that will come in the future. 23 Show the things that are to come hereafter, so we can know that you are gods, yes, do good, or do evil, so we can be astonished, and see it together. 24 See, you're of nothing, and your work is of nothing, a dirty thing is he that chooses you. 25 I have raised up someone from the north, and he shall come, from the rising of the sun shall he call on my name, and he shall come agaist princes like against mortar, and like the potter tramples clay. 26 Who has declared from the beginning, so we can know? And previously, so we can say, he is righteous? Yes, there is no one that shows, yes, there is no one that declares, yes, there is no one that hears your words. 27 The first shall say to Zion, see, see them, and I will give to Jerusalem someone that brings good news. 28 For I looked, and there was no man, even among them, and there was no counselor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word. 29 See, they're all vanity, their works are nothing, their images that have been cast in the foundry are wind and confusion. ___Isaiah chapter 42 1 See my servant, whom I uphold, my elect, in whom my soul delights, I've put my spirit on him, he shall bring forth justice for the Gentiles. 2 He won't shout, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. 3 He won't break a bruised reed, and he won't quench the smoking flax, he shall bring forth judgment to truth. 4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, 'til he has set justice in the earth, and the islands shall wait for his law. 5 Thus says God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out, he that spread forth the earth, and that which comes out of it, he that gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk in it, 6 "I the Lord have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand, and will keep you, and give you for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles, 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and those who sit in darkness out of the prison house. 8 I am the Lord, that is my name, and I won't give my glory to someone else, nor my praise to engraved images. 9 See, the former things have happened, and I declare new things, before they happen I tell you about them." 10 Sing to the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, you that go down to the sea, and all that is in it, the islands, and the inhabitants of it. 11 Let the wilderness and the cities of it lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar inhabits, let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. 12 Let them give glory to the Lord, and declare his praise in the islands. 13 The Lord shall go forth like a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war, he shall cry, yes, roar, he shall prevail against his enemies. 14 I've been quiet for a long time, I've been still, and refrained myself, now I'll cry like a woman during childbirth, I'll destroy and devour at once. 15 I'll make mountains and hills waste, and dry up all their herbs, and I'll make the rivers islands, and I'll dry up the pools. 16 And I'll bring the blind by a way that they didn't know, I'll lead them in paths that they haven't known, I'll turn darkness into light before them, and crooked things straight. I'll do these things to them, and not forsake them. 17 They'll be turned back, they'll be greatly ashamed, that trust in engraved images, that say to the images that are cast in the foundry, you are our gods. 18 Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, so that you can see. 19 Who is blind, but my servant? Or deaf, like my messenger that I sent? Who is blind like he that is perfect, and blind like the Lord's servant? 20 Seeing many things, but you don't observe, opening the ears, but he doesn't hear. 21 The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness' sake, he will magnify the law, and make it honorable. 22 But these people are robbed and spoiled, they are all trapped in holes, and they are hidden in prison houses, they are for a prey, and no one provides deliverance, for a spoil, and no one says, "Restore." 23 Who among you will give ear to this? Who will listen and hear for the time to come? 24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? Didn't the Lord, he against whom we've sinned? For they wouldn't walk in his ways, nor were they obedient to his law. 25 Therefore he has poured on him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle, and it has set him on fire all around, yet he didn't know, and it burned him, yet he didn't take it seriously. ___Isaiah chapter 43 1 But now thus says the Lord that created you, O Jacob, and he that formed you, O Israel, "Don't be afraid, for I've redeemed you, I have called you by your name, you're mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I'll be with you, and through the rivers, they won't overflow you, when you walk through the fire, you won't be burned, nor shall the flame kindle on you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy one of Israel, your Savior, I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for you. 4 Since you were precious in my sight, you've been honorable, and I have loved you, therefore I'll give men for you, and people for your life. 5 Fear not, for I am with you, I'll bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west, 6 I will say to the north, give up, and to the south, don't hold back, bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth, 7 Even everyone that is called by my name, for I've created him for my glory, I've formed him, yes, I've made him. 8 Bring out the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. 9 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled, who among them can declare this, and show us former things? Let them bring out their witnesses, so they can be justified, or let them hear, and say, "It is truth." 10 "You are my witnesses," says the Lord, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you'll know and believe me, and understand that I am he, before me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after me. 11 I, even I, am the Lord, and beside me there is no savior. 12 I've declared, and have saved, and I've shown, when there was no strange god among you, therefore you are my witnesses, says the Lord, that I am God. 13 Yes, before the day was, I am he, and there is no one that can deliver out of my hand, I will work, and who shall hinder it? 14 Thus says the Lord, your redeemer, the Holy one of Israel, for your sake I've sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose shout is in their ships. 15 I am the Lord, your Holy one, the creator of Israel, your King. 16 Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters, 17 Who brings out the chariot and horse, the army and the power, they shall lie down together, they won't rise, they are extinct, they are quenched like straw. 18 Don't remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. 19 See, I'll do a new thing, now it shall spring forth, shall you not know it? I'll even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. 20 The animal of the field shall honor me, the dragons and the owls, because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. 21 I've formed these people for myself, they shall show forth my praise. 22 But you haven't called on me, O Jacob, but you've been weary of me, O Israel. 23 You haven't brought me the small cattle of your burnt offerings, nor have you honored me with your sacrifices. I haven't caused you to serve with an offering, nor wearied you with incense. 24 You've bought me no sweet cane with money, nor have you filled me with the fat of your sacrifices, but you've made me to serve with your sins, you've wearied me with your sins. 25 I, even I, am he that blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and won't remember your sins. 26 Remind me, let us plead together, declare so that you'll be justified. 27 Your first father has sinned, and your teachers have transgressed against me. 28 Therefore I've profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches. ___Isaiah chapter 44 1 Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant, and Israel, whom I have chosen, 2 Thus says the Lord that made you, and formed you from the womb, who will help you, don't be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, and you, Jesurun, whom I've chosen. 3 For I will pour water on him that is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground, I will pour my spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring, 4 And they shall spring up like among the grass, like willows by the water courses. 5 Someone shall say, I am the Lord's, and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob, and another shall subscribe with his hand to the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel. 6 Thus says the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts, I am the first, and I am the last, and beside me there is no God. 7 And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? And the things that are coming, and shall come, let them show to them. 8 Don't fear, nor be afraid, haven't I told you from that time, and have declared it? You are my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? No, there is no God, I don't know any. 9 Those who make a engraved image are all of them vanity, and their delectable things shall not profit, and they are their own witnesses, they don't see, nor know, so that they'll be ashamed. 10 Who has formed a god, or cast in the foundry an engraved image that is profitable for nothing? 11 See, all his fellows shall be ashamed, and the workmen, they are of men, let them all be gathered together, let them stand up, yet they'll be afraid, and they'll be ashamed together. 12 The smith with the tongs works in the coals, and fashions it with hammers, and works it with the strength of his arms, yes, he is hungry, and his strength fails, he drinks no water, and is faint. 13 The carpenter stretches out his rule, he marks it out with a line, he fits it with planes, and he marks it out with the circle, and makes it like the form of a man, according to the beauty of a man, so it will remain in the house. 14 He cuts down cedars for himself, and takes the cypress and the oak that he strengthens for himself among the trees of the forest, he plants an ash, and the rain nourishes it. 15 Then it shall be for a man to burn, for he will take of it, and warm himself, yes, he kindles it, and bakes bread, yes, he makes a god, and worships it, he makes it a engraved image, and falls down to it. 16 He burns part of it in the fire, with part of it he eats flesh, he roasts some roast, and is satisfied, yes, he warms himself, and says, "Aha, I'm warm, I have seen the fire," 17 And the remainder of it he makes a god, even his engraved image, he falls down to it, and worships it, and prays to it, and says, deliver me, for you're my god. 18 They have not known nor understood, for he has shut their eyes, so that they can't see, and their hearts, so that they can't understand. 19 And no one considers in his heart, nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say, "I've burned part of it in the fire, yes, also I've baked bread on the coals of it, I've roasted flesh, and eaten it, and shall I make the remainder of it a dirty thing? Shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?" 20 He feeds on ashes, a deceived heart has turned him aside, so he can't deliver his soul, nor say, is there not a lie in my right hand? 21 Remember these, O Jacob and Israel, for you're my servant, I've formed you, you're my servant, O Israel, you won't be forgotten by me. 22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and like a cloud, your sins, return to me, for I've redeemed you. 23 Sing, O you heavens, for the Lord has done it, shout, you lower parts of the earth, break out into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it, for the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel. 24 Thus says the Lord, your redeemer, and he that formed you from the womb, I am the Lord that makes all things, that stretches out the heavens alone, that spreads abroad the earth by myself, 25 That frustrates the tokens of the liars, and makes diviners crazy, that turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolish, 26 That confirms the word of his servant, and performs the advice of his messengers, that says to Jerusalem, "You shall be inhabited," and to the cities of Judah, "You shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places of it," 27 That says to the deep, "Be dry, and I will dry up your rivers," 28 That says of Cyrus, "He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure," even saying to Jerusalem, "You shall be built, and to the temple, your foundation shall be laid." ___Isaiah chapter 45 1 Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations before him, and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates, and the gates shall not be shut, 2 "I will go before you, and make the crooked places straight, I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in pieces the bars of iron, 3 And I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, so you'll know that I, the Lord, who calls you by your name, am the God of Israel." 4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel my elect, I have even called you by your name, I have surnamed you, though you haven't known me. 5 I am the Lord, and there is no one else, there is no God beside me, I clothed you, though you haven't known me, 6 So they'll know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is no one beside me. I am the Lord, and there is no one else. 7 I form the light, and create darkness, I make peace, and create evil, I the Lord do all these things. 8 Drop down, you heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness, let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together, I the Lord have created it. 9 Woe to him that strives with his maker! Let the pieces of broken pottery strive with broken pottery of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashions it, "What are you making?" Or your work, "He has no hands?" 10 Woe to him that says to his father, "What have you fathered?" Or to the woman, "What have you brought forth?" 11 Thus says the Lord, the Holy one of Israel, and his maker, "Ask me about things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command me. 12 I have made the earth, and created man on it, I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and I've commanded all their host. 13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I'll direct all his ways, he shall build my city, and he'll let my captives go, not for price nor reward, says the Lord of hosts." 14 Thus says the Lord, "The labor of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over to you, and they'll be yours, they shall come after you, in chains they'll come over, and they'll fall down to you, they shall make supplication to you, saying, surely God is in you, and there is no one else, there is no God." 15 Truly you're a God that hides yourself, O God of Israel, the Savior. 16 They shall be ashamed, and also confused, all of them, they'll go to confusion together that are makers of idols. 17 But Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation, you won't be ashamed nor confused world without end. 18 For thus says the Lord that created the heavens, God himself that formed the earth and made it, "He has established it, he didn't create it in vain, he formed it to be inhabited, I am the Lord, and there is no one else. 19 I haven't spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth, I didn't say to the descendants of Jacob, seek me in vain, I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. 20 Assemble yourselves and come, draw near together, you that have escaped from the nations, they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their engraved image, and pray to a god that can't save. 21 Tell, and bring them near, yes, let them get advice together, who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Haven't I the Lord? And there is no God else beside me, a just God and a Savior, there is no one beside me. 22 Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is no one else. 23 I've sworn by myself, the word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that to me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. 24 Surely, shall one say, "In the Lord I have righteousness and strength," men shall come to him, and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. 25 In the Lord all the descendants of Israel shall be justified, and shall glory. ___Isaiah chapter 46 1 Bel bows down, Nebo stoops, their idols were on the animals, and on the cattle, your baggage was heavily loaded, they are a burden to the weary beast. 2 They stoop, they bow down together, they couldn't deliver the burden, but themselves have gone into captivity. 3 Listen to me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, who are carried by me from the belly, who are carried from the womb, 4 And even to your old age I am he, and even to gray hairs I will carry you, I have made, and I will carry, even I will carry, and will give you deliverance. 5 To whom will you liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, so we'll be alike? 6 They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god, they fall down, yes, they worship. 7 They carry him on the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he stands, he won't move from his place, yes, someone shall cry to him, yet he can't answer, nor save him out of his trouble. 8 Remember this, and show yourselves to be men, bring it again to mind, O you transgressors. 9 Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no one else, I am God, and there is no one like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, "My advice shall stand, and I'll do all my pleasure, 11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executes my advice from a far country, yes, I have spoken it, I will also make it happen, I have purposed it, I'll also do it. 12 Listen to me, you stouthearted, that are far from righteousness, 13 I bring near my righteousness, it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not wait, and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory. ___Isaiah chapter 47 1 Come down and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground, there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans, for you won't anymore be called tender and delicate. 2 Take the millstones, and grind meal, uncover your locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers. 3 Your nakedness shall be uncovered, yes, your shame shall be seen, I'll take vengeance, and I won't meet you like a man. 4 As for our redeemer, the Lord of hosts is his name, the Holy one of Israel. 5 Sit silent, and get into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans, for you shall no more be called, the lady of kingdoms. 6 I was angry with my people, I've polluted my inheritance, and given them into your hand, you showed them no mercy, on the senior citizens you've very heavily laid your yoke. 7 And you said, "I shall be a lady forever," so that you didn't lay these things to heart, nor did you remember the latter end of it. 8 Therefore hear now this, you who is given to pleasures, that lives carelessly, that says in your heart, "I am, and no one else beside me, I shall not sit like a widow, nor shall I know the loss of children," 9 But these two things shall come to you in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood, they shall come on you in their perfection for the multitude of your sorceries, and for the great abundance of your enchantments. 10 For you've trusted in your wickedness, you've said, "No one sees me." Your wisdom and your knowledge have perverted you, and you've said in your heart, "I am, and no one else beside me." 11 Therefore evil shall come on you, you won't know from where it rises, and mischief shall fall on you, you won't be able to put it off, and desolation shall come on you suddenly, that you won't know. 12 Stand now with your enchantments, and with the multitude of your sorceries, in which you've labored from your youth, if perhaps you'll be able to profit, if perhaps you'll prevail. 13 You're wearied in the multitude of your advice. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save you from these things that shall come against you. 14 See, they shall be like stubble, the fire shall burn them, they won't deliver themselves from the power of the flame, there won't be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before. 15 Thus shall they be to you with whom you have labored, even your merchants, from your youth, they shall wander everyone to his quarter, no one shall save you. ___Isaiah chapter 48 1 Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and have come out of the waters of Judah, who swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness. 2 For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves on the God of Israel, the Lord of hosts is his name. 3 I've declared the former things from the beginning, and they went out of my mouth, and I showed them, I did them suddenly, and they happened. 4 Because I knew that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron tendon, and your brow brass, 5 I have even from the beginning declared it to you, before it happened I showed it you, so that you wouldn't say, my idol has done them, and my engraved image, and my image that was cast in the foundry, has commanded them. 6 You've heard, see all this, and won't you declare it? I've shown you new things from this time, even hidden things, and you didn't know them. 7 They are created now, and not from the beginning, even before the day when you hadn't heard them, so you wouldn't say, "See, I knew them." 8 Yes, you didn't hear, yes, you didn't know, yes, from that time that your ear was not opened, for I knew that you would deal very treacherously, and were called a transgressor from the womb. 9 For my name's sake will I defer my anger, and for my praise I'll refrain for you, so I don't cut you off. 10 See, I've refined you, but not with silver, I've chosen you in the furnace of affliction. 11 For my own sake, even for my own sake, I'll do it, for how should my name be polluted? And I won't give my glory to someone else. 12 Listen to me, O Jacob and Israel, my called, I am he, I am the first, I also am the last. 13 My hand also has laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand has spanned the heavens, when I call to them, they stand up together. 14 All of you, assemble yourselves, and hear, who among them has declared these things? The Lord has loved him, he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans. 15 I, even I, have spoken, yes, I've called him, I've brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous. 16 Come near to me, hear this, I haven't spoken in secret from the beginning, from the time that it was, there I am, and now the Lord God, and his Spirit, has sent me. 17 Thus says the Lord, your redeemer, the Holy one of Israel, I am the Lord your God who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way that you should go. 18 O that you had listened to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea, 19 Your descendants also would have been like the sand, and the offspring of your body like the gravel of it, his name wouldn't have been cut off nor destroyed from before me. 20 Go out of Babylon, flee from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing, declare, tell this, speak it even to the ends of the earth, say, the Lord has redeemed his servant Jacob. 21 And they weren't thirsty when he led them through the deserts, he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them, he split the rock also, and the waters gushed out. 22 There is no peace, says the Lord, to the wicked. ___Isaiah chapter 49 1 Listen to me, O islands, and listen, you people, from far, the Lord has called me from the womb, from the inside of my mother he has made mention of my name. 2 And he has made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he has hidden me, and made me a polished shaft, in his quiver he has hidden me, 3 And said to me, "You're my servant, O Israel, in whom I'll be glorified." 4 Then I said, "I've labored in vain, I've spent my strength for nothing, and in vain, yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God." 5 "And now," says the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, though Israel isn't gathered, "yet I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength." 6 And he said, "It is a light thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel, I will also give you for a light to the Gentiles, so that you'll be my salvation to the ends of the earth." 7 Thus says the Lord, the redeemer of Israel, and his Holy one, to him whom man despises, to him whom the nation hates, to a servant of rulers, "Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord that is faithful, and the Holy one of Israel, and he shall choose you." 8 Thus says the Lord, "In an acceptable time I've heard you, and in a day of salvation I've helped you, and I'll preserve you, and give you for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages, 9 So you can say to the prisoners, go forth, to those who are in darkness, show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. 10 They shall not hunger nor thirst, nor shall the heat nor sun strike them, for he that has mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water he'll guide them. 11 And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted. 12 See, these shall come from far, and, see, these from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Sinim. 13 Sing, O heavens, and be joyful, O earth, and break forth into singing, O mountains, for the Lord has comforted his people, and will have mercy on his afflicted." 14 But Zion said, "The Lord has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me." 15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, so that she won't have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, they might forget, yet I won't forget you. 16 See, I've engraved you on the palms of my hands, your walls are continually before me. 17 Your children shall make haste, your destroyers and those who wasted you shall go out of you. 18 Lift up your eyes all around, and see, all these gather themselves together, and come to you. As I live, says the Lord, you'll surely clothe yourself with them all, like with an ornament, and tie them on you, like a bride does. 19 For your waste and your desolate places, and the land of your destruction, shall even now be too narrow because of the inhabitants, and those who swallowed you up shall be far away. 20 The children that you'll have, after you've lost the other, shall say again in your ears, "The place is too small for me, give me more space so I can live." 21 Then you'll say in your heart, "Who has begotten me these, seeing I've lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and relocating back and forth? And who has brought up these? See, I was left alone, these, where have they been?" 22 Thus says the Lord God, "See, I'll lift up my hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people, and they'll bring your sons in their arms, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders. 23 And kings shall be your nursing fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers, they'll bow down to you with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of your feet, and you'll know that I am the Lord, for they won't be ashamed that wait for me. 24 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? 25 But thus says the Lord, even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered, for I will contend with him that contends with you, and I will save your children. 26 And I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh, and they shall be drunken with their own blood, like with sweet wine, and all flesh shall know that I the Lord am your Savior and your redeemer, the mighty one of Jacob." ___Isaiah chapter 50 1 Thus says the Lord, "Where are your mother's divorce papers, whom I've put away? Or which of my creditors is it to whom I've sold you? See, for your sins you've sold yourselves, and for your transgressions your mother has been divorced. 2 Why when I came, was there no man? When I called, why was there no one to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, so that it can't redeem? Or do I have no power to deliver? See, at my reprimand I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness, their fish stink, because there's no water, and die for thirst. 3 I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering. 4 The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned, so that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary, he wakens morning by morning, he wakens my ear to hear like the learned. 5 The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, nor did I backslide. 6 I gave my back to those who whipped, and my cheeks to those who plucked off the hair, I didn't hide my face from shame and spitting. 7 For the Lord God will help me, therefore I won't be confused, therefore I've set my face like a flint, and I know that I won't be ashamed. 8 He is near that justifies me, who will contend with me? Let us stand together, who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. 9 See, the Lord God will help me, who is he that shall condemn me? See, they'll all grow old like a garment, the moth shall eat them up. 10 Who is among you that fears the Lord, that obeys the voice of his servant, that walks in darkness, and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay on his God. 11 See, all you that kindle a fire, that encircle yourselves with sparks, walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that you've kindled. You'll have this from my hand, you'll lie down in sorrow." ___Isaiah chapter 51 1 Listen to me, you that follow after righteousness, you that seek the Lord, look to the rock from which you've been cut, and to the hole of the pit from which you've been dug. 2 Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah that bore you, for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him. 3 For the Lord shall comfort Zion, he will comfort all her waste places, and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord, joy and gladness shall be found in it, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. 4 Listen to me, my people, and give ear to me, O my nation, for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. 5 My righteousness is near, my salvation has gone forth, and my arms shall judge the people, the islands shall wait on me, and they'll trust on my arm. 6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath, for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall grow old like a garment, and those who live in it shall die similarly, but my salvation shall be forever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. 7 Listen to me, you that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law, don't fear the reproach of men, nor be afraid of their revilings. 8 For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool, but my righteousness shall be forever, and my salvation from generation to generation. 9 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord, wake up, like in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Aren't you the one that has cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon? 10 Aren't you the one that has dried the sea, the waters of the great deep, that has made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over? 11 Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing to Zion, and everlasting joy shall be on their head, they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. 12 I, even I, am he that comforts you, who are you, that you should be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man who shall be made like grass, 13 And forget the Lord your maker, that has stretched out the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth, and have feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? And where is the fury of the oppressor? 14 The captive exile hastens so he can be loosed, and so that he won't die in the pit, nor that he should run out of bread. 15 But I am the Lord your God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared, the Lord of hosts is his name. 16 And I've put my words in your mouth, and I've covered you in the shadow of my hand, so I can plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say to Zion, you are my people. 17 Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which has drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his fury, you've drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out. 18 There is no one to guide her among all the sons whom she has produced, nor is there anyone that takes her by the hand of all the sons that she has brought up. 19 These two things have come to you, who shall be sorry for you? Desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword, by whom shall I comfort you? 20 Your sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, like a wild bull in a net, they're full of the fury of the Lord, the reprimand of your God. 21 Therefore, now hear this, you afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine, 22 Thus says your Lord, the Lord, and your God that pleads the cause of his people, see, I've taken out of your hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury, you'll drink it again no more, 23 But I will put it into the hand of those who afflict you, who've said to your soul, bow down, so we can go over, and you've laid your body like the ground, and like the street, to those who went over. ___Isaiah chapter 52 1 Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion, put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city, for from now on, there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the unclean. 2 Shake yourself from the dust, arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem, loose yourself from the bands of your neck, O captive daughter of Zion. 3 For thus says the Lord, you've sold yourselves for nothing, and you'll be redeemed without money. 4 For thus says the Lord God, my people went down before into Egypt to visit there, and the Assyrian oppressed them without a reason. 5 Now therefore, what do I have, says the Lord, that my people are taken away for nothing? Those who rule over them make them howl, says the Lord, and my name is blasphemed continually every day. 6 Therefore my people shall know my name, therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that speaks, see, it is I. 7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him that brings good news, that publishes peace, that brings good news of good, that publishes salvation, that says to Zion, your God rules! 8 Your watchmen shall lift up the voice, with the voice together, they'll sing, for they'll see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring back Zion. 9 Break forth into joy, sing together, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The Lord has made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. 11 Depart, depart, go out from there, don't touch any unclean thing, go out from among her, be clean, who carry the containers of the Lord. 12 For you won't go out with haste, nor go by flight, for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard. 13 See, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. 14 As many were astonished at you, his face was so beaten up more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men, 15 So he shall sprinkle many nations, the kings shall shut their mouths at him, for they'll see that which had not been told them, and they'll consider that which they hadn't heard. ___Isaiah chapter 53 1 Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him like a tender plant, and like a root out of a dry ground, he has no form nor attractiveness, and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, and we hid, as it were, our faces from him, he was despised, and we didn't esteemed him. 4 Surely he has carried our griefs, and carried our sorrows, yet we esteemed him stricken, struck by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our sins, the chastisement of our peace was on him, and by the strokes of the whip on his back we are healed. 6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord has laid on him the sin of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he didn't open his mouth, he is brought like a lamb to the slaughter, and like a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he doesn't open his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from justice, and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living, for the transgression of my people he was stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, because he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him, he has put him to grief, when you shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied, by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many, for he shall carry their sins. 12 Therefore I'll divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he has poured out his soul to death, and he was numbered with the transgressors, and he carried the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. ___Isaiah chapter 54 1 "Sing, O barren, who didn't give birth, break forth into singing, and cry out loud, you that didn't travail with child, for the children of the desolate are more than the children of the married wife," says the Lord. 2 Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your habitations, don't hold back, lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes, 3 For you shall break out on the right hand and on the left, and your descendants shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. 4 Don't be afraid, for you won't be ashamed, and don't be confused, for you won't be put to shame, for you'll forget the shame of your youth, and won't remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. 5 For your maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name, and your redeemer the Holy one of Israel, he shall be called the God of the whole earth. 6 For the Lord has called you like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when you were refused, says your God. 7 I've forsaken you for a small moment, but I'll gather you with great mercies. 8 In a little anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I'll have mercy on you, says the Lord your redeemer. 9 For this is like the waters of Noah to me, for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no more go over the earth, so I've sworn that I won't be angry with you, nor reprimand you. 10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills shall be removed, but my kindness won't depart from you, nor shall the covenant of my peace be removed, says the Lord that has mercy on you. 11 O you afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, see, I'll lay your stones with fair colors, and lay your foundations with sapphires. 12 And I'll make your windows of agates, and your gates of carbuncles, and all your borders of pleasant stones. 13 And all your children shall be taught by the Lord, and the peace of your children shall be great. 14 You'll be established in righteousness, you'll be far from oppression, for you won't fear, and from terror, for it won't come near you. 15 See, they'll surely gather together, but not by me, whoever shall gather together against you shall fall for your sake. 16 See, I have created the smith that blows the coals in the fire, and that brings out an instrument for his work, and I've created the waster to destroy. 17 No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you'll condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, says the Lord. ___Isaiah chapter 55 1 Ho, everyone that thirsts, come to the waters, and he that has no money, come, buy, and eat, yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread? And why do you labor for what doesn't satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me, hear, and your soul shall live, and I'll make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. 4 See, I've given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. 5 See, you'll call a nation that you don't know, and nations that didn't know you shall run to you because of the Lord your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. 6 Seek the Lord while he can be found, call on him while he is near, 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. 9 For like the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For like the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and doesn't return there, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, so it will give seed to the planter, and bread to the eater, 11 So shall my word be that goes out of my mouth, it won't return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. 12 For you'll go out with joy, and be led forth with peace, the mountains and the hills shall break out before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree, and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. ___Isaiah chapter 56 1 Thus says the Lord, "Keep judgment, and do justice, for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. 2 Blessed is the man that does this, and the son of man that lays hold on it, that keeps the Sabbath from polluting it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil. 3 Nor let the son of the stranger, that has joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, the Lord has completely separated me from his people, nor let the eunuch say, see, I'm a dry tree." 4 For thus says the Lord to the eunuchs that keep my Sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant, 5 "To them I'll give in my house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters, I'll give them an everlasting name, that won't be cut off. 6 Also, the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, everyone that keeps the Sabbath from polluting it, and takes hold of my covenant, 7 I'll bring them to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer, their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted on my altar, for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all people." 8 The Lord God who gathers the outcasts of Israel says, "Yet I'll gather others to him, beside those that have been gathered to him." 9 All you animals of the field, come to devour, yes, all you beasts in the forest. 10 His watchmen are blind, they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they can't bark, sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. 11 Yes, they are greedy dogs that can never have enough, and they are shepherds that can't understand, they all look to their own way, everyone for his gain, from his quarter. 12 "Come," they say, "I'll fetch wine, and we'll fill ourselves with strong drink, and tomorrow shall be like this day, and much more abundant." ___Isaiah chapter 57 1 The righteous die, and no man lays it to heart, and merciful men are taken away, no one considering that the righteous are taken away from the evil that's coming. 2 He shall enter into peace, they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness. 3 But draw near here, you sons of the sorceress, the descendants of the adulterer and the whore. 4 Against whom do you sport yourselves? Against whom do you make a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? Aren't you children of transgression, descendants of falsehood, 5 Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, killing the children in the valleys under the cliffs of the rocks? 6 Your portion is among the smooth stones of the stream, they are what belongs to you, you have poured a drink offering to them, you have offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these? 7 You've set your bed on a lofty and high mountain, you went up there to offer sacrifice. 8 Behind the doors also and the posts you've set up your remembrance, for you've uncovered yourself to someone else beside me, and have gone up, you've enlarged your bed, and made yourself a covenant with them, you loved their bed where you saw it. 9 And you went to the king with ointment, and increased your perfumes, and sent your messengers far off, and debased yourself even to hell. 10 You are wearied in the greatness of your way, yet you didn't say, there is no hope, you have found the life of your hand, therefore you weren't grieved. 11 And of whom have you been afraid or feared, causing you to lie, and haven't remembered me, nor laid it to your heart? Haven't I been silent even of old, and you don't fear me? 12 I will declare your righteousness, and your works, for they won't profit you. 13 When you cry, let your companies deliver you, but the wind shall carry them all away, vanity shall take them, but he that puts his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain, 14 And shall say, "Build a mound, build a mound, prepare the way, take up the stumbling block out of the way of my people." 15 For thus says the high and lofty one that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, I live in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. 16 For I won't contend forever, nor will I always be angry, for the spirit would fail before me, and the souls that I've made. 17 For the sin of his covetousness, I was angry, and struck him, I hid myself, and was angry, and he went on perversely in the way of his heart. 18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him, I will lead him also, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners. 19 "I create the fruit of the lips, peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near," says the Lord, "and I will heal him." 20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it can't rest, whose waters push up mire and dirt. 21 There is no peace, says my God, to the wicked. ___Isaiah chapter 58 1 Cry out loud, don't spare, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. 2 Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, like a nation that did righteousness, and didn't forsake the ordinance of their God, they ask of me the ordinances of justice, they take delight in approaching to God. 3 Why have we fasted, they say, and you don't see? Why have we afflicted our soul, and you take no knowledge? See, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exact all your labors. 4 See, you fast for strife and debate, and to strike with the fist of wickedness, you shall not fast like you do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is it such a fast that I've chosen? A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? 6 Isn't this the fast that I've chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? 7 Is it not to deal your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor that are thrown out to your house? When you see the naked, that you cover him, and that you don't hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning, and your health shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you'll call, and the Lord shall answer, you'll cry, and he'll say, here I am. If you take away from among yourselves the yoke, the pointing of the finger, and speaking vanity, 10 And if you draw out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall rise in obscurity, and your darkness be like the noonday, 11 And the Lord shall guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and make fat your bones, and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters don't fail. 12 And those who shall be of you shall build the old waste places, you shall raise up the foundations of many generations, and you'll be called, the repairer of the damage, the restorer of paths to live in. 13 If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable, and shall honor him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, 14 Then you'll delight yourself in the Lord, and I'll cause you to ride on the high places of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it. ___Isaiah chapter 59 1 See, the Lord's hand is not shortened so that it can't save, nor his ear heavy so that it can't hear, 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he won't hear. 3 For your hands have been defiled with blood, and your fingers with sin, your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perverseness. 4 No one calls for justice, nor does anyone plead for truth, they trust in vanity, and speak lies, they conceive mischief, and bring forth sin. 5 They hatch snake's eggs, and weave the spider's web, he that eats of their eggs dies, and that which has been crushed breaks out into a viper. 6 Their webs shall not become garments, nor shall they cover themselves with their works, their works are works of sin, and the act of violence is in their hands. 7 Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood, their thoughts are thoughts of sin, wasting and destruction are in their paths. 8 They didn't know the way of peace, and there is no justice in their goings, they have made themselves crooked paths, whoever goes in them shall not know peace. 9 Therefore judgment is far from us, nor does justice overtake us, we wait for light, but see obscurity, for brightness, but we walk in darkness. 10 We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes, we stumble at noonday like in the night, we are in desolate places like dead men. 11 We all roar like bears, and mourn severely like doves, we look for justice, but there is none, for salvation, but it is far off from us. 12 For our transgressions have been multiplied before you, and our sins testify against us, for our transgressions are with us, and as for our sins, we know them, 13 In transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and speaking from the heart words of falsehood. 14 And judgment has been turned away backward, and justice stands afar off, for truth has fallen in the street, and equity can't enter. 15 Yes, truth fails, and he that departs from evil makes himself a prey, and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. 16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor, therefore his arm brought salvation to him, and his righteousness sustained him. 17 For he put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head, and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal like a cloak. 18 According to their deeds, accordingly he'll repay, fury to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies, to the islands he will repay the repayment. 19 So they'll fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. 20 And the redeemer shall come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob, says the Lord. 21 "As for me, this is my covenant with them," says the Lord, "my spirit that is on you, and my words that I've put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, nor out of the mouth of your descendants, nor out of the mouth of your descendants' descendants, says the Lord, from from now on and forever. ___Isaiah chapter 60 1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen on you. 2 For see, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people, but the Lord shall arise on you, and his glory shall be seen on you. 3 And the Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. 4 Lift up your eyes all around, and see, all of them gather themselves together, they come to you, your sons shall come from far, and your daughters shall be nursed at your side. 5 Then you'll see, and flow together, and your heart shall fear, and be enlarged, because the abundance of the sea shall be converted to you, the forces of the Gentiles shall come to you. 6 The multitude of camels shall cover you, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah, all of those from Sheba shall come, they shall bring gold and incense, and they shall show forth the praises of the Lord. 7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together to you, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you, they shall come up with acceptance on my altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory. 8 Who are these that fly like a cloud, and like the doves to their windows? 9 Surely the islands shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, to the name of the Lord your God, and to the Holy one of Israel, because he has glorified you. 10 And the sons of strangers shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you, for in my anger I struck you, but in my favor I've had mercy on you. 11 Therefore your gates shall be open continually, they shall not be shut day nor night, so that men can bring to you the forces of the Gentiles, and so that their kings can be brought. 12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall be destroyed, yes, those nations shall be completely wasted. 13 The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary, and I will make the place of my feet glorious. 14 The sons also of those who afflicted you shall come bending to you, and all of those who despised you shall bow themselves down at the soles of your feet, and they shall call you, "The city of the Lord," "the Zion of the Holy one of Israel." 15 Although you've been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through you, I will make you an eternal excellence, a joy of many generations. 16 You'll also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shall suck the breasts of kings, and you'll know that I the Lord am your Savior and your redeemer, the mighty one of Jacob. 17 For brass I'll bring gold, and for iron I'll bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron, I'll also make your officers peace, and your exactors righteousness. 18 Violence shall no more be heard in your land, wasting nor destruction within your borders, but you'll call your walls salvation, and your gates praise. 19 The sun shall no more be your light by day, nor shall the moon give light to you for brightness, but the Lord shall be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory. 20 Your sun shall no more go down, nor shall your moon withdraw itself, for the Lord shall be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended. 21 Your people also shall all be righteous, they'll inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, so I'll be glorified. 22 A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation, I the Lord will hasten it in his time. ___Isaiah chapter 61 1 The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the meek, he has sent me to bandage the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound, 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 To appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of the spirit of heaviness, so that they'll be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, so that he'll be glorified. 4 And they'll build the old wastes, they'll raise up the former desolations, and they'll repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. 5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vine dressers. 6 But you'll be named the priests of the Lord, men shall call you the ministers of our God, you'll eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory you'll boast yourselves. 7 For your shame you'll have double, and for confusion they'll rejoice in their portion, therefore in their land they'll possess the double, everlasting joy shall be to them. 8 For I the Lord love justice, I hate robbery for burnt offering, and I'll direct their work in truth, and I'll make an everlasting covenant with them. 9 And their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people, all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the descendants that the Lord has blessed. 10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, like a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and like a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its bud, and as the garden causes the things that are planted in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. ___Isaiah chapter 62 1 For Zion's sake, I won't be silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I won't rest, until the righteousness of it goes forth like brightness, and the salvation of it like a lamp that burns. 2 And the Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory, and you'll be called by a new name, that the mouth of the Lord shall name. 3 You'll also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. 4 You won't be called forsaken anymore, nor shall your land anymore be called desolate, but you'll be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah, for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married. 5 For like a young man marries a virgin, so shall your sons marry you, and like the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you. 6 I've set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem, that shall never hold their peace day nor night, you that make mention of the Lord, don't keep silence, 7 And give him no rest, until he establishes, and until he makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth. 8 The Lord has sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, surely I will no more give your corn to be food for your enemies, and the sons of the stranger shall not drink your wine for which you've labored, 9 But those who have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the Lord, and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness. 10 Go through, go through the gates, prepare the way of the people, raise a mound, mound up the highway, gather out the stones, lift up a standard for the people. 11 See, the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the world, say to the daughter of Zion, "See, your salvation comes, see, his reward is with him, and his work before him." 12 And they shall call them, "The holy people," "The redeemed of the Lord," and you'll be called, "Sought out," "A city not forsaken." ___Isaiah chapter 63 1 Who is this that comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? This that is glorious in his clothing, traveling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. 2 Why is your clothing red, and your garments like him that treads in the wine vat? 3 I have walked in the winepress alone, and of the people there was no one with me, for I will tread them in my anger, and trample them in my fury, and their blood shall be sprinkled on my garments, and I will stain all my clothing. 4 For the day of vengeance is in my heart, and the year of my redeemed has come. 5 And I looked, and there was no one to help, and I wondered that there was no one to uphold, therefore my own arm brought salvation to me, and my fury upheld me. 6 And I will tread down the people in my anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth. 7 I will mention the loving kindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, that he has bestowed on them, according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses. 8 For he said, "Surely they are my people, children that won't lie," so he was their Savior. 9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them, in his love and in his pity he redeemed them, and he bore them, and carried them all the days of old. 10 But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit, therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. 11 Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, "Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? Where is he that put his holy Spirit within him? 12 That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name? 13 That led them through the deep, like a horse in the wilderness, so they wouldn't stumble? 14 Like an animal goes down into the valley, the Spirit of the Lord caused him to rest, so you led your people, to make yourself a glorious name. 15 Look down from heaven, and see from the habitation of your holiness and of your glory, where is your zeal and your strength, the sounding of your bowels and of your mercies toward me? Are they restrained? 16 Doubtless you are our father, though Abraham is ignorant of us, and Israel doesn't acknowledge us, you, O Lord, are our father, our redeemer, your name is from everlasting. 17 O Lord, why have you made us to err from your ways, and hardened our heart from your fear? Return for your servants' sake, the tribes of your inheritance. 18 The people of your holiness have possessed it but a little while, our adversaries have trampled down your sanctuary. 19 We are yours, you never bore rule over them, they weren't called by your name. ___Isaiah chapter 64 1 Oh that you would tear the heavens, that you would come down, so that the mountains would flow down at your presence, 2 Like when the melting fire burns, the fire causes the waters to boil, to make your name known to your adversaries, so the nations will tremble at your presence! 3 When you did terrible things that we didn't look for, you came down, the mountains flowed down at your presence. 4 For since the beginning of the world, men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen, O God, beside you, what he has prepared for him that waits for him. 5 You meet him that rejoices and works righteousness, those that remember you in your ways, see, you're angry, for we have sinned, in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. 6 But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, and we all fade like a leaf, and our sins, like the wind, have taken us away. 7 And there is no one that calls on your name, that stirs up himself to take hold of you, for you've hidden your face from us, and have consumed us, because of our sins. 8 But now, O Lord, you are our father, we are the clay, and you our potter, and we all are the work of your hand. 9 Don't be severely angry, O Lord, nor remember sin forever, see, we beg of you, we are all your people. 10 Your holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. 11 Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised you, has been burned up by fire, and all our pleasant things have been laid waste. 12 Will you refrain yourself for these things, O Lord? Will you remain silent, and afflict us severely? ___Isaiah chapter 65 1 I am sought by those who didn't ask for me, I am found by those who didn't seek me, I said, "See me, see me," to a nation that was not called by my name. 2 I've spread out my hands all day to a rebellious people, that walks in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts, 3 A nation that provokes me to anger continually to my face, that sacrifices in gardens, and burns incense on altars of brick, 4 Who remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, who eat pigs flesh, and broth of dirty things is in their containers, 5 Who say, "Stand by yourself, don't come near me, for I am holier than you." These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burns all day. 6 See, it is written before me, I will not keep silence, but will repay, even repay into their bosom, 7 Your sins, and the sins of your fathers together, says the Lord, who've burned incense on the mountains, and blasphemed me on the hills, therefore I'll measure their former work into their bosom. 8 Thus says the Lord, "Like the new wine is found in the cluster, and someone says, don't destroy it, for a blessing is in it, I will do so for my servants' sakes, so that I don't destroy them all. 9 And I will bring forth some descendants out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains, and my elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall live there. 10 And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me. 11 But you are those who forsake the Lord, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that battalion, and that furnish the drink offering to that number. 12 Therefore I'll number you to the sword, and you'll all bow down to the slaughter, because when I called, you didn't answer, when I spoke, you didn't hear, but did evil before my eyes, and chose that in which I didn't delight. 13 Therefore thus says the Lord God, see, my servants shall eat, but you'll be hungry, see, my servants shall drink, but you'll be thirsty, see, my servants shall rejoice, but you'll be ashamed, 14 See, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but you'll cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit. 15 And you'll leave your name for a curse to my chosen, for the Lord God shall kill you, and call his servants by a different name, 16 So that he who blesses himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth, and he that swears in the earth shall swear by the God of truth, because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hidden from my eyes. 17 For see, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create, for see, I create Jerusalem, a rejoicing, and her people, a joy. 19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people, and the voice of weeping shall no more be heard in her, nor the voice of crying. 20 There shall no more be there an infant of days, nor an old man that has not filled his days, for the child shall die a hundred years old, but the sinner being a hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them, and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. 22 They shall not build, and someone else inhabits, they shall not plant, and someone else eats it, for the days of my people are like the days of a tree, and my elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for trouble, for they are the descendants of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them. 24 And before they call, I'll answer, and while they are still speaking, I'll hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock, and the serpent's food shall be dust. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, says the Lord. ___Isaiah chapter 66 1 Thus says the Lord, "The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool, where is the house that you build for me? And where is the place of my rest? 2 For all those things has my hand made, and all those things have been, says the Lord, but I will look to this man, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at my word. 3 He that kills an ox is as if he killed a man, he that sacrifices a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck, he that offers an offering, as if he offered pigs blood, he that burns incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yes, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their dirty things. 4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears on them, because when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, they didn't listen, but they did evil before my eyes, and chose that in which I didn't delight. 5 Hear the word of the Lord, you that tremble at his word, your brothers that hated you, that threw you out for my name's sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified, but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed." 6 A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the Lord that renders repayment to his enemies. 7 Before she travailed, she brought forth, before her pain came, she received deliverance from a man child. 8 Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. 9 "Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth?" Says the Lord, "Shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb?", says your God. 10 Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you that love her, rejoice for joy with her, all you that mourn for her, 11 So you can suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations, so that you can milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. 12 For thus says the Lord, "See, I'll extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream, then you'll suck, you'll be carried on her sides, and be dangled on her knees. 13 Like one whom his mother comforts, so I'll comfort you, and you'll be comforted in Jerusalem. 14 And when you see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like a herb, and the hand of the Lord shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies. 15 For see, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his reprimand with flames of fire. 16 For by fire and by his sword, the Lord will plead with all flesh, and the slain by the Lord shall be many. 17 "Those who make themselves holy, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the middle, eating pigs flesh, and the dirty thing, and the mouse, shall be consumed together," says the Lord. 18 For I know their works and their thoughts. It shall come that I'll gather all nations and languages, and they'll come, and see my glory. 19 And I'll set a sign among them, and I'll send those that escape of them to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the islands far off, that haven't heard my fame, nor have seen my glory, and they'll declare my glory among the Gentiles. 20 And they'll bring all your brothers for an offering to the Lord out of all nations on horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and on mules, and on swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says the Lord, like the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean container into the house of the Lord. 21 And I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites, says the Lord. 22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, that I will make, shall remain before me, says the Lord, so shall your descendants and your name remain. 23 And from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before me, says the Lord. 24 And they shall go forth, and look at the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me, for their worm shall not die, nor shall their fire be quenched, and they shall be despised by all flesh. ___Jeremiah chapter 1 1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, 2 To whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah, the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his rule. 3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month. 4 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 "Before I formed you in the belly I knew you, and before you came out of the womb I made you holy, and I ordained you to be a prophet to the nations." 6 Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! See, I can't speak, for I am a child." 7 But the Lord said to me, "Don't say, I am a child, for you'll go to all that I shall send you to, and whatever I command you, you'll speak. 8 Don't be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you," says the Lord. 9 Then the Lord put out his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, "See, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to uproot, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant." 11 Also the word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Jeremiah, what do you see?" And I said, "I see a rod of an almond tree." 12 Then the Lord said to me, "You've seen well, for I'll hasten my word to perform it." 13 And the word of the Lord came to me the second time, saying, "What do you see?" And I said, "I see a seething pot, and the face of it is toward the north." 14 Then the Lord said to me, "Out of the north, an evil shall break forth on all the inhabitants of the land. 15 For see, I'll call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, says the Lord, and they'll come, and each of them shall set his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls of it all around, and against all the cities of Judah. 16 And I will speak my judgments against them concerning all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands. 17 Therefore, put on your pants, and get up, and speak to them all that I command you, don't be dismayed at their faces, so that I don't confuse you before them. 18 For see, today, I've made you a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brass walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes of it, against the priests of it, and against the people of the land. 19 And they'll fight against you, but they won't prevail against you, for I am with you, says the Lord, to give you deliverance." ___Jeremiah chapter 2 1 Also the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 "Go and shout in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, thus says the Lord, I remember you, the kindness of your youth, the love of your espousals, when you went after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not planted. 3 Israel was holiness to the Lord, and the first fruits of his increase, all that devour him shall offend, evil shall come against them, says the Lord. 4 Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel, 5 Thus says the Lord, what sin have your fathers found in me, so that they have gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and have become vain? 6 Nor did they say, where is the Lord that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man lived? 7 And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit of it and the goodness of it, but when you entered, you defiled my land, and made my heritage a dirty thing. 8 The priests didn't say, where is the Lord? And those who handle the law didn't know me, the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that don't profit. 9 So, I'll yet plead with you, says the Lord, and I'll plead with your children's children. 10 For pass over the islands of Chittim, and see, and send to Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there's such a thing. 11 Has a nation changed their gods, which are not gods? But my people have changed their glory for what doesn't profit. 12 Be astonished at this, O you heavens, and be horribly afraid, be very desolate, says the Lord. 13 For my people have committed two evils, they've forsaken me the, fountain of living waters, and cut themselves out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can't hold any water. 14 Is Israel a servant? Is he a home born slave? Why has he been spoiled? 15 The young lions roared at him, and yelled, and they made his land waste, his cities are burned without inhabitant. 16 Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of your head. 17 Haven't you procured this to yourself, in that you have forsaken the Lord your God, when he led you by the way? 18 And now what have you to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? Or what have you to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river? 19 Your own wickedness shall correct you, and your backslidings shall reprove you, know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that you've forsaken the Lord your God, and that my fear is not in you, says the Lord God of hosts. 20 For of old time I've broken your yoke, and broken your bands, and you said, I won't transgress, when on every high hill and under every green tree you wander, playing the role of a prostitute. 21 Yet I had planted you a noble vine, completely a right seed, how then have you turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine to me? 22 For though you wash yourself with nitre, and use a lot of soap, yet your sin is marked before me, says the Lord God. 23 How can you say, I am not polluted, I haven't gone after Baalim? See your way in the valley, know what you have done, you're a swift dromedary traversing her ways, 24 A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffs up the wind at her pleasure, in her occasion who can turn her away? All those who seek her will not weary themselves, in her month they'll find her. 25 Withhold your foot from being unshod, and your throat from thirst, but you said, there is no hope, no, for I've loved strangers, and I'll go after them. 26 Like the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed, they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets, 27 Saying to a stock, you're my father, and to a stone, you've brought me forth, for they've turned their back to me, and not their face, but in the time of their trouble they'll say, get up and save us. 28 But where are your gods that you've made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble, for according to the number of your cities are your gods, O Judah. 29 So will you plead with me? You've all transgressed against me, says the Lord. 30 I've struck your children in vain, they didn't received any correction, your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion. 31 O generation, see the word of the Lord. Have I been a wilderness to Israel? A land of darkness? My people say, We are lords, we will come no more to you? 32 Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number. 33 Why do you trim your way to seek love? Therefore have you also taught the wicked ones your ways. 34 Also in your skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents, I haven't found it by secret search, but on all these. 35 Yet you say, because I'm innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. See, I'll plead with you, because you say, I haven't sinned. 36 Why do you gad about so much to change your way? You also shall be ashamed of Egypt, like you were ashamed of Assyria. 37 Yes, you shall go forth from him, and your hands on your head, for the Lord has rejected your confidences, and you won't prosper in them. ___Jeremiah chapter 3 1 They say, if a man puts away his wife, and she goes from him, and becomes another man's, shall he return to her again? Won't that land be greatly polluted? But you've played the harlot with many lovers, yet return again to me, says the Lord. 2 Lift up your eyes to the high places, and see where you haven't been lain with. On the roads you've sat for them, like the Arabian in the wilderness, and you've polluted the land with your whoredoms and with your wickedness. 3 Therefore the showers have been withheld, and there has been no latter rain, and you had a whore's forehead, you refused to be ashamed. 4 Won't you, from now on, cry to me, my father, you are the guide of my youth? 5 Will he reserve his anger forever? Will he keep it until the end? See, you've spoken and done evil things as you were able. 6 The Lord also said to me, in the days of Josiah the king, have you seen that which backsliding Israel has done? She has gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and has played the prostitute there. 7 And I said, after she had done all these things, turn to me. But she didn't return. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. 8 And I saw, when for all the causes by which backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce, yet her treacherous sister Judah didn't fear, but went and played the prostitute also. 9 And through the lightness of her whoredom, she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. 10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah has not turned to me with her whole heart, but just pretending, says the Lord. 11 And the Lord said to me, the backsliding Israel has justified herself more than treacherous Judah. 12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, return, backsliding Israel, says the Lord, and I won't cause my anger to fall on you, for I am merciful, says the Lord, and I won't keep anger forever. 13 Only acknowledge your sin, that you've transgressed against the Lord your God, and have scattered your ways to the strangers under every green tree, and you haven't obeyed my voice, says the Lord. 14 Turn, O backsliding children, says the Lord, for I am married to you, and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion, 15 And I will give you pastors according to my heart, who'll feed you with knowledge and understanding. 16 And when you're multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, says the Lord, they won't anymore say, the ark of the covenant of the Lord, nor shall it come to mind, nor shall they remember it, nor shall they visit it, nor shall that be done anymore. 17 At that time they'll call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem, nor shall they walk anymore after the imagination of their evil heart. 18 In those days, the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance to your fathers. 19 But I said, how shall I put you among the children, and give you a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? And I said, you shall call me, my father, and shall not turn away from me. 20 Surely like a wife treacherously departs from her husband, so you've dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, says the Lord. 21 A voice was heard on the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel, for they've perverted their way, and they've forgotten the Lord their God. 22 Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. See, we come to you, for you are the Lord our God. 23 Truly in vain salvation is hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains, truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel. 24 For shame has devoured the labor of our fathers from our youth, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters. 25 We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covers us, for we've sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even until this day, and haven't obeyed the voice of the Lord our God. ___Jeremiah chapter 4 1 If you'll return, O Israel, says the Lord, return to me, and if you'll put away your dirty things out of my sight, then you won't have to change where you live. 2 And you'll swear, the Lord lives, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness, and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and they'll glory in him. 3 For thus says the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, break up your fallow ground, and don't plant among thorns. 4 Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, and take away the foreskins of your heart, you men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that my fury doesn't come forth like fire, and burn such that no one can quench it, because of the evil of your doings. 5 Declare in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem, and say, blow the trumpet in the land, shout, gather together, and say, assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities. 6 Set up the standard toward Zion, retire, don't stay, for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction. 7 The lion has come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way, he has gone forth from his place to make your land desolate, and your cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant. 8 Clothe yourselves with burlap for this, lament and howl, for the fierce anger of the Lord has not turned back from us. 9 And at that day, says the Lord, the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes, and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder. 10 Then I said, ah, Lord God! Surely you've greatly deceived these people and Jerusalem, saying, You'll have peace, whereas the sword reaches to the soul. 11 At that time, it shall be said to these people and to Jerusalem, a dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse, 12 But a full wind from those places shall come to me, now also I'll I give sentence against them. 13 See, he'll come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be like a whirlwind, his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us! For we are spoiled. 14 O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, so you can be saved. How long shall your vain thoughts remain inside you? 15 For a voice declares from Dan, and publishes affliction from Mount Ephraim. 16 Make mention to the nations, see, publish against Jerusalem, that watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Judah. 17 Like keepers of a field, they're against her all around, because she's been rebellious against me, says the Lord. 18 Your way and your doings have procured these things to you, this is your wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reaches to your heart. 19 My bowels, my bowels! I'm pained at my very heart, my heart makes a noise in me, I can't be quiet, because you've heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. 20 Destruction upon destruction is shouted, for the whole land is spoiled, suddenly my tents are spoiled, and my curtains in a moment. 21 How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet? 22 For my people are foolish, they haven't known me, they're drunken children, and they have no understanding, they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. 23 I saw the earth, and see, it was without form, and void, and the heavens, and they had no light. 24 I saw the mountains, and see, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. 25 I beheld, and, see, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens had fled. 26 I saw, and see, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities of it were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by his fierce anger. 27 For thus has the Lord said, the whole land shall be desolate, yet will I not make a full end. 28 For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black, because I've spoken it, I've purposed it, and will not change my mind, nor will I turn back from it. 29 The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen, they'll go into thickets, and climb up on the rocks, every city shall be forsaken, and not a man will live in them. 30 And when you're spoiled, what will you do? Though you clothe yourself with crimson, though you deck yourself with ornaments of gold, though you apply makeup to your face, you'll make yourself fair in vain, your lovers will despise you, they will try to kill you. 31 For I've heard a voice like a woman during childbirth, and the anguish as of her that brings forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewails herself, that spreads her hands, saying, woe is me now! For my soul is wearied because of murderers. ___Jeremiah chapter 5 1 Run back and forth through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places of it, if you can find a man, if there's anyone that performs justice, that seeks the truth, and I'll pardon it. 2 And though they say, "The Lord lives, surely they swear falsely." 3 O Lord, aren't your eyes on the truth? You've struck them, but they haven't grieved, you've consumed them, but they've refused to receive correction, they've made their faces harder than a rock, they've refused to return. 4 Therefore I said, "Surely these are poor, they are foolish, for they don't know the way of the Lord, nor the judgment of their God. 5 I will go to the great men, and will speak to them, for they've known the way of the Lord, and the judgment of their God, but these have completely broken the yoke, and burst the bonds." 6 So a lion out of the forest shall kill them, and a wolf of the evening shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities, everyone that goes out of there shall be torn in pieces, because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings have increased. 7 How shall I pardon you for this? Your children have forsaken me, and sworn by those who are no gods, when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by platoons in the whore houses. 8 They were like fed horses in the morning, everyone neighed for his neighbor's wife. 9 Shall I not visit for these things? Says the Lord, and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? 10 Go up on her walls, and destroy, but don't make a full end, take away her battlements, for they are not the Lord's. 11 For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, says the Lord. 12 They've belied the Lord, and said, it is not he, nor shall evil come on us, nor shall we see sword or famine, 13 And the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them, thus shall it be done to them. 14 So thus says the Lord God of hosts, because you speak this word, see, I will make my words in your mouth fire, and these people wood, and it shall devour them. 15 See, I'll bring a nation against you from far, O house of Israel, says the Lord, it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language you don't know, and don't understand what they say. 16 Their quiver is as like open tomb, they are all mighty men. 17 And they'll eat up your harvest, and your bread, that your sons and your daughters should eat, they'll eat up your flocks and your herds, they'll eat up your vines and your fig trees, they'll impoverish your fenced cities in which you trusted, by the sword. 18 But in those days, says the Lord, I won't make a full end of you. 19 And when you say, why does the Lord our God do all these things to us? Then you'll answer them, like you've forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so you'll serve strangers in a land that is not yours. 20 Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying, 21 "Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding, who have eyes, and don't see, who have ears, and don't hear, 22 Don't you fear me? Says the Lord, won't you tremble at my presence, who has placed the sand for the boundary of the sea by a perpetual decree, so that it can't pass it, and though the waves of it toss themselves, yet they can't prevail, though they roar, yet they can't pass over it? 23 But these people have a revolting and a rebellious heart, they've revolted and gone. 24 Nor do they say in their heart, "Let us now fear the Lord our God, that gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season, he reserves to us the appointed weeks of the harvest." 25 Your sins have turned away these things, and your sins have withheld good things from you. 26 For wicked men are found among my people, they lay wait like he that sets traps, they set a trap, they catch men. 27 Like a cage is full of birds, so their houses are full of deceit, therefore they've become great, and have grown rich. 28 They've grown fat, they shine, yes, they overpass the deeds of the wicked, they don't judge the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper, and they don't judge the right of the needy. 29 Shall I not visit for these things? Says the Lord, shall my soul not be avenged against such a nation as this? 30 A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land, 31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means, and my people love to have it so, and what will you do at the end of it? ___Jeremiah chapter 6 1 O you children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem, for evil appears out of the north, and great destruction. 2 I have likened the daughter of Zion to an attractive and delicate woman. 3 The shepherds with their flocks shall come to her, they shall pitch their tents against her all around, everyone shall feed in his place. 4 Prepare war against her, arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe to us! For the day goes away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out. 5 Arise, and let's go by night, and let's destroy her palaces. 6 For thus has the Lord of hosts said, "Cut down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem, this is the city to be visited, she is completely oppression in the middle of her. 7 As a fountain throws out its waters, so she throws out her wickedness, violence and spoil is heard in her, continually before me is grief and wounds. 8 Be instructed, O Jerusalem, so that my soul doesn't depart from you, so that I don't make you desolate, a land not inhabited." 9 Thus says the Lord of hosts, "They'll thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel like a vine, turn back your hand like a grape gatherer into the baskets. 10 To whom shall I speak, and give warning, so they can hear? See, their ear is uncircumcised, and they can't listen, see, the word of the Lord is to them a reproach, they have no delight in it. 11 Therefore I'm full of the fury of the Lord, I'm tired of holding back, I'll pour it out on the children abroad, and on the assembly of young men together, for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days. 12 And their houses shall be given to others, with their fields and wives together, for I'll stretch out my hand against the inhabitants of the land, says the Lord. 13 For from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is given to covetousness, and from the prophet to the priest everyone deals falsely. 14 They've healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, "Peace, peace," when there is no peace. 15 Were they ashamed when they had committed a dirty thing? No, they were not at all ashamed, nor could they blush, therefore they'll fall among those who fall, at the time that I visit them they'll be thrown down, says the Lord. 16 Thus says the Lord, "Stand on the roads, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk in it, and you'll find rest for your souls." But they said, "We won't walk in it." 17 Also, I set watchmen over you, saying, "Listen to the sound of the trumpet." But they said, "We will not listen." 18 Therefore hear, you nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. 19 Hear, O earth, see, I'll bring evil against these people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they haven't listened to my words, nor to my law, but rejected it. 20 To what purpose does there come to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor are your sacrifices sweet to me. 21 Therefore thus says the Lord, "See, I'll lay stumbling blocks before these people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall on them, the neighbor and his friend shall perish." 22 Thus says the Lord, "See, people come from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth. 23 They'll take hold of bow and spear, they're cruel, and have no mercy, their voice roars like the sea, and they ride on horses, set in array like men for war against you, O daughter of Zion. 24 We have heard the fame of it, our hands grow feeble, anguish has taken hold of us, and pain, like a woman in child birth. 25 Don't go out into the field, nor walk by the way, for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side. 26 O daughter of my people, clothe yourself with sackcloth, and wallow yourself in ashes, make mourning, like for an only son, most bitter lamentation, for the spoiler shall suddenly come on us. 27 I have set you for a tower and a fortress among my people, so that you'll know and test their way. 28 They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders, they are brass and iron, they are all corrupters. 29 The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed by the fire, the foundry worker melts in vain, for the wicked are not plucked away. 30 Men shall call them reprobate silver, because the Lord has rejected them. ___Jeremiah chapter 7 1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2 "Stand in the gate of the Lord's house, and proclaim this word there, and say, hear the word of the Lord, all you of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the Lord. 3 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to live in this place. 4 Don't trust in lying words, saying, The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, are these. 5 For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if you thoroughly execute justice between a man and his neighbor, 6 If you don't oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and don't shed innocent blood in this place, nor walk after other gods to your hurt, 7 Then I'll cause you to live in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, forever and always. 8 See, you trust in lying words that can't profit. 9 Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you don't know, 10 And come and stand before me in this house that is called by my name, and say, we are delivered to do all these dirty things? 11 Has this house, that is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? See, even I have seen it, says the Lord. 12 But go now to my place that was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel. 13 And now, because you've done all these works, says the Lord, and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you wouldn't listen, and I called you, but you didn't answer, 14 Therefore I'll do to this house, that is called by my name, in which you trust, and to the place that I gave to you and to your fathers, like I have done to Shiloh. 15 And I'll throw you out of my sight, like I've thrown out all your brothers, even the whole tribe of Ephraim. 16 Therefore don't pray for this people, nor lift up cry nor prayer for them, nor make intercession to me, for I won't listen to you. 17 Don't you see what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18 The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings to other gods, so they can provoke me to anger. 19 Do they provoke me to anger? Says the Lord, don't they provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces? 20 Therefore thus says the Lord God, see, my anger and my fury shall be poured out on this place, on man, and on animals, and on the trees of the field, and on the fruit of the ground, and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched. 21 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, put your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat flesh. 22 For I didn't speak to your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices, 23 But this thing commanded I them, saying, "Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people, and walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, so that it will be well to you." 24 But they wouldn't listen, and didn't incline their ear, but walked in the advice and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. 25 Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day I've sent to you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them, 26 Yet they didn't listen to me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck, they did worse than their fathers. 27 Therefore you shall speak all these words to them, but they won't listen to you, you shall also call to them, but they won't answer you. 28 But you shall say to them, "This is a nation that doesn't obey the voice of the Lord their God, nor receives correction, truth has died, and is cut off from their mouth. 29 Cut off your hair, O Jerusalem, and throw it away, and take up a lamentation on high places, for the Lord has rejected and forsaken the generation of his anger. 30 For the children of Judah have done evil in my sight, says the Lord, they've set their dirty things in the house that is called by my name, to pollute it. 31 And they've built the high places of Tophet, that is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I didn't command them to do, nor did it come into my heart. 32 Therefore see, the days come, says the Lord, that it shall no more be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of slaughter, for they shall bury in Tophet, until there's no room. 33 And the dead bodies of these people shall be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth, and no one shall chase them away. 34 Then I'll cause to stop from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, for the land shall be desolate." ___Jeremiah chapter 8 1 "At that time, says the Lord, they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves, 2 And they'll spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they've loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they've sought, and whom they've worshipped, they won't be gathered, nor be buried, they shall be for manure on the face of the earth. 3 And death shall be chosen rather than life by all the remainder of those who remain of this evil family, who remain in all the places where I've driven them," says the Lord of hosts. 4 "Also you shall say to them, thus says the Lord, Shall they fall, and not get up? Shall he turn away, and not return? 5 Why then have these people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? They hold tightly to deceit, they refuse to return. 6 I listened and heard, but they didn't talk right, no man repented of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? Everyone turned to his course, like the horse rushes into the battle. 7 Yes, the stork in the heaven knows her appointed times, and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming, but my people don't know the judgment of the Lord. 8 How do you say, we are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? See, he certainly made it in vain, the pen of the scribes is in vain. 9 The wise men are ashamed, they're dismayed and taken, see, they've rejected the word of the Lord, and what wisdom is in them? 10 Therefore I'll give their wives to others, and their fields to those who'll inherit them, for everyone from the least even to the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even to the priest everyone deals falsely. 11 For they've healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, "Peace, peace," when there is no peace. 12 Were they ashamed when they had committed a dirty thing? No, they were not at all ashamed, nor could they blush, therefore shall they'll among those who fall, in the time of their visitation they'll be thrown down, says the Lord. 13 I'll surely consume them, says the Lord, there'll be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade, and the things that I've given them shall pass away from them. 14 Why do we sit still? Assemble yourselves, and let's enter into the defenced cities, and let's be silent there, for the Lord our God has put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we've sinned against the Lord. 15 We looked for peace, but no good came, and for a time of health, and see, trouble! 16 The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan, the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones, for they've come, and have devoured the land, and all that is in it, the city, and those who live in it. 17 For see, I'll send snakes, cockatrices, among you, that won't be charmed, and they'll bite you, says the Lord. 18 When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me. 19 See, the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of those who live in a far country, isn't the Lord in Zion? Isn't her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their engraved images, and with strange vanities? 20 The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we're not saved. 21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people I'm hurt, I'm black, astonishment has taken hold of me. 22 Is there no balm in Gilead, is there no physician there? Why then hasn't the health of the daughter of my people recovered? ___Jeremiah chapter 9 1 Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, so that I could weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! 2 Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men, so that I could leave my people, and go from them! For they're all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men. 3 And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies, but they're not valiant for the truth on the earth, for they proceed from evil to evil, and they don't know me, says the Lord. 4 Be careful everyone about his neighbor, and don't trust any brother, for every brother will completely replace you, and every neighbor will walk with slanders. 5 And everyone will deceive his neighbor, and won't speak the truth, they've taught their tongue to speak lies, and by committing sin make themselves tired. 6 Your habitation is among deceit, through deceit they refuse to know me, says the Lord. 7 Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, "See, I'll melt them, and test them, for how shall I do for the daughter of my people? 8 Their tongue is as an arrow shot out, it speaks deceit, they speak peaceably to their neighbors with their mouths, but in their hearts, they lay in ambush. 9 Shall I not visit them for these things? Says the Lord, shall not my soul be avenged against such a nation as this? 10 For the mountains, I'll take up a weeping and wailing, and for the habitations of the wilderness, a lamentation, because they're burned up, so that no one can pass through them, nor can men hear the voice of the cattle, both the fowl of the heavens and the beast have fled, they're gone. 11 And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons, and I'll make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant. 12 Who is the wise man, that can understand this? And who is he to whom the mouth of the Lord has spoken, so he can declare it, for which the land is destroyed and is burned up like a wilderness, so that no one passes through? 13 And the Lord says, because they've forsaken my law that I set before them, and haven't obeyed my voice, nor walked in it, 14 But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them, 15 Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, see, I'll feed them, even these people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink. 16 I'll scatter them also among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, and I'll send a sword after them, until I've consumed them. 17 Thus says the Lord of hosts, consider, and call for the mourning women, so they can come, and send for cunning women, so they can come, 18 And let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, so our eyes can run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters. 19 For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, how are we spoiled! We are greatly confused, because we have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have thrown us out. 20 Yet hear the word of the Lord, O you women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and everyone her neighbor lamenting. 21 For death has come up into our windows, and has entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from outside, and the young men from the streets. 22 Speak, "Thus says the Lord, even the dead bodies of men shall fall like manure on the open field, and like the handful after the harvestman, and no one shall gather them." 23 Thus says the Lord, "Don't let the wise man glory in his wisdom, nor let the mighty man glory in his might, let the rich man not glory in his riches, 24 But let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who exercise loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth, for I delight in these things, says the Lord. 25 See, the days come, says the Lord, that I'll punish all of those who are circumcised with the uncircumcised, 26 Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the farthest corners, that live in the wilderness, for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart. ___Jeremiah chapter 10 1 Hear the word that the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel, 2 Thus says the Lord, "Don't learn the way of the heathen, and don't be swayed by the signs of heaven, for the heathen are swayed by them. 3 For the customs of the people are vain, for one person cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold, they fasten it with nails and with hammers, so that it doesn't move. 5 They are upright like the palm tree, but don't speak, they have to be carried, because they can't go. Don't be afraid of them, for they can't do evil, nor also is it in them to do good. 6 Since there is no one like to you, O Lord, you are great, and your name is great in might. 7 Who would not fear you, O King of nations? For to you does it pertain, since among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you. 8 But they are completely brutish and foolish, the stock is a doctrine of vanities. 9 Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the foundry worker, blue and purple is their clothing, they're all the work of skillful men. 10 But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king, at his anger, the earth shall tremble, and the nations won't be able to survive his indignation. 11 Thus shall you say to them, the gods that haven't made the heavens and the earth, they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. 12 He has made the earth by his power, he has established the world by his wisdom, and has stretched out the heavens by his discretion. 13 When he speaks his voice, there's a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth, he makes lightnings with rain, and brings the wind out of his treasures. 14 Every man is brutish in his knowledge, every foundry worker is confused by the engraved image, for his image that is cast in the foundry is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. 15 They are vanity, and the work of errors, in the time of their visitation they shall perish. 16 The portion of Jacob is not like them, for he is the former of all things, and Israel is the rod of his inheritance, the Lord of hosts is his name. 17 Gather up your wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress. 18 For thus says the Lord, see, I'll sling out the inhabitants of the land at this once, and will distress them, so that they'll find it so. 19 Woe is me for my hurt! My wound is grievous, but I said, truly this is a grief, and I must bear it. 20 My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken, my children have gone away from me, and they no longer exist, there is no one to stretch out my tent anymore, and to set up my curtains. 21 For the pastors have become brutish, and haven't sought the Lord, therefore they won't prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered. 22 See, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons. 23 O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself, it is not in man that walks to direct his steps. 24 O Lord, correct me, but with judgment, not in your anger, so that you don't make me become nothing. 25 Pour out your fury on the heathen that don't know, and on the families that don't call on your name, for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate." ___Jeremiah chapter 11 1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2 "Hear the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, 3 And say to them, thus says the Lord God of Israel, cursed is the man that doesn't obey the words of this covenant, 4 That I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, obey my voice, and do them, according to everything that I command you, so shall you be my people, and I'll be your God, 5 So I can perform the oath that I've sworn to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day." Then I answered, "So be it, O Lord." 6 Then the Lord said to me, "Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, hear you the words of this covenant, and do them. 7 For I earnestly protested to your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even until this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice. 8 Yet they didn't obey, nor inclined their ear, but everyone walked in the imagination of their evil heart, therefore I'll bring on them all the words of this covenant, that I commanded them to do, but they didn't do them." 9 And the Lord said to me, "A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem." 10 They've turned back to the sins of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words, and they went after other gods to serve them, the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant that I made with their fathers. 11 Therefore thus says the Lord, see, I'll bring evil on them that they won't be able to escape, and though they cry to me, I won't listen to them. 12 Then the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem shall go, and cry to the gods to whom they offer incense, but they won't save them at all in the time of their trouble. 13 For you had as many gods as you had cities, O Judah, and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem you've set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense to Baal. 14 Therefore don't pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, for I won't hear them in the time that they cry to me for their trouble. 15 What has my beloved to do in my house, seeing she has done lewdness with many, and the holy flesh has passed from you? When you do evil, then you rejoice. 16 The Lord called your name, a green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit, with the noise of a great tumult he has kindled fire on it, and the branches of it are broken. 17 For the Lord of hosts, that planted you, has pronounced evil against you, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, that they've done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense to Baal. 18 And the Lord has given me knowledge of it, and I know it, then you showed me their doings. 19 But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter, and I didn't know that they'd devised devices against me, saying, let us destroy the tree with the fruit of it, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name will no more be remembered. 20 But, O Lord of hosts, who judges righteously, that tries the reins and the heart, let me see your vengeance on them, for I've revealed my cause to you. 21 Therefore thus says the Lord about the men of Anathoth, that seek your life, saying, don't prophesy in the name of the Lord, so that you don't die by our hand, 22 Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, see, I will punish them, the young men shall die by the sword, their sons and their daughters shall die by famine, 23 And none of them shall remain, for I'll bring evil on the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation. ___Jeremiah chapter 12 1 You are righteous, O Lord, when I plead with you, yet let me talk with you about your judgments, why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are they all happy that deal very treacherously? 2 You've planted them, yes, they've taken root, they grow, yes, they bring forth fruit, you are near in their mouth, and far from their reins. 3 But you know me, O Lord, you've seen me, and tested my heart toward you, pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter. 4 How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of those who live in it? The animals are consumed, and the birds, because they said, he won't see our last end. 5 If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, in which you trusted, they wearied you, then how will you do in the swelling of Jordan? 6 For even your brothers, and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you, yes, they've called a multitude after you, don't believe them, though they speak fair words to you. 7 I've forsaken my house, I've left my heritage, I've given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies. 8 My heritage is to me like a lion in the forest, it cries out against me, therefore I've hated it. 9 My heritage is to me like a speckled bird, the birds all around are against her, come, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour. 10 Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they've trampled my portion under foot, they've made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. 11 They've made it desolate, and being desolate it mourns to me, the whole land has been made desolate, because no man lays it to heart. 12 The spoilers have come on all high places through the wilderness, for the sword of the Lord shall devour from one end of the land even to the other end of the land, no flesh shall have peace. 13 They've planted wheat, but shall reap thorns, they've put themselves to pain, but shall not profit, and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the Lord. 14 Thus says the Lord against all my evil neighbors, that touch the inheritance that I have caused my people Israel to inherit, see, I'll pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them. 15 And after I've plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land. 16 And if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, the Lord lives, as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they'll be built among my people. 17 But if they won't obey, I'll completely pluck up and destroy that nation, says the Lord. ___Jeremiah chapter 13 1 Thus says the Lord to me, "Go and get yourself a linen girdle, and put it on your midsection, and don't put it in water." 2 So I got a girdle according to the word of the Lord, and put it on my loins. 3 And the word of the Lord came to me the second time, saying, 4 "Take the girdle that you have, that is on your loins, and arise, go to Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the rock." 5 So I went, and hid it by Euphrates, like the Lord commanded me. 6 And after many days, the Lord said to me, "Get up, go to Euphrates, and take the girdle from there that I commanded you to hide there." 7 Then I went to Euphrates, and dug, and took the girdle from the place where I had hidden it, and see, the girdle was ruined, it was profitable for nothing. 8 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9 "Thus says the Lord, after this manner I'll strike the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem. 10 These evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall be like this girdle, that is good for nothing. 11 For as the girdle sticks to the loins of a man, so I've caused to stick to me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, says the Lord, so that they'll be to me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory, but they wouldn't hear. 12 Therefore you shall speak to them this word, thus says the Lord God of Israel, every bottle shall be filled with wine, and they shall say to you, do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine? 13 Then you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord, see, I'll fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings that sit on David's throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness. 14 And I'll smash them against each other, even the fathers and the sons together, says the Lord, I won't pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them. 15 Hear, and give ear, don't be proud, for the Lord has spoken. 16 Give glory to the Lord your God, before he causes darkness, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains, and while you look for light, he turns it into the shadow of death, and makes it gross darkness. 17 But if you won't hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride, and my eye shall weep severely, and run down with tears, because the Lord's flock has been carried away captive. 18 Say to the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down, for your princedoms shall come down, even the crown of your glory. 19 The cities of the south shall be shut up, and no one shall open them, Judah shall be carried away captive, all of it, it shall be completely carried away captive. 20 Lift up your eyes, and see those who come from the north, where is the flock that was given to you, your beautiful flock? 21 What will you say when he shall punish you? For you've taught them to be captains, and as chief over you, shall sorrows not take you, lie a woman in child birth? 22 And if you say in your heart, Why do these things come on me? For the greatness of your sin are your skirts discovered, and your heels made bare. 23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then might you also do good, who are accustomed to doing evil. 24 Therefore I'll scatter them like the stubble that passes away by the wind of the wilderness. 25 This is your lot, the portion of your measures from me, says the Lord, because you've forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood. 26 Therefore I'll discover your skirts on your face, so that your shame will appear. 27 I have seen your adulteries, and your neighings, the lewdness of your whoredom, and your abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! Won't you be made clean? When shall it once be? ___Jeremiah chapter 14 1 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought. 2 Judah mourns, and the gates of it languish, they are black to the ground, and the cry of Jerusalem has gone up. 3 And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters, they came to the pits, and found no water, they returned with their containers empty, they were ashamed and confused, and covered their heads. 4 Because the ground is chapped, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads. 5 Yes, the deer also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there was no grass. 6 And the wild asses stood in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons, their eyes failed, because there was no grass. 7 O Lord, though our sins testify against us, do it for your name's sake, for our backslidings are many, we've sinned against you. 8 O the hope of Israel, the savior of it in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, and like a wayfaring man that turns aside to wait for a night? 9 Why should you be like a man astonished, like a mighty man that can't save? Yet you, O Lord, are among us, and we are called by your name, don't leave us. 10 Thus says the Lord to this people, "Thus have they loved to wander, they haven't refrained their feet, therefore the Lord doesn't accept them, he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins." 11 Then the Lord said to me, "Don't pray for this people for their good. 12 When they fast, I won't hear their cry, and when they offer burnt offering and an offering, I won't accept them, but I'll consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence." 13 Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! See, the prophets say to them, you won't see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place." 14 Then the Lord said to me, "The prophets prophesy lies in my name, I didn't send them, nor have I commanded them, nor spoke to them, they prophesy to you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nothing, and the deceit of their heart." 15 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I didn't send them, "Yet they say, sword and famine shall not be in this land, by sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed. 16 And the people to whom they prophesy shall be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword, and they shall have no one to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters, for I will pour their wickedness on them. 17 Therefore you shall say this word to them, Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not stop, for the virgin daughter of my people has been broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow. 18 If I go forth into the field, then see, the slain by the sword! And if I enter into the city, then see, those who are sick with famine! Yes, both the prophet and the priest go around into a land that they don't know." 19 Have you completely rejected Judah? Has your soul hated Zion? Why have you struck us, and there is no healing for us? We looked for peace, and there is no good, and for the time of healing, and see, trouble! 20 We acknowledge, O Lord, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers, for we have sinned against you. 21 Don't hate us, for your name's sake, don't disgrace the throne of your glory, remember, don't break your covenant with us. 22 Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Aren't you he, O Lord our God? Therefore we'll wait on you, for you've made all these things. ___Jeremiah chapter 15 1 Then the Lord said to me, though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward these people, throw them out of my sight, and let them go away. 2 And if they say to you, where shall we go? Then you shall tell them, "Thus says the Lord, such as are for death, to death, and such as are for the sword, to the sword, and such as are for the famine, to the famine, and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity. 3 And I will appoint over them four kinds," says the Lord, "the sword to kill, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy. 4 And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem. 5 For who shall have pity on you, O Jerusalem? Or who shall mourn for you? Or who shall go aside to ask how you're doing? 6 You've forsaken me, says the Lord, you've gone backward, therefore I'll stretch out my hand against you, and destroy you, I'm tired of repenting. 7 And I'll fan them with a fan in the gates of the land, I'll bereave them of children, I'll destroy my people, since they don't return from their ways. 8 Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas, I've brought on them against the mother of the young men, a spoiler at noonday, I've caused him to fall on it suddenly, and terrors on the city. 9 She that has given birth to seven languishes, she has given up the ghost, her sun has gone down while it was still day, she has been ashamed and confused, and the remainder of them I'll deliver to the sword before their enemies," says the Lord. 10 Woe is me, my mother, that you've given birth to me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I've neither lent on interest, nor have men lent to me on interest, yet every one of them curses me. 11 The Lord said, "Truly it shall be well with your remnant, truly I will cause the enemy to treat you well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction. 12 Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel? 13 I'll give your substance and your treasures to the spoil without price, and that because of all your sins, even in all your borders. 14 And I'll make you to pass with your enemies into a land that you don't know, for a fire is kindled in my anger, that shall burn against you. 15 O Lord, you know, remember me, and visit me, and avenge me against my persecutors, don't take me away in your patience, know that for your sake I've suffered reprimand. 16 Your words were found, and I ate them, and your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart, for I'm called by your name, O Lord God of hosts. 17 I didn't sit in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced, I sat alone because of your hand, for you've filled me with indignation. 18 Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, that refuses to be healed? Will you entirely be to me like a liar, and like waters that fail? 19 Therefore thus says the Lord, "If you return, then I'll bring you back, and you'll stand before me, and if you take out the precious from the filthy, you'll be like my mouth, let them return to you, but don't you return you to them. 20 And I will make you a fenced brass wall to these people, and they'll fight against you, but they won't prevail against you, for I am with you to save you and to give you deliverance, says the Lord. 21 And I'll deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and I'll redeem you out of the hand of the terrible." ___Jeremiah chapter 16 1 The word of the Lord also came to me, saying, 2 "You shall not take for yourself a wife, nor shall you have sons or daughters in this place. 3 For thus says the Lord concerning the sons and concerning the daughters that are born in this place, and concerning their mothers that bore them, and concerning their fathers that fathered them in this land, 4 They'll die of grievous deaths, they won't be lamented, nor shall they be buried, but they shall be like manure on the face of the earth, and they'll be consumed by the sword, and by famine, and their carcasses shall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and for the beasts of the earth. 5 For thus says the Lord, don't enter into the house of mourning, nor go to lament nor bemoan them, for I've taken away my peace from these people, says the Lord, even loving kindness and mercies. 6 Both the great and the small shall die in this land, they won't be buried, nor shall men lament for them, nor cut themselves, nor make themselves bald for them, 7 Nor shall men tear themselves for them in mourning, to comfort them for the dead, nor shall men give them the cup of consolation to drink for their father or for their mother. 8 You also shall not go into the house of feasting, to sit with them to eat and to drink. 9 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, see, I'll cause to stop in this place in your eyes, and in your days, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride. 10 And when you shall show these people all these words, and they say to you, why has the Lord pronounced all this great evil against us? Or what is our iniquity? Or what is our sin that we have committed against the Lord our God? 11 Then you shall say to them, because your fathers have forsaken me, says the Lord, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and haven't kept my law, 12 And you've done worse than your fathers, for see, you walk everyone after the imagination of his evil heart, so that they won't listen to me, 13 Therefore I'll throw you out of this land into a land that you don't know, neither you nor your fathers, and there you'll serve other gods day and night, where I won't show you favor. 14 Therefore, see, the days come, says the Lord, that it shall no more be said, the Lord lives, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, 15 But, the Lord lives, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands where he had driven them, and I will bring them back into their land that I gave to their fathers. 16 See, I will send for many fishers, says the Lord, and they shall fish them, and afterward I'll send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. 17 For my eyes are on all their ways, they are not hidden from my face, nor is their sin hidden from my eyes. 18 And first, I'll repay their iniquity and their sin double, because they've defiled my land, they've filled my inheritance with the dead bodies of their detestable and dirty things. 19 O Lord, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come to you from the ends of the earth, and shall say, surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things in which there is no profit. 20 Shall a man make gods to himself, and they are no gods? 21 Therefore, see, I will this once cause them to know, I'll cause them to know my hand and my might, and they'll know that my name is the Lord." ___Jeremiah chapter 17 1 The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond, it is engraved on the table of their heart, and on the horns of your altars, 2 While their children remember their altars and their groves by the green trees on the high hills. 3 O my mountain in the field, I'll give your substance and all your treasures for spoil, and your high places for sin, throughout all your borders. 4 And you, even you yourself, shall discontinue from your heritage that I gave you, and I'll cause you to serve your enemies in the land that you don't know, for you've kindled a fire in my anger, that shall burn forever. 5 Thus says the Lord, cursed is the man that trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from the Lord. 6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. 7 Blessed is the man that trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. 8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, and that spreads out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat comes, but her leaf shall be green, and shall not be careful in the year of drought, nor shall stop yielding fruit. 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it? 10 I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. 11 Like the partridge sits on eggs, and doesn't hatch them, so he that gets riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the middle of his days, and at his end shall be a fool. 12 A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary. 13 O Lord, the hope of Israel, all that forsake you shall be ashamed, and those who depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they've forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters. 14 Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed, save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise. 15 See, they say to me, Where is the word of the Lord? Let it come now. 16 As for me, I haven't hastened from being a pastor to follow you, nor have I desired the woeful day, you know, that which came out of my lips was right before you. 17 Don't be a terror to me, you are my hope in the day of evil. 18 Let them be confused that persecute me, but don't let me be confused, let them be dismayed, but don't let me be dismayed, bring on them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction. 19 Thus the Lord said to me, Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, by which the kings of Judah come in, and by the which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem, 20 And say to them, hear the word of the Lord, you kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates, 21 Thus says the Lord, Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem, 22 Nor carry out a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, nor do any work, but hallow the Sabbath day, like I commanded your fathers. 23 But they didn't obey, nor inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, so that they wouldn't hear, nor receive instruction. 24 And if you diligently listen to me, says the Lord, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but hallow the Sabbath day, to do no work on it, 25 Then there shall enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and this city shall remain forever. 26 And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places around Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, to the house of the Lord. 27 But if you won't listen to me to hallow the Sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I'll kindle a fire in the gates of it, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched. ___Jeremiah chapter 18 1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2 "Get up and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear my words." 3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and see, he made a work on the wheels. 4 And the container that he made of clay was damaged in the hand of the potter, so he made it again, a different container, as seemed good to the potter to make it. 5 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 6 "O house of Israel, can't I do with you like this potter?" Says the Lord. "See, like the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. 7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it, 8 If that nation, against whom I've pronounced, turns from their evil, I'll repent of the evil that I thought to do to them. 9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, 10 If it does evil in my sight, so that it doesn't obey my voice, then I'll repent of the good, that I said I would do for them. 11 Now therefore go and speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, thus says the Lord, see, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you, return now everyone from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good." 12 And they said, "There is no hope, but we will walk after our own devices, and we will all do the imagination of his evil heart." 13 Therefore thus says the Lord, "Ask now among the heathen, who has heard such things, the virgin of Israel has done a very horrible thing. 14 Will a man leave the snow of Lebanon that comes from the rock of the field? Or shall the cold flowing waters that come from another place be forsaken? 15 Because my people have forgotten me, they've burned incense to vanity, and they've caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up, 16 To make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing, everyone that passes by it shall be astonished, and wag his head. 17 I will scatter them like with an east wind before the enemy, I will show them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity. 18 Then they said, come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah, for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor advice from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not pay attention to any of his words. 19 Pay attention to me, O Lord, and listen to the voice of those who contend with me. 20 Shall evil be repaid for good? For they've dug a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before you to speak good for them, and to turn away your anger from them. 21 Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword, and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows, and let their men be put to death, let their young men be killed by the sword in battle. 22 Let a cry be heard from their houses, when you shall bring a troop suddenly against them, for they've dug a pit to take me, and hidden traps for my feet. 23 Yet Lord, you know all their plans against me to kill me, don't forgive their iniquity, nor blot out their sin from your sight, but let them be overthrown before you, deal thus with them in the time of your anger. ___Jeremiah chapter 19 1 Thus says the Lord, "Go and get a potter's earthen bottle, and take some of the seniors of the people, and of the seniors of the priests, 2 And go forth to the valley of the son of Hinnom, that is by the entry of the east gate, and proclaim there the words that I'll tell you, 3 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, see, I'll bring evil on this place, which, whoever hears, his ears shall tingle. 4 Because they've forsaken me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it to other gods, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, nor the kings of Judah, and have filled this place with the blood of innocents, 5 They've also built the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings to Baal, which I didn't command, nor spoke it, nor did it come into my mind, 6 Therefore, see, the days come, says the Lord, that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of slaughter. 7 And I'll make void the advice of Judah and Jerusalem in this place, and I'll cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hands of those who seek their lives, and I'll give their carcasses to be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth. 8 And I'll make this city desolate, and a hissing, everyone that passes by it shall be astonished and hiss because of all the plagues of it. 9 And I'll cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and everyone shall eat the flesh of his friend in the siege and restriction with which their enemies, and those who seek their lives, shall restrict them. 10 Then you'll break the bottle in the sight of the men that go with you, 11 And shall say to them, thus says the Lord of hosts, even so will I break this people and this city, like someone breaks a potter's container, that can't be mended again, and they'll bury them in Tophet, until there's no place to bury. 12 Thus will I do to this place, says the Lord, and to the inhabitants of it, and make this city like Tophet, 13 And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, shall be defiled like the place of Tophet, because of all the houses on whose roofs they've burned incense to all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings to other gods." 14 Then Jeremiah came from Tophet, 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, 15 "Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, see, I'll bring on this city and on all her towns all the evil that I've spoken against it, because they've hardened their necks, so they won't hear my words." ___Jeremiah chapter 20 1 Now Pashur, the son of Immer, the priest, who was also the top governor in the house of the Lord, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things. 2 Then Pashur struck Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the Lord. 3 And on the next day Pashur brought Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then Jeremiah said to him, "The Lord hasn't called your name Pashur, but Magormissabib. 4 For thus says the Lord, see, I'll make you a terror to yourself, and to all your friends, and they'll fall by the sword of their enemies, and your eyes shall see it, and I'll give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive into Babylon, and shall kill them with the sword. 5 Also, I will deliver all the strength of this city, and all the labors of it, and all the precious things of it, and I'll give all the treasures of the kings of Judah into the hands of their enemies, who'll spoil them, and take them, and carry them to Babylon. 6 And you, Pashur, and all that live in your house shall go into captivity, and you'll go to Babylon, and there you'll die, and shall be buried there, you, and all your friends, to whom you've prophesied lies." 7 O Lord, you've deceived me, and I was deceived, you are stronger than I am, and have prevailed, I am in derision daily, everyone mocks me. 8 For since I spoke, I shouted out, I shouted violence and spoil, because the word of the Lord was made a reproach to me, and a derision, daily. 9 Then I said, I won't make mention of him, nor speak anymore in his name. But his word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was tired of not speaking, and I couldn't continue. 10 For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. "Report," they say, "and we'll report it." All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, "Perhaps he will be enticed, and we'll prevail against him, and we'll take our revenge against him." 11 But the Lord is with me like a mighty terrible one, therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they won't prevail, they'll be greatly ashamed, for they won't prosper, their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten. 12 But, O Lord of hosts, that tests the righteous, and sees the reins and the heart, let me see your vengeance on them, for I've opened my cause to you. 13 Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord, for he has delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers. 14 Cursed be the day in which I was born, let not the day in which my mother bore me be blessed. 15 Cursed be the man who brought news to my father, saying, "A man child is born to you, making him very glad." 16 And let that man be like the cities that the Lord overthrew, and didn't repent, and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noon, 17 Because he didn't kill me from the womb, or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be always large with me. 18 Why did I come out of the womb to see labor and sorrow, so that my days should be consumed with shame? ___Jeremiah chapter 21 1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, when king Zedekiah sent him Pashur, the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah, the son of Maaseiah, the priest, saying, 2 "Please inquire of the Lord for us, for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon is making war against us, if so be that the Lord will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he will go away from us." 3 Then Jeremiah said to them, "Thus shall you say to Zedekiah, 4 Thus says the Lord God of Israel, see, I'll turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, with which you fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans, who besiege you outside the walls, and I'll assemble them into the midddle of this city. 5 And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great anger. 6 And I will strike the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast, they'll die of a great pestilence. 7 And afterward, says the Lord, I'll deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life, and he shall strike them with the edge of the sword, he shall not spare them, nor have pity, nor have mercy." 8 And to this people you shall say, "Thus says the Lord, see, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death. 9 He that abides in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence, but he that goes out, and falls to the Chaldeans that besiege you shall live, and his life shall be to him for a prey. 10 For I've set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, says the Lord, it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire." 11 And concerning the house of the king of Judah, say, "Hear the word of the Lord, 12 O house of David, thus says the Lord, execute justice in the morning, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, so that my fury doesn't go out like fire, and burn such that no one can quench it, because of the evil of your doings. 13 See, I am against you, O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain," says the Lord, "who say, who shall come down against us? Or who shall enter into our habitations? 14 But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, says the Lord, and I will kindle a fire in the forest of it, and it shall devour everything around it." ___Jeremiah chapter 22 1 Thus says the Lord, "Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak this word there, 2 And say, hear the word of the Lord, O king of Judah, that sits on the throne of David, you, and your servants, and your people that enter in by these gates, 3 Thus says the Lord, execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place. 4 For if you do this thing indeed, then kings shall enter in by the gates of this house, sitting on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, he, and his servants, and his people. 5 But if you won't listen to these words, I swear by myself, says the Lord, that this house shall become a desolation. 6 For thus says the Lord to the king's house of Judah, you are Gilead to me, and the head of Lebanon, yet surely I'll make you a wilderness, and cities that aren't inhabited. 7 And I'll prepare destroyers against you, everyone with his weapons, and they'll cut down your choice cedars, and throw them into the fire. 8 And many nations shall pass by this city, and they'll say every man to his neighbor, why has the Lord done thus to this great city? 9 Then they shall answer, because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord their God, and worshipped other gods, and served them. 10 Don't weep for the dead, nor bemoan him, but weep severely for him that goes away, for he'll return no more, nor see his native country. 11 For thus says the Lord concerning Shallum the son of Josiah king of Judah, who ruled instead of Josiah his father, who went forth out of this place, he shall not return here anymore, 12 But he'll die in the place where they've led him captive, and shall see this land no more. 13 Woe to him that builds his house by unrighteousness, and his rooms by wrong, that uses his neighbor's service without wages, and doesn't give him anything for his work, 14 That says, I'll build me a wide house and large rooms, and cuts out windows for himself, and it is ceiled with cedar, and painted with vermilion. 15 Shall you rule, because you enclose yourself in cedar? Didn't your father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him? 16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy, then it was well with him, was not this to know me? Says the Lord. 17 But your eyes and your heart are not but for your covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it. 18 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, they shall not lament for him, saying, ah my brother! Or, ah sister! They shall not lament for him, saying, ah lord! Or, ah his glory! 19 He shall be buried with the burial of a donkey, drawn and thrown out beyond the gates of Jerusalem. 20 Go up to Lebanon, and cry, and lift up your voice in Bashan, and cry from the passages, for all your lovers have been destroyed. 21 I spoke to you in your prosperity, but you said, I won't listen. This has been your manner from your youth, that you didn't obey my voice. 22 The wind shall eat up all your pastors, and your lovers shall go into captivity, surely you'll then be ashamed and confused for all your wickedness. 23 O inhabitant of Lebanon, that makes your nest in the cedars, how gracious shall you be when pangs come on you, the pain as of a woman in child birth! 24 As I live, says the Lord, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet on my right hand, yet would I pluck you from there, 25 And I'll give you into the hand of those who seek your life, and into the hand of those whose face you're afraid of, even into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans. 26 And I will throw you out, and your mother that bore you, into another country, where you were not born, and you'll die there. 27 But to the land to which they desire to return, they won't return there. 28 Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? Is he a container in which is no pleasure? So they're thrown out, he and his descendants, and are thrown into a land that they don't know? 29 O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord. 30 Thus says the Lord, write this man childless, a man that won't prosper in his days, for no man of his descendants shall prosper, sitting on the throne of David, and ruling anymore in Judah." ___Jeremiah chapter 23 1 Woe be to the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! Says the Lord. 2 Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people, you've scattered my flock, and driven them away, and haven't visited them, see, I'll visit upon you the evil of your doings, says the Lord. 3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries where I've driven them, and will bring them again to their folds, and they'll be fruitful and increase. 4 And I'll set up shepherds over them who'll feed them, and they'll fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking, says the Lord. 5 See, the days come, says the Lord, that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and a King shall rule and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. 6 In his days, Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall live safely, and this is his name by which he shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness. 7 Therefore, see, the days come, says the Lord, that they shall no more say, the Lord lives, who brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, 8 But, the Lord lives, who brought up and who led the descendants of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries where I had driven them, and they shall live in their own land. 9 My heart inside me is broken because of the prophets, all my bones shake, I'm like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine has overcome, because of the Lord, and because of the words of his holiness. 10 For the land is full of adulterers, for because of swearing the land mourns, the pleasant places of the wilderness have been dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right. 11 For both prophet and priest are profane, yes, in my house I've found their wickedness, says the Lord. 12 So their way shall be to them like slippery ways in the darkness, they'll be driven on, and fall in it, for I'll bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, says the Lord. 13 And I've seen foolishness in the prophets of Samaria, they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err. 14 I've seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem a horrible thing, they commit adultery, and walk in lies, they also strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one returns from his wickedness, all of them to me are like Sodom, and the inhabitants of it like Gomorrah. 15 Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets, see, I'll feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall, for from the prophets of Jerusalem profaneness has gone forth into all the land. 16 Thus says the Lord of hosts, don't listen to the words of the prophets that prophesy to you, they make you vain, they speak a vision from their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord. 17 They still say to those who despise me, "The Lord has said, you shall have peace," and they say to everyone that walks after the imagination of his own heart, "No evil shall come on you." 18 For who has stood in the advice of the Lord, and has perceived and heard his word? Who has marked his word, and heard it? 19 See, a whirlwind of the Lord has gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind, it shall fall grievously on the head of the wicked. 20 The anger of the Lord shall not return, until he's executed, and until he's performed the thoughts of his heart, in the latter days you shall consider it perfectly. 21 I haven't sent these prophets, yet they ran, I haven't spoken to them, yet they prophesied. 22 But if they had stood in my advice, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they would have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings. 23 "Am I a God at hand, says the Lord, and not a God far off? 24 Can anyone hide himself in secret places where I can't see him?" Says the Lord. "Don't I fill heaven and earth?" Says the Lord. 25 I've heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. 26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? Yes, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart, 27 Who think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams that they tell every man to his neighbor, like their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal. 28 The prophet that has a dream, let him tell a dream, and he that has my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? Says the Lord. 29 Isn't my word like a fire? Says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? 30 Therefore, see, I am against the prophets, says the Lord, that steal my words everyone from his neighbor. 31 See, I am against the prophets, says the Lord, that use their tongues, and say, He says. 32 See, I'm against those who prophesy false dreams, says the Lord, and who tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness, yet I didn't sent them, nor commanded them, therefore they shall not profit these people at all, says the Lord. 33 And when these people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask you, saying, What is the burden of the Lord? You shall then say to them, what burden? I will even forsake you, says the Lord. 34 And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of the Lord, I will punish that man and his house. 35 Thus shall everyone say to his neighbor, and everyone to his brother, What has the Lord answered? And, what has the Lord spoken? 36 And The burden of the Lord, you shall mention no more, for every man's word shall be his burden, for you've perverted the words of the living God, of the Lord of hosts, our God. 37 You shall say thus to the prophet, What has the Lord answered you? And, what has the Lord spoken? 38 But since you say, the burden of the Lord, therefore thus says the Lord, because you say this word, The burden of the Lord, and I have sent to you, saying, You shall not say, The burden of the Lord, 39 Therefore, see, I, even I, will completely forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and throw you out of my presence, 40 And I will bring an everlasting reproach on you, and a perpetual shame, that won't be forgotten. ___Jeremiah chapter 24 1 The Lord showed me, and see, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the Lord, after Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah, the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon. 2 One basket had very good figs, like the figs that are first ripe, and the other basket had very naughty figs, that couldn't be eaten, they were so bad. 3 Then the Lord said to me, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" And I said, "Figs, the good figs, very good, and the evil, very bad, that can't be eaten, they're so bad." 4 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, like these good figs, so I'll acknowledge those who've been carried away captive from Judah, whom I've sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good. 6 For I'll set my eyes on them for good, and I'll bring them back to this land, and I'll build them, and not pull them down, and I'll plant them, and not pluck them up. 7 And I'll give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people, and I'll be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart. 8 And as the evil figs, that can't be eaten, they are so evil, surely thus says the Lord, so I'll give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the remainder of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and those who live in the land of Egypt, 9 And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places where I shall drive them. 10 And I'll send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, until they're consumed from off the land that I gave to them and to their fathers. ___Jeremiah chapter 25 1 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that was the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, 2 Which Jeremiah the prophet spoke to all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, 3 "From the thirteenth year of Josiah, the son of Amon king of Judah, until this day, that is the twenty third year, the word of the Lord has come to me, and I've spoken to you, rising early and speaking, but you haven't listened. 4 And the Lord has sent you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, but you haven't listened, nor inclined your ear to hear. 5 They said, turn back now everyone from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and live in the land that the Lord has given to you and to your fathers forever and always, 6 And don't go after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and don't provoke me to anger with the works of your hands, and I'll do you no hurt. 7 Yet you haven't listened to me, says the Lord, so you could provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt. 8 Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, because you haven't heard my words, 9 See, I will send and take all the families of the north, says the Lord, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants of it, and against all these nations all around, and will completely destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and a hissing, and perpetual desolations. 10 Also, I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle. 11 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. 12 And when seventy years have been accomplished, I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation for their sin, says the Lord, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations. 13 And I will bring against that land all my words that I've spoken against it, even all that is written in this book, that Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations. 14 For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also, and I will repay them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands. 15 For thus says the Lord God of Israel to me, Take the wine cup of this fury from my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send you, to drink it. 16 And they shall drink, and be moved, and be crazy, because of the sword that I'll send among them. 17 Then I took I the cup from the Lord's hand, and made all the nations to drink, to whom the Lord had sent me, 18 Which are: Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings of it, and the princes of it, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, a hissing, and a curse, as it is this day, 19 Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and his servants, and his princes, and all his people, 20 And all the mixed people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, and all the kings of the land of the Philistines, and Ashkelon, and Azzah, and Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod, 21 Edom, and Moab, and the children of Ammon, 22 And all the kings of Tyrus, and all the kings of Zidon, and the kings of the islands that are beyond the sea, 23 Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all that are in the farthest corners, 24 And all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mixed people that live in the desert, 25 And all the kings of Zimri, and all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes, 26 And all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the world, that are on the face of the earth, and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them." 27 Therefore you shall say to them, "Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, drink, and be drunken, and vomit, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword that I'll send among you." 28 And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup from your hand to drink, then you shall say to them, "Thus says the Lord of hosts, you shall certainly drink. 29 For see, I begin to bring evil on the city that is called by my name, and should you be completely unpunished? You shall not be unpunished, for I will call for a sword on all the inhabitants of the earth, says the Lord of hosts." 30 Therefore prophesy against them all these words, and say to them, "The Lord shall roar from on high, and speak with his voice from his holy habitation, he shall mightily roar against his habitation, he shall give a shout, like those who tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth. 31 A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth, for the Lord has a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh, he will give those who are wicked to the sword," says the Lord. 32 Thus says the Lord of hosts, "See, evil shall go out from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. 33 And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth, they shall not be lamented, nor gathered, nor buried, they shall be manure on the ground. 34 Howl, you shepherds, and cry, and wallow yourselves in the ashes, you principal of the flock, for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions have been accomplished, and you'll fall like a pleasant container. 35 And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape. 36 A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and a howling of the principal of the flock shall be heard, for the Lord has spoiled their pasture. 37 And the peaceable habitations have been cut down because of the fierce anger of the Lord. 38 He has forsaken his shelter, like the lion, for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger. ___Jeremiah chapter 26 1 In the beginning of the rule of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the Lord, saying, 2 "Thus says the Lord, stand in the court of the Lord's house, and speak to all the cities of Judah, that come to worship in the Lord's house, all the words that I command you to speak to them, diminish not a word, 3 If they'll perhaps listen, and turn every man from his evil way, so I can change my mind about the evil that I purpose to do to them because of the evil of their doings." 4 And you shall say to them, "Thus says the Lord, if you won't listen to me, to walk in my law, that I've set before you, 5 To listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent to you, both rising up early, and sending them, but you haven't listened, 6 Then I'll make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth." 7 So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord. 8 Now when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak to all the people, the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, "You shall surely die. 9 Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, this house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant?" And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the Lord. 10 When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king's house to the house of the Lord, and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the Lord's house. 11 Then the priests and the prophets spoke to the princes and to all the people, saying, "This man is worthy to die, for he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your ears." 12 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've heard. 13 Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God, and the Lord will repent of the evil that he has pronounced against you. 14 As for me, see, I'm in your hand, do with me as seems good and meet to you. 15 But know for certain, that if you put me to death, you'll surely bring innocent blood on yourselves, and on this city, and on the inhabitants of it, for of a truth the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears." 16 Then the princes and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets, "This man is not worthy to die, for he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God." 17 Then certain of the elders of the land rose up and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying, 18 "Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah, king of Judah, and spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, thus says the Lord of hosts, Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest. 19 Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? Did he not fear the Lord, and besought the Lord, and the Lord repented of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls. 20 And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the Lord, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah, 21 And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death, but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt, 22 And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, specifically, Elnathan the son of Achbor, and certain men with him into Egypt. 23 And they fetched Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him to Jehoiakim the king, who killed him with the sword, and threw his dead body into the graves of the common people." 24 But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that they would not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death. ___Jeremiah chapter 27 1 In the beginning of the rule of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2 Thus says the Lord to me, make bonds and yokes, and put them on your neck, 3 And send them to the king of Edom, and to the king of Moab, and to the king of the Ammonites, and to the king of Tyrus, and to the king of Zidon, by the hand of the messengers that come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah, king of Judah, 4 And command them to say to their masters, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, thus shall you say to your masters, 5 I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are on the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it to whom it seemed appropriate to me. 6 And now I've given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and the beasts of the field I've given him also to serve him. 7 And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son, until the time of his land comes, and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him. 8 And the nation and kingdom that won't serve the same Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, and that won't put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, I'll punish that nation, says the Lord, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I've consumed them by his hand. 9 Therefore, don't listen to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers that speak to you, saying, You shall not serve the king of Babylon, 10 For they prophesy a lie to you, to remove you far from your land, and so that I should drive you out, and you should die. 11 But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, I'll let those remain still in their own land, says the Lord, and they'll till it, and live in it. 12 I spoke also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live. 13 Why do you want to die, you and your people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the Lord has spoken against the nation that won't serve the king of Babylon? 14 Therefore don't listen to the words of the prophets that speak to you, saying, You shall not serve the king of Babylon, for they prophesy a lie to you. 15 For I haven't sent them, says the Lord, yet they prophesy a lie in my name, so that I would drive you out, and so that you'll die, you, and the prophets that prophesy to you. 16 Also I spoke to the priests and to all this people, saying, thus says the Lord, Don't listen to the words of your prophets that prophesy to you, saying, See, the containers of the Lord's house shall now shortly be brought back from Babylon, for they prophesy a lie to you. 17 Don't listen to them, serve the king of Babylon, and live, why should this city be destroyed? 18 But if they're prophets, and if the word of the Lord is with them, let them now make intercession to the Lord of hosts, that the containers that are left in the house of the Lord, and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, won't go to Babylon. 19 For thus says the Lord of hosts concerning the pillars, and concerning the sea, and concerning the bases, and concerning the remainder of the containers that remain in this city, 20 That Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon didn't take, when he carried away captive Jeconiah, the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem, 21 Yes, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the containers that remain in the house of the Lord, and in the house of the king of Judah and of Jerusalem, 22 They shall be carried to Babylon, and they'll be there until the day that I visit them, says the Lord, then I'll bring them up, and restore them to this place. ___Jeremiah chapter 28 1 And the same year, in the beginning of the rule of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, who was of Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the Lord, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying, 2 "Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I've broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3 Within two full years I'll bring back to this place all the containers of the Lord's house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon, 4 And I'll bring back to this place Jeconiah, the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, says the Lord, for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon." 5 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people that stood in the house of the Lord, 6 The prophet Jeremiah said, "Amen, the Lord do so, the Lord perform your words that you have prophesied, to bring again the containers of the Lord's house, and all that's been carried away captive, from Babylon into this place. 7 But hear now this word that I speak in your ears, and in the ears of all the people, 8 The prophets that have been before me and before you of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence. 9 The prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet happens, then shall the prophet be known, that the Lord has truly sent him." 10 Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and broke it. 11 And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, thus says the Lord, like that, I'll break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way. 12 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, after Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying, 13 "Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus says the Lord, you've broken the yokes of wood, but you'll make for them yokes of iron. 14 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, I've put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations, so they'll serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they'll serve him, and I've given him the animals of the field also." 15 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah, the prophet, hear now, Hananiah, the Lord has not sent you, but you make these people trust in a lie. 16 Therefore thus says the Lord, "See, I'll throw you from off the face of the earth, this year you'll die, because you've taught rebellion against the Lord." 17 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month. ___Jeremiah chapter 29 1 Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the remainder of the elders who were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon, 2 (After Jeconiah, the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the carpenters, and the smiths, had departed from Jerusalem,) 3 By the hand of 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, 4 "Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all that are carried away captives, whom I've caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon, 5 Build yourselves houses, and live in them, and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them, 6 Take yourselves wives, and father sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, so they can bear sons and daughters, so you'll be increased there, and not diminished. 7 And seek the peace of the city where I've caused you to be carried away captives, and pray to the Lord for it, for in the peace of it you'll you have peace. 8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, don't let your prophets and your diviners that are among you, deceive you, nor listen to your dreams that you cause to be dreamed. 9 For they prophesy falsely to you in my name, I haven't sent them, says the Lord. 10 For thus says the Lord, after seventy years are accomplished at Babylon I'll visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then you'll call on me, and you'll go and pray to me, and I'll listen to you. 13 And you'll seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I'll be found by you, says the Lord, and I'll turn away your captivity, and I'll gather you from all the nations, and from all the places where I've driven you, says the Lord, and I'll bring you back into the place from which I caused you to be carried away captive. 15 Because you've said, the Lord has raised us up prophets in Babylon, 16 Know that thus says the Lord about the king that sits on the throne of David, and of all the people that live in this city, and of your brothers that haven't gone forth with you into captivity, 17 Thus says the Lord of hosts, see, I'll send against them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like filthy figs, that can't be eaten, they are so evil. 18 And I'll persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and a hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations where I have driven them, 19 Because they haven't listened to my words, says the Lord, that I sent to them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, but you wouldn't listen, says the Lord. 20 Hear therefore the word of the Lord, all you of the captivity, whom I've sent from Jerusalem to Babylon, 21 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, about Ahab, the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah, the son of Maaseiah, who prophesy a lie to you in my name, see, I'll deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and he shall kill them before your eyes, 22 And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Judah who are in Babylon, saying, the Lord make you like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire, 23 Because they've committed villainy in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbors' wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, that I haven't commanded them, even I know, and am a witness, says the Lord." 24 Thus shall you also speak to Shemaiah, the Nehelamite, saying, 25 Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, because you've sent letters in your name to all the people that are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah, the son of Maaseiah, the priest, and to all the priests, saying, 26 The Lord has made you priest instead of Jehoiada the priest, so that you should be officers in the house of the Lord, for every man that is crazy, and makes himself a prophet, so that you should put him in prison, and in the stocks. 27 Now therefore why haven't you reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, who makes himself a prophet to you? 28 For therefore he sent to us in Babylon, saying, this captivity is long, build yourseves houses, and live in them, and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them. 29 And Zephaniah, the priest read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah, the prophet. 30 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, 31 "Send to all of those of the captivity, saying, Thus says the Lord concerning Shemaiah, the Nehelamite, because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, and I didn't send him, and he caused you to trust in a lie, 32 Therefore thus says the Lord, see, I'll punish Shemaiah, the Nehelamite, and his descendants, he won't have a man to live among these people, nor shall he see the good that I will do for my people, says the Lord, because he has taught rebellion against the Lord. ___Jeremiah chapter 30 1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2 "Thus speaks the Lord God of Israel, saying, write all the words that I've spoken to you in a book. 3 For see, the days come, says the Lord, that I'll undo the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, says the Lord, and I'll cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they'll possess it." 4 And these are the words that the Lord spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah. 5 For thus says the Lord, "We've heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. 6 Ask now, and see whether a man travails with child? Why do I see every man with his hands on his midsection, like a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? 7 Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it, it is even the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it. 8 For in that day, says the Lord of hosts, I'll break his yoke from off your neck, and will burst your bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves by him, 9 But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up to them. 10 Therefore don't be afraid, O my servant Jacob, says the Lord, nor be dismayed, O Israel, for see, I'll save you from afar, and your descendants from the land of their captivity, and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and no one shall make him afraid. 11 For I am with you, says the Lord, to save you, though I make a full end of all nations where I've scattered you, yet I won't make a full end of you, but I will correct you in measure, and will not leave you completely unpunished. 12 For thus says the Lord, your bruise is incurable, and your wound is grievous. 13 There is no one to plead your cause, so you'll be bound up, you have no healing medicines. 14 All your lovers have forgotten you, they don't seek you, for I've wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of someone cruel, for the multitude of your iniquity, because your sins were increased. 15 Why do you cry for your affliction? Your sorrow is incurable for the multitude of your iniquity, because your sins were increased I've done these things to you. 16 Therefore all of those who devour you shall be devoured, and all your adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity, and those who spoil you shall be a spoil, and all of those who on you I'll give for a prey. 17 For I'll restore health to you, and I'll heal you of your wounds, says the Lord, because they called you an outcast, saying, this is Zion, whom no man seeks after. 18 Thus says the Lord, see, I'll undo the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwelling places, and the city shall be built on its own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner of it. 19 And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of those who make merry, and I will multiply them, and they won't be few, I will also glorify them, and they won't be small. 20 Their children also shall be like previously, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them. 21 And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from among them, and I'll cause him to draw near, and he shall approach me, for who is this that engaged his heart to approach to me? Says the Lord. 22 And you shall be my people, and I will be your God. 23 See, the whirlwind of the Lord goes out with fury, a continuing whirlwind, it shall fall with pain on the head of the wicked. 24 The fierce anger of the Lord shall not return, until he has done it, and until he has performed the intents of his heart, in the latter days you shall consider it." ___Jeremiah chapter 31 1 "At the same time," says the Lord, "I'll be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people." 2 Thus says the Lord, "The people who were left by the sword found grace in the wilderness, even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. 3 The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying, yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you. 4 Again, I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin of Israel, you shall again be adorned with your tabrets, and shall go out in the dances of those who make merry. 5 You shall yet plant vines on the mountains of Samaria, the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things. 6 For there shall be a day, that the watchmen on Mount Ephraim shall shout, arise, and let's go up to Zion to the Lord our God. 7 For thus says the Lord, sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations, publish, praise, and say, O Lord, save your people, the remnant of Israel. 8 See, I'll bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travails with child together, a large crowd shall return there. 9 They'll come with weeping, and I'll lead them with supplications, I'll cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, in which they won't stumble, for I'm a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. 10 Hear the word of the Lord, O you nations, and declare it in the islands far off, and say, he that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, like a shepherd does his flock. 11 For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he. 12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd, and their soul shall be like a watered garden, and they won't be sorrowful anymore at all. 13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together, for I'll turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. 14 And I will saturate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, says the Lord. 15 Thus says the Lord, a voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not. 16 Thus says the Lord, refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears, for your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. 17 And there is hope in your end, says the Lord, that your children shall come back to their own border. 18 I've surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus, you have chastised me, and I was chastised, like a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke, turn me, and I'll be turned, for you are the Lord my God. 19 Surely after I was turned, I repented, and after I was instructed, I struck on my thigh, I was ashamed, yes, even confused, because I carried the reproach of my youth. 20 Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he a pleasant child? For since I spoke against him, I do earnestly remember him still, therefore my bowels are troubled for him, I'll surely have mercy on him, says the Lord. 21 Set up waymarks, make high heaps, set your heart toward the highway, even the way that you went, turn back, O virgin of Israel, turn back to these, your cities. 22 How long will you go around, O backsliding daughter? For the Lord has created a new thing in the earth, a woman shall encompass a man. 23 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, as yet they'll use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities of it, when I shall undo their captivity, the Lord bless you, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness. 24 And farmers shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities of it together, and those who go out with flocks. 25 For I have saturated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul." 26 On this I awoke, and saw, and my sleep was sweet to me. 27 "See, the days come," says the Lord, "that I will plant the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the descendants of man, and with the descendants of animals. 28 And like I've watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict, so I'll watch over them, to build, and to plant, says the Lord. 29 In those days they shall no more say, the fathers have eaten a sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge. 30 But every one shall die for his own sin, every man that eats the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge. 31 See, the days come, says the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah, 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, which covenant they broke, although I was a husband to them, says the Lord, 33 But this shall be the covenant that I'll make with the house of Israel, after those days, says the Lord, I'll put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And they shall no longer teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, know the Lord, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord, for I'll forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. 35 Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who divides the sea when the waves of it roar, the Lord of hosts is his name, 36 If those ordinances depart from before me, says the Lord, then the descendants of Israel also shall stop from being a nation before me forever. 37 Thus says the Lord, if heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I'll also throw off all the descendants of Israel for all that they've done, says the Lord. 38 See, the days come, says the Lord, that the city shall be built to the Lord from the tower of Hananeel to the gate of the corner. 39 And the measuring line shall yet go forth opposite it on the hill Gareb, and shall circle around to Goath. 40 And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields to the brook of Kidron, to the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy to the Lord, it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down anymore forever. ___Jeremiah chapter 32 1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar. 2 For then, the king of Babylon's army besieged Jerusalem, and Jeremiah, the prophet, was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah's house. 3 For Zedekiah, king of Judah, had shut him up, saying, "Why do you prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord, see, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it, 4 And Zedekiah, king of Judah, shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall see his eyes, 5 And he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and he'll be there until I visit him, says the Lord, though you fight with the Chaldeans, you won't prosper." 6 And Jeremiah said, "The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 7 See, Hanameel, the son of Shallum your uncle shall come to you, saying, buy my field that is in Anathoth, for the right of redemption is yours to buy it." 8 So Hanameel my uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the Lord, and said to me, "Please buy my field, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin, for the right of inheritance is yours, and the redemption is yours, buy it for yourself." Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord. 9 And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, seventeen shekels of silver. 10 And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances. 11 So I took the evidence of the purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open, 12 And I gave the evidence of the purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel, my uncle's son, and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison. 13 And I commanded Baruch before them, saying, 14 "Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed, and this evidence which is open, and put them in an earthen container, so that they'll continue many days. 15 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land. 16 Now when I had delivered the evidence of the purchase to Baruch, the son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord, saying, 17 "Ah Lord God! See, you've made the heaven and the earth by your great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for you, 18 You showed loving kindness to thousands, and repay the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them, the great, the mighty God, the Lord of hosts, is his name, 19 Great in counsel, and mighty in work, for your eyes are open on all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings, 20 Who has set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, even to this day, and in Israel, and among other men, and have made for yourself a name, as at this day, 21 And have brought forth your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with great terror, 22 And have given them this land that you promised to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey, 23 And they came in, and possessed it, but they didn't obey your voice, nor walked in your law, they've done nothing of all that you commanded them to do, therefore you've caused all this evil to come on them, 24 See the mounts, they've come to the city to take it, and the city has been given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence, and what you have spoken has happened, and see, you see it. 25 And you've said to me, O Lord God, buy the field for money, and take witnesses, for the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans. 26 Then came the word of the Lord to Jeremiah, saying, 27 "See, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh, is there any thing too hard for me? 28 Therefore thus says the Lord, see, I will give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and he shall take it, 29 And the Chaldeans, that fight against this city, shall come and set this city on fire, and burn it with the houses, on whose roofs they've offered incense to Baal, and poured out drink offerings to other gods, to provoke me to anger. 30 For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have only done evil before me from their youth, for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands, says the Lord. 31 For this city has been to me like a provocation of my anger and of my fury from the day that they built it until this day, so that I should remove it from before my face, 32 Because of all the evil of the children of Israel and of the children of Judah that they have done to provoke me to anger, they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets, and the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 33 And they've turned to me the back, and not the face, though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they haven't listened to receive instruction. 34 But they set their dirty things in the house that is called by my name to defile it. 35 And they built the high places of Baal, that are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech, which I didn't command them, nor did it come into my mind, that they should do this dirty thing, to cause Judah to sin. 36 And now therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning this city, about which you say, it shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence, 37 See, I will gather them out of all countries, where I have driven them in my anger, and in my fury, and in great anger, and I will bring them back to this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely, 38 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, 39 And I will give them one heart, and one way, so that they'll fear me forever, for their good, and for the good of their children after them, 40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good, but I will put my fear in their hearts, so that they won't depart from me. 41 Yes, I'll rejoice over them to do them good, and I'll plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul. 42 For thus says the Lord, like I have brought all this great evil on these people, so I'll I bring on them all the good that I've promised them. 43 And fields shall be bought in this land, about which you say, it is desolate without man or beast, it has been given into the hand of the Chaldeans. 44 Men shall buy fields for money, and subscribe evidences, and seal them, and take witnesses in the land of Benjamin, and in the places around Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountains, and in the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south, for I'll cause their captivity to be undone, says the Lord. ___Jeremiah chapter 33 1 Also, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the prison, saying, 2 "Thus says the Lord, the maker of it, the Lord that formed it, to establish it, the Lord is his name, 3 Call to me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, that you don't know. 4 For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, that have been thrown down by the mounts, and by the sword, 5 They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but it is to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I've killed in my anger and in my fury, and for all of those for whose wickedness I've hidden my face from this city. 6 See, I will bring it health and cure, and I'll cure them, and will reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth. 7 And I'll cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to be undone, and will build them, like at the first. 8 And I'll cleanse them from all their iniquity, by which they have sinned against me, and I will pardon all their iniquities, by which they have sinned, and by which they have transgressed against me. 9 And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honor before all the nations of the earth, who shall hear about all the good that I do to them, and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure to it. 10 Thus says the Lord, again, there shall be heard in this place that you say shall be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without animal, 11 The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who'll say, praise the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good, for his mercy endures forever, and of those who'll bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. For I'll cause to the captivity of the land to be undone, as at the first, says the Lord. 12 Thus says the Lord of hosts, again in this place, that is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities of it, shall be a habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down. 13 In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the vale, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places around Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, the flocks shall pass again under the hands of him that counts them, says the Lord. 14 See, the days come, says the Lord, that I'll perform that good thing that I've promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. 15 In those days, and at that time, I'll cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up to David, and he'll execute judgment and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days, Judah shall be saved, and Jerusalem shall live safely, and this is the name with which she shall be called, the Lord our righteousness. 17 For thus says the Lord, David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, 18 Nor shall the priests, the Levites, lack a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually." 19 And the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, 20 "Thus says the Lord, if you can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night at their proper times, 21 Then also might my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to rule on his throne, and with the Levites the priests, my ministers. 22 Like the host of heaven can't be numbered, nor the sand of the sea measured, so I'll multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister to me." 23 Also the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, 24 "Don't consider what these people have spoken, saying, the two families that the Lord has chosen, has he thrown them away? Thus they have despised my people, that they should no more be a nation before them." 25 Thus says the Lord, "If my covenant is not with day and night, and if I haven't appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth, 26 Then I'll throw away the descendants of Jacob, and David my servant, so that I won't take any of his descendants to be rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for I'll cause their captivity to be undone, and have mercy on them." ___Jeremiah chapter 34 1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth of his dominion, and all the people, fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of it, saying, 2 "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah, and tell him, thus says the Lord, see, I'll give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he'll burn it with fire, 3 And you won't escape out of his hand, but shall surely be taken, and delivered into his hand, and your eyes shall see the eyes of the king of Babylon, and he'll speak with you mouth to mouth, and you shall go to Babylon. 4 Yet hear the word of the Lord, O Zedekiah, king of Judah, thus says the Lord of you, you won't die by the sword, 5 But you shall die in peace, and with the burnings of your fathers, the former kings who were before you, so they'll burn odors for you, and they will lament you, saying, ah lord! For I have spoken the word, says the Lord. 6 Then Jeremiah, the prophet, spoke all these words to Zedekiah, king of Judah, in Jerusalem, 7 When the king of Babylon's army fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish, and against Azekah, for these defenced cities remained of the cities of Judah. 8 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, after king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people that were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty to them, 9 That every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, who was a Hebrew or a Hebrewess, go free, that no one should serve himself of them, that is, of a Jew his brother." 10 Now when all the princes, and all the people, who had entered into the covenant, heard that everyone should let his manservant, and everyone his maidservant, go free, that no one should serve themselves of them anymore, then they obeyed, and let them go. 11 But afterward they turned back, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids. 12 Therefore the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 13 "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, I made a covenant with your fathers on the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondmen, saying, 14 At the end of seven years let go every man his brother an Hebrew, who has been sold to you, and when he has served you six years, you shall let him go free from you, but your fathers didn't listen to me, nor did they incline their ear. 15 And you had now turned, and had done right in my sight, in proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbor, and you had made a covenant before me in the house that is called by my name, 16 But you turned and polluted my name, and caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid, whom you had set at liberty at their pleasure, to return, and brought them into subjection, to be to you for servants and for handmaids. 17 Therefore thus says the Lord, you haven't listened to me, in proclaiming liberty, everyone to his brother, and every man to his neighbor, see, I proclaim a liberty for you, says the Lord, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine, and I'll make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth. 18 And I'll give the men that have transgressed my covenant, who haven't performed the words of the covenant that they'd made before me, when they cut the calf in two, and passed between the parts of it, 19 The princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land, who passed between the parts of the calf, 20 I'll give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those who seek their life, and their dead bodies shall be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the animals of the earth. 21 And Zedekiah, king of Judah, and his princes I'll give into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those who seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, who have gone up from you. 22 See, I'll command, says the Lord, and cause them to return to this city, and they'll fight against it, and take it, and burn it with fire, and I'll make the cities of Judah a desolation without an inhabitant. ___Jeremiah chapter 35 1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying, 2 "Go to the house of the Rechabites, and speak to them, and bring them into the house of the Lord, into one of the rooms, and give them wine to drink." 3 Then I took Jaazaniah, the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habaziniah, and his brothers, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites, 4 And I brought them into the house of the Lord, into the room of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, who was by the room of the princes, that was above the room of Maaseiah, the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door, 5 And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I said to them, "Drink wine." 6 But they said, "We'll drink no wine, for Jonadab, the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, you shall drink no wine, neither you, nor your sons forever, 7 Nor shall you build house, nor plant seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any, but all your days you shall live in tents, so that you'll live many days in the land where you're strangers. 8 Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he has charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters, 9 Nor to build houses for us to live in, nor do we have vineyard, nor field, nor seed, 10 But we've lived in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us. 11 But when Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, came up into the land, we said, come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the Syrians, so we live in Jerusalem." 12 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, 13 "Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Won't you receive instruction and listen to my words? Says the Lord. 14 The words of Jonadab, the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, have been performed, for until this day, they don't drink any, but obey their father's commandment, but I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, but you didn't listen to me. 15 I've also sent to you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and don't go after other gods to serve them, and you'll live in the land that I've given to you and to your fathers, but you haven't inclined your ear, nor listened to me. 16 Because the sons of Jonadab, the son of Rechab, have performed the commandment of their father, that he commanded them, but these people haven't listened to me, 17 Therefore thus says the Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, see, I'll bring on Judah and on all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I've spoken against them, because I've spoken to them, but they haven't heard, and I've called to them, but they haven't answered." 18 And Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites, "Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, because you've obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according to all that he has commanded you, 19 Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not lack a man to stand before me forever." ___Jeremiah chapter 36 1 And in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2 "Take a roll of a book, and write in it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah, until this day. 3 It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil that I intend to do to them, so that they'll return every man from his evil way, so that I'll forgive their iniquity and their sin." 4 Then Jeremiah called Baruch, the son of Neriah, and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the Lord, that he had spoken to him, on a roll of a book. 5 And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, "I'm in jail, I can't go into the house of the Lord, 6 Therefore you go, and read in the roll that you've written from my mouth, the words of the Lord in the ears of the people in the Lord's house on the fasting day, and also you shall read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities. 7 Maybe they'll present their supplication before the Lord, and will return everyone from his evil way, for great is the anger and the fury that the Lord has spoken against these people." 8 And Baruch, the son of Neriah, did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading from the book the words of the Lord in the Lord's house. 9 And in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, in the ninth month, they proclaimed a fast before the Lord to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people that came from the cities of Judah to Jerusalem. 10 Then Baruch read in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the Lord, in the room of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the higher court, at the entry of the new gate of the Lord's house, in the ears of all the people. 11 When Michaiah, the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard out of the book all the words of the Lord, 12 Then he went down into the king's house, into the scribe's room, and see, all the princes sat there, Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah, the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan, the son of Achbor, and Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah, the son of Hananiah, and all the princes. 13 Then Michaiah declared to them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people. 14 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 roll from which you've read in the ears of the people, and come." So Baruch the son of Neriah took the roll in his hand, and came to them. 15 And they said to him, "Sit down now, and read it in our hearing." So Baruch read it in their hearing. 16 Now when they had heard all the words, they were all afraid, and said to Baruch, "We will surely tell the king about all these words." 17 And they asked Baruch, "Tell us now, how did you write all these words at his mouth?" 18 Then Baruch answered them, He spoke all these words to me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book." 19 Then the princes said to Baruch, "Go and hide, you and Jeremiah, and let no man know where you are." 20 And they went to the king into the court, but they laid up the roll in the room of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king. 21 So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll, and he took it out of Elishama the scribe's room. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes who stood beside the king. 22 Now the king sat in the winter house in the ninth month, and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him. 23 And when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with a small knife, and threw it into the fire that was on the hearth, until the whole roll was burned up in the fire that was on the hearth. 24 Yet they weren't afraid, nor did they tear their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words. 25 But Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll, but he wouldn't listen to them. 26 But the king commanded Jerahmeel, the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah, the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah, the son of Abdeel, to arrest Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but the Lord hid them. 27 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, after the king had burned the roll, and the words that Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying, 28 "Take another roll, and write in it all the previous words that were in the first roll, that Jehoiakim the king of Judah has burned. 29 And you shall say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, thus says the Lord, you've burned this roll, saying, Why have you written in it, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to stop from there man and beast? 30 Therefore thus says the Lord about Jehoiakim, king of Judah, he shall have no one to sit on the throne of David, and his dead body shall be thrown out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost. 31 And I will punish him and his descendants and his servants for their sin, and I will bring upon them, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and on the men of Judah, all the evil that I have spoken against them, but they didn't listen." 32 Then Jeremiah took another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah, who wrote in it from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire, and there were added to them many similar words besides. ___Jeremiah chapter 37 1 And king Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, ruled instead of Coniah, the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah. 2 But neither he, nor his servants, nor the people of the land, listened to the words of the Lord, that he spoke by the prophet Jeremiah. 3 And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal, the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah, the son of Maaseiah the priest to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, "Pray now to the Lord our God for us." 4 Now Jeremiah came in and went out among the people, for they had not put him into prison. 5 Then Pharaoh's army came out of Egypt, and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem got news of them, they departed from Jerusalem. 6 Then the word of the Lord came to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, 7 "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, thus shall you say to the king of Judah that sent you to me to inquire of me, see, Pharaoh's army, that has come out to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land. 8 And the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire. 9 Thus says the Lord, don't deceive yourselves, saying, the Chaldeans shall surely depart from us, for they won't depart. 10 For though you had struck the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet they would rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire. 11 And when the army of the Chaldeans had broken up from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh's army, 12 Then Jeremiah went out of Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin, to separate himself there among the people. 13 And when he was in the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the ward was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah, and he arrested Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "You fall away to the Chaldeans." 14 Then said Jeremiah, "It is false, I'm not falling away to the Chaldeans. But he didn't listen to him, so Irijah took Jeremiah, and brought him to the princes. 15 So the princes were angry with Jeremiah, and struck him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe, for they had made that the prison. 16 When Jeremiah had entered into the dungeon, and into the cabins, and Jeremiah had remained there many days, 17 Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took him out, and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, "Is there any word from the Lord?" And Jeremiah said, "There is, he said, for you'll be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon." 18 Also Jeremiah said to king Zedekiah, "What is my offense against you, or against your servants, or against these people, that you've put me in prison? 19 Where are now your prophets who prophesied to you, saying, the king of Babylon won't come against you, nor against this land? 20 Therefore hear now, please, O my lord the king, please let my supplication, be accepted before you, so that you don't cause me to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, so that I don't die there. 21 Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison, and that they should give him a piece of bread out of the baker's street every day, until all the bread in the city was eaten up. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison. ___Jeremiah chapter 38 1 Then Shephatiah, the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah, the son of Pashur, and Jucal, the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur, the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken to all the people, saying, 2 "Thus says the Lord, he that remains in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, but he that goes out to the Chaldeans shall live, for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live. 3 Thus says the Lord, this city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, who'll take it." 4 Therefore the princes said to the king, we beg of you, "Let this man be put to death, for thus he weakens the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words to them, for this man doesn't seek the welfare of this people, but the hurt." 5 Then Zedekiah the king said, "See, he is in your hand, for the king is not he that can do anything against you." 6 Then took they Jeremiah, and threw him into the dungeon of Malchiah, the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison, and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And there was no water in the dungeon, but mire, so Jeremiah sank in the mire. 7 Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs who was in the king's house, heard that they'd put Jeremiah in the dungeon, the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin, 8 Ebedmelech went out of the king's house, and spoke to the king, saying, 9 "My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they've done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they've thrown into the dungeon, and he is likely to die from hunger in the place where he is, for there is no more bread in the city." 10 Then the king commanded Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, "Take from here thirty men with you, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he dies." 11 So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took with him old cast clouts and old rotten rags, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah. 12 And Ebedmelech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, "Now put these old cast clouts and rotten rags under your armpits under the cords." And Jeremiah did. 13 So they pulled up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon, and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison. 14 Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet to himself into the third entry that is in the house of the Lord, and the king said to Jeremiah, "I will ask you something, hide nothing from me." 15 Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "If I tell it to you, won't you surely put me to death? And if I give you advice, won't you fail to listen to me?" 16 So Zedekiah the king swore secretly to Jeremiah, saying, "As the Lord lives, that made us this soul, I won't put you to death, nor will I give you into the hand of these men that want to kill you." 17 Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "Thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel, if you'll assuredly go out to the king of Babylon's princes, then your soul shall live, and this city won't be burned with fire, and you'll live, and your house, 18 But if you won't go out to the king of Babylon's princes, then this city shall be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they'll burn it with fire, and you won't escape out of their hand." 19 And Zedekiah the king said to Jeremiah, "I'm afraid of the Jews that have fallen to the Chaldeans, so that they don't deliver me into their hand, and they mock me." 20 But Jeremiah said, "They won't do that. Obey, I beg of you, the voice of the Lord, that I speak to you, so it shall be well to you, and your soul shall live. 21 But if you refuse to go out, this is the word that the Lord has showed me, 22 And see, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house shall be brought out to the king of Babylon's princes, and those women shall say, your friends have set you on, and have prevailed against you, your feet have sunk in the mire, and they're turned away backward. 23 So they shall bring out all your wives and your children to the Chaldeans, and you won't escape out of their hand, but shall be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon, and you'll cause this city to be burned with fire." 24 Then said Zedekiah to Jeremiah, "Let no man know of these words, and you won't not die. 25 But if the princes hear that I've talked with you, and they come to you, and say to you, tell us now what you said to the king, don't hide it from us, and we won't put you to death, also what the king said to you," 26 Then you shall say to them, "I presented my petition to the king, that he wouldn't cause me to return to Jonathan's house, to die there." 27 Then all the princes went to Jeremiah, and asked him, and he told them according to all these words that the king had commanded. So they left off speaking with him, for the matter was not perceived. 28 So Jeremiah lived in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken, and he was there when Jerusalem was taken. ___Jeremiah chapter 39 1 In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem, and they besieged it. 2 And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up. 3 And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, even Nergalsharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, with all the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon. 4 And when Zedekiah, the king of Judah, saw them, and all the men of war, then they fled, and went out of the city at night, by the way of the king's garden, by the gate beteen the two walls, and he went out the way of the plain. 5 But the Chaldeans' army pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho, and when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he gave judgment on him. 6 Then the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes, the king of Babylon also killed all the nobles of Judah. 7 Also he put out Zedekiah's eyes, and tied him with chains, to transport him to Babylon. 8 And the Chaldeans burned the king's house, and the houses of the people with fire, and broke down the walls of Jerusalem. 9 Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, carried away captive into Babylon the rest of the people that remained in the city, and those who fell away, that fell to him, with the rest of the people that remained. 10 But Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, left some of the poor people, who had nothing, in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time. 11 Now Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, gave orders concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, saying, 12 "Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm, but do to him like he tells you." 13 So Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushasban, Rabsaris, and Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon's princes, 14 They sent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the prison, and committed him to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, so he would carry him home, so he lived among the people. 15 Now the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying, 16 "Go and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, see, I'll bring my words on this city for evil, and not for good, and they'll be accomplished on that day in front of you. 17 But I will deliver you on that day, says the Lord, and you won't be given into the hand of the men of whom you're afraid. 18 For I will surely deliver you, and you won't fall by the sword, but your life shall be for a prey to you, because you've put your trust in me, says the Lord." ___Jeremiah chapter 40 1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, after Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, who were carried away captive to Babylon. 2 And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said to him, "The Lord your God has pronounced this evil on this place. 3 Now the Lord has brought it, and has done according as he has said, because you've sinned against the Lord, and haven't obeyed his voice, therefore this thing has come on you. 4 And now, see, I loose you this day from the chains that were on your hands. If it seems good to you to come with me into Babylon, come, and I will look well to you, but if it seems not good to you to come with me into Babylon, then don't, see, all the land is before you, go wherever it seems good and convenient for you to go. 5 Now while he had not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has made governor over the cities of Judah, and live with him among the people, or go wherever it seems convenient to you to go. So the captain of the guard gave him food and some money, and let him go. 6 Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, to Mizpah, and lived with him among the people that were left in the land. 7 Now when all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed to him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of those who were not carried away captive to Babylon, 8 Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan, the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai, the Netophathite, and Jezaniah, the son of a Maachathite, they and their men. 9 And Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, swore to them and to their men, saying, "Don't be afraid to serve the Chaldeans, live in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you. 10 As for me, see, I will live at Mizpah to serve the Chaldeans, who will come to us, but you, gather wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put them in your containers, and live in your cities that you've taken." 11 Likewise, when all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, 12 All the Jews returned out of all places where they'd been driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, to Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much. 13 Also Johanan, the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, 14 And said to him, "Do you certainly know that Baalis, the king of the Ammonites, has sent Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah to kill you?" But Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam didn't believe them. 15 Then Johanan, the son of Kareah, spoke to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, "Let me go, please, and I'll kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it, why should he kill you, so that all the Jews who've gathered to you should be scattered, and the remnant in Judah die?" 16 But Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, said to Johanan, the son of Kareah, "You shall not do this thing, for you speak falsely about Ishmael." ___Jeremiah chapter 41 1 Now in the seventh month, Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal descendants, and the princes of the king, even ten men with him, came to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah, and there they ate bread together in Mizpah. 2 Then Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah got up, and the ten men that were with him, and struck Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword, and killed him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land. 3 Ishmael also killed all the Jews that were with him, with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were there, and the men of war. 4 And the second day after he had killed Gedaliah, and no man knew it, 5 Certain men came from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even eighty men, having their beards shaved off, and their clothes torn, and having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the Lord. 6 And Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, went out from Mizpah to meet them, weeping all along as he went, as he met them he said to them, "Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam." 7 And it was so, when they came into the middle of the city, that Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, killed them, and threw them into the middle of the pit, he, and the men that were with him. 8 But ten men were found among them that said to Ishmael, don't kill us, for we have treasures in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he didn't, and didn't kill them among their brothers. 9 Now the pit into which Ishmael had thrown all the dead bodies of the men whom he had killed because of Gedaliah, was that which Asa the king had made for fear of Baasha, king of Israel, and Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, filled it with those who were killed. 10 Then Ishmael carried away captive all the remainder of the people that were in Mizpah, even the king's daughters, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, had committed to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, and Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the Ammonites. 11 But when Johanan, the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, heard of all the evil that Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, had done, 12 Then they took all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the great waters that are in Gibeon. 13 Now when all the people who were with Ishmael saw Johanan, the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, then they were glad. 14 So all the people that Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah turned around came back, and went to Johanan the son of Kareah. 15 But Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the Ammonites. 16 Then Johanan, the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, took all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, from Mizpah, after he had killed Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, even mighty men of war, and the women, and the children, and the eunuchs, whom he had brought back from Gibeon, 17 And they departed, and lived in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Bethlehem, to go to enter into Egypt, 18 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 made governor in the land. ___Jeremiah chapter 42 1 Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan, the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah, the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest, came near, 2 And said to Jeremiah the prophet, "Please let our supplication be accepted before you, and pray for us to the Lord your God, for all this remnant, (for we are left but a few of many, as your eyes see us,) 3 So that the Lord your God will show us the way in which we should walk, and the thing that we should do." 4 Then Jeremiah the prophet said to them, "I've heard you, see, I'll pray to the Lord your God according to your words, and whatever thing the Lord shall answer you, I'll tell you, I won't keep anything back from you." 5 Then they said to Jeremiah, "The Lord be a true and faithful witness between us, if we don't do according to all things for which the Lord your God shall send you to us. 6 Whether it is good, or whether it is evil, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God, to whom we send you, so it will be well with us, when we obey the voice of the Lord our God. 7 And after ten days, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah. 8 Then he called Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, and all the people from the least to the greatest, 9 And said to them, "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your supplication before him, 10 If you'll still live in this land, then I'll build you, and not pull you down, and I'll plant you, and not pluck you up, for I regret the evil that I've done to you. 11 Don't be afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom you're afraid, don't be afraid of him, says the Lord, for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand. 12 And I will show mercies to you, so that he'll have mercy on you, and cause you to return to your own land. 13 But if you say, we won't live in this land, nor obey the voice of the Lord your God, 14 Saying, no, but we'll go into the land of Egypt, where we won't see war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread, and we'll live there, 15 And now therefore hear the word of the Lord, you remnant of Judah, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, if you completely set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to live there, 16 Then the sword, that you feared, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, of which you were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt, and you'll die there. 17 So shall it be with all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to live there, they'll die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring on them. 18 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, as my anger and my fury has been poured out on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so shall my fury be poured out on you, when you enter into Egypt, and you'll be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach, and you'll see this place no more. 19 The Lord has said, concerning you, O you remnant of Judah, don't go into Egypt, know certainly that I've reprimanded you this day. 20 For you pretended in your hearts, when you sent me to the Lord your God, saying, pray for us to the Lord our God, and according to all that the Lord our God shall say, tell us, and we'll do it. 21 And now I have told you this day, but you haven't obeyed the voice of the Lord your God, nor anything for which he has sent me to you. 22 Now therefore know certainly that you'll die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, in the place where you desire to go and to live." ___Jeremiah chapter 43 1 And when Jeremiah had finished speaking to all the people all the words of the Lord their God, for which the Lord their God had sent him to them, even all these words, 2 Then Azariah, the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan, the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, spoke, saying to Jeremiah, "You speak falsely, the Lord our God has not sent you to say, Don't go into Egypt to live there, 3 But Baruch, the son of Neriah, sets you on against us, to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, so that they can put us to death, and carry us away captives into Babylon. 4 So Johanan, the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, didn't obey the voice of the Lord, to live in the land of Judah. 5 But Johanan, the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, took all the remnant of Judah, that had returned from all nations, where they had been driven, to live in the land of Judah, 6 Even men, and women, and children, and the king's daughters, and every person that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch, the son of Neriah. 7 So they went into the land of Egypt, for they didn't obey the voice of the Lord, thus they came to Tahpanhes. 8 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying, 9 "Take large stones in your hand, and hide them in the clay in the brick kiln, that is at the entry of Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah, 10 And say to them, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, see, I'll send and take Nebuchadrezzar, the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne on these stones that I've hidden, and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them. 11 And when he comes, he'll strike the land of Egypt, and deliver such as are for death to death, and such as are for captivity to captivity, and such as are for the sword to the sword. 12 And I'll kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt, and he'll burn them, and carry them away captives, and he'll array himself with the land of Egypt, like a shepherd puts on his garment, and he shall go out from there in peace. 13 He'll also break the images of Bethshemesh, that is in the land of Egypt, and he'll burn with fire the houses of the gods of the Egyptians. ___Jeremiah chapter 44 1 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews who live in the land of Egypt, who live at Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and at Noph, and in the country of Pathros, saying, 2 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, you've seen all the evil that I've brought on Jerusalem, and on all the cities of Judah, and see, this day they are a desolation, and no man lives in it, 3 Because of their wickedness that they've committed to provoke me to anger, in that they went to burn incense, and to serve other gods, whom they didn't know, neither they, you, nor your fathers. 4 But I sent to you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, don't do this dirty thing that I hate. 5 But they didn't listen, nor did they incline their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense to other gods. 6 So my fury and my anger was poured out, and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, and they are wasted and desolate, as at this day. 7 Therefore now thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel, why do you commit this great evil against your souls, to cut off from yourselves man and woman, child and suckling, out of Judah, to leave yourselves no one to remain, 8 In that you provoke me to anger with the works of your hands, burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt, where you've gone to live, so that you can cut yourselves off, and so that you can be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth? 9 Have you forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, and the wickedness of the kings of Judah, and the wickedness of their wives, and your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives, which they've committed in the land of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem? 10 They're not humbled even to this day, nor have they feared, nor walked in my law, nor in my statutes, that I set before you and before your fathers. 11 Therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, see, I'll set my face against you for evil, and to cut off all Judah. 12 And I will take the remnant of Judah, that have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to live there, and they shall all be consumed, and fall in the land of Egypt, they shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, they shall die, from the least to the greatest, by the sword and by the famine, and they'll be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach. 13 For I will punish those who live in the land of Egypt, like I've punished Jerusalem, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, 14 So that none of the remnant of Judah, who've gone into the land of Egypt to live there, shall escape or remain, so that they should return into the land of Judah, to which they desire to return to live there, for none shall return but such as shall escape." 15 Then all the men who knew that their wives had burned incense to other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that lived in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying, 16 "As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we won't listen to you. 17 But we will certainly do whatever thing goes forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings to her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, because then we had plenty of food, and were well, and saw no evil. 18 But since we stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings to her, we've lacked all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine. 19 And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings to her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings to her, without our men?" 20 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, 21 "The incense that you burned in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, you, and your fathers, your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land, didn't the Lord remember them, and didn't it come into his mind? 22 So that the Lord could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the dirty things that you've committed, therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day. 23 Because you've burned incense, and because you've sinned against the Lord, and haven't obeyed the voice of the Lord, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies, therefore this evil has happened to you, as at this day." 24 Also, Jeremiah said to all the people, and to all the women, "Hear the word of the Lord, all Judah that are in the land of Egypt, 25 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, You and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings to her, you will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows. 26 Therefore, hear the word of the Lord, all Judah that live in the land of Egypt, see, I've sworn by my great name, says the Lord, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, The Lord God lives. 27 See, I'll watch over them for evil, and not for good, and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there's an end of them. 28 Yet a small number that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, and all the remnant of Judah, that have gone into the land of Egypt to live there, shall know whose words shall stand, mine, or theirs. 29 And this shall be a sign to you, says the Lord, that I'll punish you in this place, so that you'll know that my words shall surely stand against you for evil, 30 Thus says the Lord, see, I'll give Pharaohhophra, king of Egypt, into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of those who seek his life, like I gave Zedekiah, king of Judah, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, his enemy, and who sought his life. ___Jeremiah chapter 45 1 The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch, the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying, 2 "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch, 3 You said say, woe is me now! For the Lord has added grief to my sorrow, I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest. 4 Thus shall you say to him, the Lord says thus, See, that which I've built I'll break down, and that which I have planted I'll pluck up, even this whole land. 5 And do you seek great things for yourself? Don't seek them, for see, I'll bring evil upon all flesh, says the Lord, but I'll give you your life for a prey in all places that you go to." ___Jeremiah chapter 46 1 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles, 2 Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaohnecho, king of Egypt, that was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, struck in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, king of Judah. 3 "Order the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle. 4 Harness the horses, and get up, you horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets, furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines. 5 Why have I seen them put to shame and turned away backward? And their mighty have been beaten down, and have fled apace, and don't look back, for fear was all around, says the Lord. 6 Let the swift not flee away, nor the mighty men escape, they'll stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates. 7 Who is this that comes up like a flood, whose waters are moved like the rivers? 8 Egypt rises up like a flood, and its waters are moved like the rivers, and he says, I'll go up, and will cover the earth, I'll destroy the city and the inhabitants of it. 9 Come up, you horses, and rage, you chariots, and let the mighty men come out, the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield, and the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow. 10 For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts, a day of vengeance, so he can avenge himself against his adversaries, and the sword shall devour, and it shall be saturated and made drunk with their blood, for the Lord God of hosts has a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates. 11 Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt, you'll use many medicines in vain, for you won't be cured. 12 The nations have heard of your shame, and your cry has filled the land, for the mighty man has stumbled against the mighty, and they've both fallen together." 13 The word that the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, would come and strike the land of Egypt. 14 "Declare in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Noph and in Tahpanhes, say stand fast, and prepare, for the sword shall devour all around you. 15 Why are your valiant men swept away? They didn't stand, because the Lord drove them. 16 He made many fall, yes, one fell upon another, and they said, arise, and let us go again to our own people, and to the land of our nativity, from the oppressing sword. 17 They shouted there, Pharaoh, king of Egypt, is but a noise, he is a has-been. 18 As I live, says the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts, surely like Tabor is among the mountains, and as Carmel is by the sea, so he shall come. 19 O daughter living in Egypt, furnish yourself to go into captivity, for Noph shall be waste and desolate without an inhabitant. 20 Egypt is like a very fair heifer, but destruction is coming, it comes out of the north. 21 Also her hired men are among her like fatted bullocks, for they also are turned back, and are fled away together, they did not stand, because the day of their calamity has come against them, and the time of their visitation. 22 The voice of it shall go like a serpent, for they shall march with an army, and come against her with axes, like cutters of wood. 23 They shall cut down her forest, says the Lord, though it can't be searched, because they are more than the grasshoppers, and are uncountable. 24 The daughter of Egypt shall be confused, she shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north. 25 The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, says, see, I will punish the multitude of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings, even Pharaoh, and all of those who trust in him, 26 And I'll deliver them into the hand of those that seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants, and afterward it shall be inhabited, like in the days of old, says the Lord. 27 But don't be afraid, O my servant Jacob, and don't be dismayed, O Israel, for see, I'll save you from far off, and your descendants from the land of their captivity, and Jacob shall return, and be in rest and at ease, and no one shall make him afraid. 28 Don't be afraid, O Jacob my servant, says the Lord, for I am with you, for I'll make a full end of all the nations where I've driven you, but I won't make a full end of you, but will correct you in measure, yet I won't leave you completely unpunished." ___Jeremiah chapter 47 1 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before Pharaoh struck Gaza. 2 "Thus says the Lord, see, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is in it, the city, and those who live in it, then the men shall shout, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl. 3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to their children for feebleness of hands, 4 Because of the day that comes to ruin all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remains, for the Lord will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor. 5 Baldness has come upon Gaza, Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley, how long will you cut yourself? 6 O sword of the Lord, how long will it be before you're quiet? Put up yourself into your scabbard, rest, and be still. 7 How can it be quiet, seeing that the Lord has given it a command against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? He has appointed it there." ___Jeremiah chapter 48 1 Against Moab thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, "Woe to Nebo! For it is spoiled, Kiriathaim is confused and taken, Misgab is confused and dismayed. 2 There shall be no more praise of Moab, in Heshbon they've devised evil against it, come, and let's cut it off from being a nation. Also you'll be cut down, O Madmen, the sword shall pursue you. 3 A voice of crying shall be from Horonaim, spoiling and great destruction. 4 Moab is destroyed, her little ones have caused a cry to be heard. 5 For in the going up of Luhith continual weeping shall go up, for in the going down of Horonaim the enemies have heard a cry of destruction. 6 Flee, save your lives, and be like the heath in the wilderness. 7 Because you've trusted in your works and in your treasures, you'll also be taken, and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together. 8 And the spoiler shall come on every city, and no city shall escape, the valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed like the Lord has spoken. 9 Give wings to Moab, so that it will flee and get away, for the cities of it shall be desolate, without anyone to live in them. 10 Cursed be he that does the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed be he that keeps back his sword from blood. 11 Moab has been at ease from his youth, and he has settled on his lees, and has not been emptied from container to container, nor has he gone into captivity, therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed. 12 Therefore, see, the days come, says the Lord, that I'll send him wanderers that shall cause him to wander, and shall empty his containers, and break their bottles. 13 And Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, like the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel, their confidence. 14 How is it that you say, we are mighty and strong men for the war? 15 Moab is spoiled, and gone up out of her cities, and his chosen young men have gone down to the slaughter, says the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts. 16 The calamity of Moab is near to come, and his affliction hurries fast. 17 All of you that are around him, bemoan him, and all of you that know his name, say, how has the strong staff broken, and the beautiful rod! 18 You daughter that inhabits Dibon, come down from your glory, and sit in thirst, for the spoiler of Moab shall come against you, and he shall destroy your strong holds. 19 O inhabitant of Aroer, stand by the way, and spy, ask him that flees, and her that escapes, and say, what's happening? 20 Moab is confused, for it's broken down, howl and cry, tell it in Arnon, that Moab is spoiled, 21 And judgment has come upon the plain country, on Holon, and on Jahazah, and on Mephaath, 22 And on Dibon, and on Nebo, and on Bethdiblathaim, 23 And on Kiriathaim, and on Bethgamul, and on Bethmeon, 24 And on Kerioth, and on Bozrah, and on all the cities of the land of Moab, far or near. 25 The horn of Moab has been cut off, and his arm has been broken, says the Lord. 26 Make him drunk, for he magnified himself against the Lord, Moab also shall wallow in his vomit, and he also shall be in derision. 27 For wasn't Israel a derision to you? Was he found among thieves? For since you spoke of him, you jumped for joy. 28 O you that live in Moab, leave the cities, and live in the rock, and be like the dove that makes her nest in the sides of the hole's mouth. 29 We have heard the pride of Moab, (he is very proud) his loftiness, and his arrogance, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart. 30 I know his anger, says the Lord, but it shall not be so, his lies shall not so effect it. 31 Therefore I'll howl for Moab, and I'll cry out for all Moab, my heart shall mourn for the men of Kirheres. 32 O vine of Sibmah, I'll weep for you with the weeping of Jazer, your plants have gone over the sea, they reach even to the sea of Jazer, the spoiler has fallen on your summer fruits and on your vintage. 33 And joy and gladness has been taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab, and I've caused wine to fail from the winepresses, no one shall tread with shouting, their shouting shall be no shouting. 34 From the cry of Heshbon even to Elealeh, and even to Jahaz, they've raised their voice, from Zoar even to Horonaim, like a heifer of three years old, for the waters also of Nimrim shall be desolate. 35 Also I'll cause to stop in Moab, says the Lord, him that offers in the high places, and him that burns incense to his gods. 36 Therefore my heart shall sound for Moab like pipes, and my heart shall sound like pipes for the men of Kirheres, because the riches that they've gotten have been lost. 37 For every head shall be bald, and every beard clipped, on all the hands shall be cuttings, and upon their midsections, burlap. 38 There shall be lamentation generally on all the housetops of Moab, and in the streets of it, for I've broken Moab like a container in which is no pleasure, says the Lord. 39 They shall howl, saying, how has it broken down! How has Moab turned the back with shame! So shall Moab be a derision and a dismaying to all of those around him. 40 For thus says the Lord, see, he'll fly like an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab. 41 Kerioth is taken, and the strong holds are surprised, and the mighty men's hearts in Moab at that day shall be like the heart of a woman in her pangs. 42 And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he has magnified himself against the Lord. 43 Fear, and the pit, and the trap, shall be on you, O inhabitant of Moab, says the Lord. 44 He that flees from the fear shall fall into the pit, and he that gets up out of the pit shall be taken in the trap, for I'll bring upon it, even on Moab, the year of their visitation, says the Lord. 45 Those who fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of the force, but a fire shall come out of Heshbon, and a flame from among Sihon, and shall devour the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones. 46 Woe to you, O Moab! The people of Chemosh perish, for your sons have been taken captive, and your daughters captives. 47 Yet I will undo the captivity of Moab in the latter days, says the Lord. Thus far is the judgment of Moab." ___Jeremiah chapter 49 1 Concerning the Ammonites, thus says the Lord, "Does Israel have no sons? Does he have no heir? Why then does their king inherit Gad, and his people live in his cities? 2 Therefore see, the days come, says the Lord, that I'll cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites, and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire, then Israel shall be heir to those who had been his heirs, says the Lord. 3 Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is spoiled, cry, you daughters of Rabbah, gird yourselves with sackcloth, lament, and run back and forth by the hedges, for their king shall go into captivity, and his priests and his princes together. 4 Why glory in the valleys, your flowing valley, O backsliding daughter? That trusted in her treasures, saying, Who shall come to me? 5 See, I'll bring a fear against you, says the Lord God of hosts, from all of those who are around you, and you'll be driven out every man straight forth, and no one shall gather up him that wanders. 6 And afterward I'll undo the captivity of the children of Ammon, says the Lord. 7 Concerning Edom, thus says the Lord of hosts, is there no more wisdom in Teman? Has advice perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished? 8 Flee, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan, for I'll bring the calamity of Esau on him, the time that I will visit him. 9 If grape gatherers come to you, wouldn't they leave some gleaning grapes? If thieves by night, they'll destroy until they have enough. 10 But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he won't be able to hide himself, his seed is spoiled, and his brothers, and his neighbors, and he is not. 11 Leave your fatherless children, I will preserve them alive, and let your widows trust in me. 12 For thus says the Lord, see, those whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have surely drunken, and are you he that shall completely go unpunished? You won't go unpunished, but you'll surely drink of it. 13 For I have sworn by myself, says the Lord, that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse, and all the cities of it shall be perpetual wastes. 14 I've heard a rumor from the Lord, and an ambassador is sent to the heathen, saying, Gather together, and come against her, and rise up to the battle. 15 For see, I'll make you small among the heathen, and despised among men. 16 Your terribleness has deceived you, and the pride of your heart, O you that lives in the clefts of the rock, that holds the height of the hill, though you would make your nest as high as the eagle, I'll bring you down from there, says the Lord. 17 Also, Edom shall be a desolation, everyone that goes by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues of it. 18 As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbor cities of it, says the Lord, no man shall remain there, nor shall a son of man live in it. 19 See, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong, but I'll suddenly make him run away from her, and who is a chosen man that I can appoint over her? For who is like me? And who will appoint me the time? And who is that shepherd that will stand before me? 20 Therefore hear the advice of the Lord that he has taken against Edom, and his purposes, that he has purposed against the inhabitants of Teman, surely the least of the flock shall draw them out, surely he shall make their habitations desolate with them. 21 The earth is moved at the noise of their fall, at the cry, the noise of it was heard in the Red sea. 22 See, he shall come up and fly like the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah, and at that day the heart of the mighty men of Edom shall be like the heart of a woman in her pangs. 23 Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confused, and Arpad, for they've heard bad news, they are fainthearted, there is sorrow on the sea, it can't be quiet. 24 Damascus has grown feeble, and turns herself to flee, and fear has seized upon her, anguish and sorrows have taken her, like a woman in travail. 25 How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy! 26 Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off on that day, says the Lord of hosts. 27 And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad. 28 Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, shall strike, thus says the Lord, Arise, go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east. 29 Their tents and their flocks they shall take away, they shall take to themselves their curtains, and all their containers, and their camels, and they shall shout to them, fear is on every side. 30 Flee, get far off, dwell deep, O you inhabitants of Hazor, says the Lord, for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon has taken advice against you, and has conceived a purpose against you. 31 Arise, get up to the wealthy nation, that lives without care, says the Lord, who have neither gates nor bars, who live alone. 32 And their camels shall be a spoil, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil, and I will scatter those who are in the farthest corners into all winds, and I'll bring their calamity from all sides of it, says the Lord. 33 And Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons, and a desolation forever, no man shall abide there, nor any son of man live in it." 34 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the rule of Zedekiah, king of Judah, saying, 35 "Thus says the Lord of hosts, see, I'll break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might. 36 And on Elam I'll bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds, and there shall be no nation where the outcasts of Elam won't come. 37 For I'll cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before those who seek their life, and I'll bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, says the Lord, and I will send the sword after them, until I've consumed them, 38 And I'll set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from there the king and the princes, says the Lord. 39 But in the latter days, I'll undo the captivity of Elam, says the Lord." ___Jeremiah chapter 50 1 The word that the Lord spoke against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet. 2 "Declare among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard, publish, and don't conceal, say, Babylon has been taken, Bel is confused, Merodach is broken in pieces, her idols are confused, her images are broken in pieces. 3 For out of the north, a nation comes up against her, that will make her land desolate, and no one shall live in it, they shall relocate, they shall depart, both man and beast. 4 In those days, and in that time, says the Lord, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping, they shall go, and seek the Lord their God. 5 They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces toward there, saying, come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten. 6 My people have been lost sheep, their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they've turned them away on the mountains, they've gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place. 7 All that found them have devoured them, and their adversaries said, we don't offend, because they have sinned against the Lord, the habitation of justice, even the Lord, the hope of their fathers. 8 Get out from Babylon, and go out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be like the he goats before the flocks. 9 For see, I'll raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country, and they'll set themselves in array against her, from there she'll be taken, their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man, not one shall return in vain. 10 And Chaldea shall be a spoil, all that spoil her shall be satisfied, says the Lord. 11 Because you were glad, because you rejoiced, O you destroyers of my heritage, because you've grown fat like the heifer at grass, and bellow like bulls, 12 Your mother shall be very confused, she that bore you shall be ashamed, see, the hindmost of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert. 13 Because of the anger of the Lord it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be completely desolate, everyone that goes by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues. 14 Put yourselves in array against Babylon all around, all you that bend the bow, shoot at her, don't be stingy with arrows, for she has sinned against the Lord. 15 Shout against her all around, she has given her hand, her foundations have fallen, her walls have been thrown down, for it is the vengeance of the Lord, take vengeance against her, as she has done, do to her. 16 Cut off the planter from Babylon, and him that handles the sickle at the time of harvest, for fear of the oppressing sword, they shall turn everyone to his people, and they shall flee everyone to his own land. 17 Israel is a scattered sheep, the lions have driven him away, first the king of Assyria has devoured him, and last this Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, has broken his bones. 18 Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, see, I'll punish the king of Babylon and his land, like I've punished the king of Assyria. 19 And I will bring Israel back to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied on Mount Ephraim and Gilead. 20 In those days, and in that time, says the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none, and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found, for I will pardon them whom I reserve. 21 Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod, waste and completely destroy after them, says the Lord, and do according to all that I've commanded you. 22 A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction. 23 How has the hammer of the whole earth been cut in pieces and broken! How has Babylon become a desolation among the nations! 24 I've laid a trap for you, and you're also taken, O Babylon, and you were not aware, you're found, and also caught, because you've striven against the Lord. 25 The Lord has opened his armory, and has brought forth the weapons of his indignation, for this is the work of the Lord God of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans. 26 Come against her from the farthest border, open her storehouses, throw her up like heaps, and destroy her completely, let nothing of her be left. 27 Kill all her bullocks, let them go down to the slaughter, woe to them! For their day has come, the time of their visitation. 28 The voice of those who flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the Lord our God, the vengeance of his temple. 29 Call together the archers against Babylon, all of you that bend the bow, camp against it all around, let no one of it escape, repay her according to her work, according to all that she has done, do to her, for she has been proud against the Lord, against the Holy one of Israel. 30 Therefore her young men shall fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, says the Lord. 31 See, I'm against you, O you most proud, says the Lord God of hosts, for your day has come, the time that I'll visit you. 32 And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up, and I'll kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all around him. 33 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together, and all that took them captives held them tightly, they refused to let them go. 34 Their redeemer is strong, the Lord of hosts is his name, he shall thoroughly plead their cause, so that he can give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon. 35 A sword is on the Chaldeans, says the Lord, and on the inhabitants of Babylon, and on her princes, and on her wise men. 36 A sword is on the liars, and they'll dote, a sword is on her mighty men, and they'll be dismayed. 37 A sword is on their horses, and on their chariots, and on all the mixed people that are in the middle of her, and they shall become like women, a sword is on her treasures, and they shall be robbed. 38 A drought is on her waters, and they'll be dried up, for it is the land of engraved images, and they're crazy for their idols. 39 Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell in it, and it shall be no more inhabited forever, nor shall it be lived in from generation to generation. 40 Like God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbor cities there, says the Lord, so shall no man live there, nor shall any son of man dwell in it. 41 See, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. 42 They shall hold the bow and the lance, they are cruel, and will not show mercy, their voice shall roar like the sea, and they'll ride on horses, everyone put in array, like a man to the battle, against you, O daughter of Babylon. 43 The king of Babylon has heard the report of them, and his hands grew feeble, anguish took hold of him, and pangs as of a woman in travail. 44 See, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan to the habitation of the strong, but I'll make them suddenly run away from her, and who is a chosen man, that I can appoint over her? For who is like me? And who will appoint me the time? And who is that shepherd that will stand before me? 45 Therefore hear the advice of the Lord, that he has taken against Babylon, and his purposes, that he has purposed against the land of the Chaldeans, surely the least of the flock shall draw them out, surely he shall make their habitation desolate with them. 46 At the noise of the taking of Babylon, the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations." ___Jeremiah chapter 51 1 Thus says the Lord, "See, I'll raise up against Babylon, and against those who live among those who rise up against me, a destroying wind, 2 And will send fanners to Babylon, that shall fan her, and shall empty her land, for in the day of trouble they'll be against her all around. 3 Against him that bends, let the archer bend his bow, and against him that lifts himself up in his brigandine, and don't spare her young men, completely destroy all her army. 4 Thus the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and those who are thrust through in her streets. 5 For Israel has not been forsaken, nor Judah by his God, by the Lord of hosts, though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel. 6 Flee out of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul, don't be cut off in her iniquity, for this is the time of the Lord's vengeance, he will render to her a repayment. 7 Babylon has been a golden cup in the Lord's hand, that made all the earth drunken, the nations have drunk of her wine, therefore the nations are crazy. 8 Babylon has suddenly fallen and been destroyed, howl for her, take balm for her pain, if perhaps she can be healed. 9 We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed, forsake her, and let's go everyone into his own country, for her judgment reaches to heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies. 10 The Lord has brought forth our righteousness, come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the Lord our God. 11 Make the arrows bright, gather the shields, the Lord has raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it, because it is the vengeance of the Lord, the vengeance of his temple. 12 Set up the standard on the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes, for the Lord has both devised and done that which he spoke against the inhabitants of Babylon. 13 O you that dwell on many waters, abundant in treasures, your end has come, and the measure of your covetousness. 14 The Lord of hosts has sworn by himself, saying, surely I'll fill you with men, like with caterpillars, and they'll lift up a shout against you. 15 He has made the earth by his power, he has established the world by his wisdom, and has stretched out the heaven by his understanding. 16 When he utters his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth, he makes lightnings with rain, and brings forth the wind out of his treasures. 17 Every man is brutish by his knowledge, every foundry worker is confused by the engraved image, for his image that has been cast in the foundry is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. 18 They are vanity, the work of errors, in the time of their visitation they'll die. 19 The portion of Jacob is not like them, for he is the former of all things, and Israel is the rod of his inheritance, the Lord of hosts is his name. 20 You are my battle axe and weapons of war, for with you I'll break in pieces the nations, and with you, I'll destroy kingdoms, 21 And with you, I'll break in pieces the horse and his rider, and with you, I'll break in pieces the chariot and his rider, 22 With you also, I'll break in pieces man and woman, and with you, I'll break in pieces old and young, and with you, I'll I break in pieces the young man and the maid, 23 I will also break in pieces with you, the shepherd and his flock, and with you, I'll break in pieces the farmer and his yoke of oxen, and with you, I'll break in pieces captains and rulers. 24 And I will render to Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they've done in Zion in your sight, says the Lord. 25 See, I am against you, O destroying mountain, says the Lord, that destroys all the earth, and I'll stretch out my hand upon you, and roll you down from the rocks, and will make you a burnt mountain. 26 And they won't take from you a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations, but you'll be desolate forever, says the Lord. 27 Set up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz, appoint a captain against her, cause the horses to come up like the rough caterpillars. 28 Prepare against her the nations with the kings of the Medes, the captains of it, and all the rulers of it, and all the land of his dominion. 29 And the land shall tremble and sorrow, for every purpose of the Lord shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant. 30 The mighty men of Babylon have not gone to fight, they've remained in their holds, their might has failed, they became like women, they've burned her dwelling places, her bars are broken. 31 One town crier shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to show the king of Babylon that his city is taken at one end, 32 And that the passages are stopped, and they've burned the reeds with fire, and the men of war are afraid. 33 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, the daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor, it is time to thresh her, yet a little while, and the time of her harvest shall come. 34 Nebuchadrezzar, the king of Babylon, has devoured me, he has crushed me, he has made me an empty container, he has swallowed me up like a dragon, he has filled his belly with my delicates, he has thrown me out. 35 The violence done to me and to my flesh be on Babylon, shall the inhabitant of Zion say, and my blood on the inhabitants of Chaldea, shall Jerusalem say. 36 Therefore thus says the Lord, see, I will plead your cause, and take vengeance for you, and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry. 37 And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwelling place for dragons, an astonishment, and a hissing, without an inhabitant. 38 They shall roar together like lions, they shall yell as lions' whelps. 39 In their heat I will make their feasts, and I will make them drunk, so that they can rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, says the Lord. 40 I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats. 41 How is Sheshach taken! And how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! How is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations! 42 The sea has come up on Babylon, she is covered with the multitude of the waves of it. 43 Her cities are a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness, a land in which no man dwells, nor does any son of man pass by it. 44 And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he has swallowed up, and the nations shall not flow together anymore to him, yes, the wall of Babylon shall fall. 45 My people, go out of her, and deliver every man his soul from the fierce anger of the Lord. 46 And so that your heart doesn't faint, and you fear for the rumor that shall be heard in the land, a rumor shall both come one year, and after that in another year a rumor shall come, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler. 47 Therefore, see, the days come, that I will do judgment on the engraved images of Babylon, and her whole land shall be confused, and all her slain shall fall among her. 48 Then the heaven and the earth, and all that is in it, shall sing for Babylon, for the spoilers shall come to her from the north, says the Lord. 49 Like Babylon has caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth. 50 You that have escaped the sword, go away, don't stand still, remember the Lord afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind. 51 We are confused, because we've heard reproach, shame has covered our faces, for strangers have come into the sanctuaries of the Lord's house. 52 So see, the days come, says the Lord, that I will do judgment against her engraved images, and through all her land, the wounded shall groan. 53 Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me, spoilers shall come to her, says the Lord. 54 A sound of a cry comes from Babylon, and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans, 55 Because the Lord has spoiled Babylon, and destroyed out of her the great voice, when her waves roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is uttered, 56 Because the spoiler has come upon her, even on Babylon, and her mighty men are taken, everyone of their bows is broken, for the Lord God of repayments shall surely requite. 57 And I will make her princes drunk, and her wise men, her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men, and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, says the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts. 58 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the broad walls of Babylon shall be completely broken, and her high gates shall be burned with fire, and the people shall labor in vain, and the folk in the fire, and they shall be weary." 59 The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah, the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, when he went with Zedekiah, the king of Judah, into Babylon in the fourth year of his rule. And this Seraiah was a quiet prince. 60 So Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that would come upon Babylon, even all these words that are written against Babylon. 61 And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, "When you come to Babylon, and shall see, and shall read all these words, 62 Then you shall say, O Lord, you have spoken against this place, to cut it off, so that no one shall remain in it, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate forever. 63 And it shall be, when you have made an end of reading this book, that you shall tie a stone to it, and throw it into the middle of Euphrates, 64 And you shall say, thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring on her, and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah." ___Jeremiah chapter 52 1 Zedekiah was twenty one years old when he began to rule, and he ruled eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 2 And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. 3 For through the anger of the Lord, it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had thrown them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. 4 And in the ninth year of his rule, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and built forts against it all around. 5 So the city was besieged until the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. 6 And in the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, the famine was severe in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land. 7 Then the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled, and went out of the city by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king's garden, (now the Chaldeans were by the city all around,) and they went by the way of the plain. 8 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho, and all his army was scattered from him. 9 Then they took the king, and carried him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he gave judgment on him. 10 And the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, he killed also all the princes of Judah in Riblah. 11 Then he put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and the king of Babylon bound him in chains, and carried him to Babylon, and put him in prison until the day of his death. 12 Now in the fifth month, in the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, who served the king of Babylon, came into Jerusalem, 13 And burned the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and all the houses of the great men, he burned with fire, 14 And all the army of the Chaldeans, that were with the captain of the guard, broke down all the walls of Jerusalem all around. 15 Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, carried away captive certain of the poor of the people, and what was left of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the multitude. 16 But Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, left certain of the poor of the land for vinedressers and for farmers. 17 Also the pillars of brass that were in the house of the Lord, and the bases, and the brass sea that was in the house of the Lord, the Chaldeans broke, and carried all the brass of them to Babylon. 18 The caldrons also, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the bowls, and the spoons, and all the containers of brass, with which they ministered, they took away. 19 And the basins, and the fire pans, and the bowls, and the caldrons, and the candlesticks, and the spoons, and the cups, that which was of gold in gold, and that which was of silver in silver, the captain of the guard took away. 20 The two pillars, one sea, and twelve brass bulls that were under the bases, that king Solomon had made in the house of the Lord, the brass of all these containers was without weight. 21 And concerning the pillars, the height of one pillar was twenty seven feet, and a fillet of eighteen feet circled it, and the thickness of it was four fingers, it was hollow. 22 And a chapiter of brass was on it, and the height of one chapiter was seven and a half feet, with network and pomegranates on the chapiters all around, all of brass. The second pillar also and the pomegranates were like these. 23 And there were ninety six pomegranates on a side, and all the pomegranates on the network were a hundred all around. 24 And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door, 25 He took also out of the city a eunuch who was in charge of the men of war, and seven men of those who were near the king's person, who were found in the city, and the principal scribe of the army, who mustered the people of the land, and sixty men of the people of the land, that were found in the the city. 26 So Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah. 27 And the king of Babylon struck them, and put them to death in Riblah, in the land of Hamath. Thus Judah was carried away captive out of his own land. 28 These are the people whom Nebuchadrezzar carried away captive, in the seventh year three thousand twenty three Jews, 29 In the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar he carried away captive from Jerusalem eight hundred thirty two persons, 30 In the twenty third year of Nebuchadrezzar Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, carried away captive of the Jews, seven hundred forty five persons, all the persons were four thousand six hundred. 31 And in the thirty seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin, king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the twenty fifth day of the month, Evilmerodach, king of Babylon, in the first year of his rule lifted up the head of Jehoiachin, king of Judah, and brought him out of prison, 32 And spoke kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon, 33 And changed his prison garments, and he continually ate bread before him all the days of his life. 34 And for his diet, there was a continual diet given to him from the king of Babylon, every day a portion, until the day of his death, all the days of his life. ___Lamentations chapter 1 1 How the city sits solitary that was full of people! How she has become like a widow! She that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how she has become tributary! 2 She weeps severely in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks, among all her lovers, she has no one to comfort her, all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they've become her enemies. 3 Judah has gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude, she lives among the heathen, she finds no rest, all her persecutors overtook her between the straits. 4 The ways of Zion mourn, because no one comes to the solemn feasts, all her gates are desolate, her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness. 5 Her adversaries are on top, her enemies prosper, for the Lord has afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions, her children have gone into captivity before the enemy. 6 And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty has departed, her princes have become like deer that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer. 7 Jerusalem remembered all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, in the days of her affliction and of her miseries, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and no one helped her, the adversaries saw her and mocked at her Sabbaths. 8 Jerusalem has grievously sinned, therefore she's been removed, all that honored her despise her, because they've seen her nakedness, yes, she sighs, and turns backward. 9 Her filthiness is in her skirts, she doesn't remember her last end, therefore she came down wonderfully, she had no comforter. O Lord, see my affliction, for the enemy has magnified himself. 10 The adversary has spread out his hand on all her pleasant things, for she has seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom you commanded not to enter into your congregation. 11 All her people sigh, they seek for bread, they've given their pleasant things for food to relieve the soul, see O Lord, and consider, for I've become filthy. 12 Is it nothing to you, all you that pass by? Look and see if there's any sorrow like my sorrow that has been done to me, with which the Lord has afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger. 13 He's sent fire from above into my bones, and it prevails against them, he has spread a net for my feet, he has turned me back, he has made me desolate and faint all day long. 14 The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand, they're wreathed, and come up on my neck, he's made my strength to fall, the Lord has delivered me into their hands, from whom I'm not able to rise up. 15 The Lord has trampled under foot all my mighty men that were among me, he has called an assembly against me to crush my young men, the Lord trampled the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as if in a winepress. 16 I weep for these things, my eye, my eye runs down with water, because the comforter that ought to relieve my soul is far from me, my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed. 17 Zion spreads out her hands, and there is no one to comfort her, the Lord has commanded concerning Jacob that those around him should be his adversaries, Jerusalem is like a menstruous woman among them. 18 The Lord is righteous, for I've rebelled against his commandment, hear please, all people, and see my sorrow, my virgins and my young men have gone into captivity. 19 I called for my lovers, but they deceived me, my priests and my elders died in the city, while they sought their food to relieve their souls. 20 See, O Lord, for I'm in distress, my bowels are troubled, my heart has turned inside me, for I've grievously rebelled, the sword bereaves abroad, at home there is like death. 21 They've heard that I sigh, there's no one to comfort me, all my enemies have heard of my trouble, they're glad that you've done it, you'll bring the day that you've called for, and they'll be like me. 22 Let all their wickedness come before you, and do to them like you've done to me for all my transgressions, for my sighs are many, and my heart is faint. ___Lamentations chapter 2 1 How has the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger, and thrown down from heaven to the ground the beauty of Israel, and not remembered his footstool in the day of his anger! 2 The Lord has swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hasn't pitied, in his anger, he has thrown down the strong holds of the daughter of Judah, he has brought them down to the ground, he has polluted the kingdom and the princes of it. 3 He has cut off in his fierce anger all the horn of Israel, he has drawn back his right hand from before the enemy, and he burned against Jacob like a flaming fire that devours all around. 4 He has bent his bow like an enemy, he stood with his right hand like an adversary, and killed all that were pleasant to the eye in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion, he poured out his fury like fire. 5 The Lord was like an enemy, he has swallowed up Israel, he has swallowed up all her palaces, he has destroyed his strong holds, and has increased mourning and lamentation in the daughter of Judah. 6 And he has violently taken away his tabernacle, as if it were for a garden, he has destroyed his places of the assembly, the Lord has caused the solemn feasts and Sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion, and in the indignation of his anger has despised the king and the priest. 7 The Lord has thrown away his altar, he has hated his sanctuary, he has surrendered the walls of her palaces into the hand of the enemy, they've made a noise in the house of the Lord, like in the day of a solemn feast. 8 The Lord has purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion, he has stretched out a line, he has not withdrawn his hand from destroying, therefore he made the rampart and the wall to lament, they languished together. 9 Her gates have sunk into the ground, he has destroyed and broken the bars of her gates, her king and her princes are among the Gentiles, there's no more law, her prophets also find no vision from the Lord. 10 The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the ground, and keep silence, they've thrown up dust on their heads, they've girded themselves with sackcloth, the virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground. 11 My eyes fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver has been poured on the earth for the destruction of the daughter of my people, because the children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city. 12 They say to their mothers, "Where's corn and wine?" When they fainted like the wounded in the streets of the city, when their soul was poured out into their mothers' bosom. 13 What thing shall I take to witness for you? What thing shall I liken to you, O daughter of Jerusalem? What shall I equal to you, so I can comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion? For your destruction is great like the sea, who can heal you? 14 Your prophets have seen vain and foolish things for you, and they haven't discovered your sin, to turn away your captivity, but have seen false burdens and causes of banishment for you. 15 All that pass by clap their hands at you, they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, "Is this the city that men call the perfection of beauty, the joy of the whole earth?" 16 All your enemies have opened their mouth against you, they hiss and gnash the teeth, they say, "We've swallowed her up, certainly this is the day that we looked for, we have found, we have seen it." 17 The Lord has done what he had devised, he has fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old, he has thrown down, and has not pitied, and he has caused your enemy to rejoice over you, he has set up the horn of your adversaries. 18 Their heart shouted to the Lord, O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river, day and night, give yourself no rest, don't let the apple of your eye stop. 19 Get up, cry out in the night, in the beginning of the watches pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord, lift up your hands toward him for the life of your young children that faint for hunger at the top of every street. 20 See, O Lord, and consider to whom you've done this. Shall the women eat their fruit, and children of a span long? Shall the priest and the prophet be killed in the sanctuary of the Lord? 21 The young and the old lie on the ground in the streets, my virgins and my young men have fallen by the sword, you've killed them in the day of your anger, you've killed, and haven't pitied. 22 You've called my terrors all around like on a solemn day, so that on the day of the Lord's anger, no one escaped nor remained, those that I've swaddled and brought up, my enemy has consumed. ___Lamentations chapter 3 1 I am the man that has seen affliction by the rod of his anger. 2 He has led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light. 3 Surely he has turned against me, he turns his hand against me all day long. 4 He has made my flesh and my skin old, he has broken my bones. 5 He has built against me, and surrounded me with gall and travail. 6 He has set me in dark places, like those who are long dead. 7 He has hedged me in so that I can't get out, he has made my chain heavy. 8 Also, when I cry and shout, he shuts out my prayer. 9 He has enclosed my ways with cut stone, he has made my paths crooked. 10 He was to me like a bear lying in ambush, and like a lion in secret places. 11 He has turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces, he has made me desolate. 12 He has bent his bow, and set me like a target for arrows. 13 He has caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins. 14 I was a derision to all my people, and their song all the day. 15 He has filled me with bitterness, he has made me drunken with wormwood. 16 He has also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he has covered me with ashes. 17 And you've removed my soul far off from peace, I've forgotten prosperity. 18 And I said, my strength and my hope have perished from the Lord, 19 Remembering my affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. 20 My soul still remembers them, and is humbled in me. 21 I recall this to mind, therefore I have hope. 22 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions don't fail. 23 They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness. 24 The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in him. 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. 26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. 27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth. 28 He sits alone and keeps silence, because he has carried it on himself. 29 He puts his mouth in the dust, if there might be hope. 30 He gives his cheek to him that strikes him, he is filled full with reproach. 31 For the Lord won't throw off forever, 32 But though he causes grief, yet he'll have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. 33 For he doesn't afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. 34 To crush all the prisoners of the earth under his feet, 35 To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most high, 36 The Lord doesn't approve subverting a man in his cause. 37 Who is he that speaks and then it happens, if the Lord doesn't command it? 38 Doesn't evil and good proceed out of the mouth of the most high? 39 Why should a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? 40 Let us search and test our ways, and turn again to the Lord. 41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands to God in the heavens. 42 We've transgressed and have rebelled, you haven't pardoned. 43 You've covered us with anger, and persecuted us, you've killed, you haven't pitied. 44 You've covered yourself with a cloud, so that our prayer won't pass through. 45 You've made us like the off-scouring and refuse among the people. 46 All our enemies have opened their mouths against us. 47 Fear and a trap has come on us, desolation and destruction. 48 My eye runs down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people. 49 My eye trickles down, and doesn't stop, without any intermission, 50 Until the Lord looks down, and sees from heaven. 51 My eye affects my heart because of all the daughters of my city. 52 My enemies hunted me down like a bird, without a reason. 53 They've cut off my life in the dungeon, and thrown stones at me. 54 Waters flowed over my head, then I said, "I'm cut off." 55 I called on your name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon. 56 You've heard my voice, don't hide your ear at my breathing, at my cry. 57 You came near on the day that I called on you, you said don't be afraid. 58 O Lord, you've pleaded the causes of my soul, you've redeemed my life. 59 O Lord, you've seen my wrong, judge my cause. 60 You've seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me. 61 You've heard their reproach, O Lord, and all their imaginations against me, 62 The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day. 63 See their sitting down, and their rising up, I am their music. 64 Repay them, O Lord, according to the work of their hands. 65 Give them sorrow of heart, your curse to them. 66 Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the Lord. ___Lamentations chapter 4 1 How has the gold become dim! How has the most fine gold changed! The stones of the sanctuary have been poured out at the top of every street. 2 The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how have they become esteemed like clay pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter! 3 Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones, the daughter of my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness. 4 The tongue of the sucking child sticks to the roof of his mouth for thirst, the young children ask for bread, and no man breaks it to them. 5 Those who ate delicately are desolate in the streets, those who were brought up in red cloth embrace manure piles. 6 For the punishment of the sin of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown in a moment, and no hands stayed on her. 7 Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire, 8 Their face is blacker than a coal, they're not known in the streets, their skin sticks to their bones, it is withered, it has become like a stick. 9 Those who are killed by the sword are better than those who are killed by hunger, for these pine away, stricken through for lack of the fruits of the field. 10 The hands of the pitiful women have roasted their own children, they were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people. 11 The Lord has accomplished his fury, he has poured out his fierce anger, and has kindled a fire in Zion, and it has devoured the foundations of it. 12 The kings of the earth and all the inhabitants of the world wouldn't have believed that the adversary and the enemy would have entered into the gates of Jerusalem. 13 For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the righteous among her, 14 They've wandered like blind men in the streets, they've polluted themselves with blood, so that men couldn't touch their garments. 15 They shouted to them, "Depart, it is unclean, depart, depart, don't touch," when they fled away and wandered, they said among the heathen, "They shall visit there no more." 16 The anger of the Lord has divided them, he will no longer regard them, they didn't respect the persons of the priests, they didn't favor the elders. 17 As for us, our eyes as yet failed for the help that won't come to us, in our watching, we've looked for a nation that couldn't save us. 18 They hunt our steps, so that we can't go into our streets, our end is near, our days have been fulfilled, for our end has come. 19 Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven, they pursued us on the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness. 20 The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, under his shadow we shall live among the heathen. 21 Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, who lives in the land of Uz, the cup also shall pass through to you, you shall be drunken and shall make yourself naked. 22 The punishment of your iniquity has been accomplished, O daughter of Zion, he will no more carry you away into captivity, he will visit your iniquity, O daughter of Edom, he will discover your sins. ___Lamentations chapter 5 1 Remember O Lord, what has come on us, consider, and see our reproach. 2 Our inheritance has gone to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3 We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are like widows. 4 We've drunken our water for money, we have to pay for our wood. 5 Our necks are under persecution, we labor and have no rest. 6 We've given the hand to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread. 7 Our fathers have sinned, and are no more, and we've carried their sins. 8 Servants have ruled over us, there is no one that delivers us out of their hand. 9 We got our bread by endangering our lives, because of the sword of the wilderness. 10 Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine. 11 They raped the women in Zion, and the maids in the cities of Judah. 12 Princes are hung up by their hand, the faces of elders were not honored. 13 They took the young men to do grinding, and the children fell under the wood. 14 The elders have stopped from the gate, the young men from their music. 15 The joy of our heart has stopped, our dance has turned into mourning. 16 The crown has fallen from our head, woe to us, that we have sinned! 17 Because of this our heart is faint, our eyes are dim for these things. 18 Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk on it. 19 You, O Lord, remain forever, your throne from generation to generation. 20 Why do you forget us forever, and forsake us such a long time? 21 Turn us toward you, O Lord, and we shall be turned, renew our days like in old times. 22 But you've completely rejected us, you're very angry against us. ___Ezekiel chapter 1 1 Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. 2 On the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity, 3 The word of the Lord came specifically to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar, and the hand of the Lord was on him there. 4 And I looked, and, see, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire enfolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the middle of it as the color of amber, out of the middle of the fire. 5 Also out of the middle of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance, they had the likeness of a man. 6 And everyone had four faces, and everyone had four wings. 7 And their feet were straight feet, and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot, and they sparkled like the color of burnished brass. 8 And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides, and they four had their faces and their wings. 9 Their wings were joined to each other, they didn't turn when they went, everyone went straight forward. 10 As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side, and they four had the face of an ox on the left side, they four also had the face of an eagle. 11 Thus were their faces, and their wings were stretched upward, two wings of every one were joined to each other, and two covered their bodies. 12 And everyone went straight forward, where the spirit was to go, they went, and they didn't turn when they went. 13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps, it went up and down among the living creatures, and the fire was bright, and lightning went out of the fire. 14 And the living creatures ran and returned like the appearance of a flash of lightning. 15 Now as I watched the living creatures, see, one wheel on the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces. 16 The appearance of the wheels and their work was like the color of a beryl, and all four had one likeness, and their appearance and their work was like a wheel in the middle of a wheel. 17 When they went, they went on their four sides, and they didn't turn when they went. 18 As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful, and their rings were full of eyes all around the four of them. 19 And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them, and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. 20 Wherever the spirit was to go, they went, there was their spirit to go, and the wheels were lifted up opposite them, for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. 21 When those went, these went, and when those stood, these stood, and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up opposite them, for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. 22 And the likeness of the firmament on the heads of the living creature was like the color of the terrible crystal, stretched out over their heads above. 23 And under the firmament their wings were straight, the one toward the other, everyone had two, that covered their bodies on this side, and everyone had two, that covered their bodies on that side. 24 And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, like the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, like the noise of an army, when they stood, they let down their wings. 25 And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings. 26 And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, like the appearance of a sapphire stone, and on the likeness of the throne was the likeness like the appearance of a man above on it. 27 And I saw like the color of amber, like the appearance of fire all around inside it, from the appearance of his midsection upward, and from the appearance of his midsesction downward, I saw like the appearance of fire, and it had brightness all around. 28 Like the appearance of the rainbow that is in the cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of someone who spoke. ___Ezekiel chapter 2 1 And he said to me, "Son of man, stand on your feet, and I'll speak to you." 2 And the spirit entered into me when he spoke to me, and set me on my feet, so I heard him that spoke to me. 3 And he said to me, "Son of man, I send you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me, they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even until this very day. 4 For they are impudent children and stiff hearted. I send you to them, and you shall say to them, thus says the Lord God. 5 And they, whether they will listen, or whether they won't, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet they'll know that there has been a prophet among them. 6 And you, son of man, don't be afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you, and you live among scorpions, don't be afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they're a rebellious house. 7 And you shall speak my words to them, whether they will listen, or whether they won't, for they are most rebellious. 8 But you, son of man, hear what I say to you, don't you be rebellious like that rebellious house, open your mouth, and eat what I give you." 9 And when I looked, see, a hand was sent to me, and see, a roll of a book was in it, 10 And he spread it before me, and it was written inside and outside, and there were written in it lamentations, and mourning, and woe. ___Ezekiel chapter 3 1 Also he said to me, "Son of man, eat what you find, eat this roll, and go speak to the house of Israel." 2 So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. 3 And he said to me, "Son of man, cause your belly to eat, and fill your bowels with this roll that I give you." Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey. 4 And he said to me, "Son of man, go, get to the house of Israel, and speak with my words to them. 5 For you aren't sent to a people of a strange speech and of a hard language, but to the house of Israel, 6 Not to many people of a strange speech and of a hard language, whose words you can't understand. Surely, if I'd sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7 But the house of Israel won't listen to you, for they won't listen to me, for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted. 8 See, I've made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads. 9 I've made your forehead like an adamant, harder than flint, don't be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they're a rebellious house. 10 Also he said to me, Son of man, receive in your heart all my words that I shall speak to you, and hear with your ears. 11 And go, get you to those of the captivity, to the children of your people, and speak to them, and tell them, thus says the Lord God, whether they will listen, or whether they won't listen." 12 Then the spirit took me up, and I heard behind me a voice of a great rushing, saying, "Blessed be the glory of the Lord from his place." 13 I heard also the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched each other, and the noise of the wheels opposite them, and a noise of a great rushing. 14 So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit, but the hand of the Lord was strong on me. 15 Then I came to those of the captivity at Telabib, that lived by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days. 16 And at the end of seven days, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 17 "Son of man, I've made you a watchman to the house of Israel, therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. 18 When I say to the wicked, you'll surely die, and you don't give him warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, the same wicked man shall die in his sin, but I will require his blood at your hand. 19 Yet if you warn the wicked, and he doesn't turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his sin, but you've delivered your soul. 20 Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness, and commits sin, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he'll die, because you haven't given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness that he has done won't be remembered, but I'll require his blood at your hand. 21 But if you warn the righteous man not to sin, and he doesn't sin, he shall surely live, because he's been warned, also you've delivered your soul." 22 And the hand of the Lord was there upon me, and he said to me, "Get up, go out into the plain, and I'll talk with you there." 23 Then I got up, and went out into the plain, and, see, the glory of the Lord stood there, like the glory that I saw by the river of Chebar, and I fell on my face. 24 Then the spirit entered into me, and set me on my feet, and spoke with me, and said to me, "Go, shut yourself inside your house. 25 But you, O son of man, see, they shall put handcuffs on you, and shall bind you with them, and you shall not go out among them, 26 And I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth, so that you'll be dumb, and won't be to them a reprimander, for they are a rebellious house. 27 But when I speak with you, I'll open your mouth, and you'll say to them, thus says the Lord God, he that listens, let him listen, and he that doesn't listen, let him not listen, for they are a rebellious house." ___Ezekiel chapter 4 1 "You also, son of man, take a tile, and lay it before you, and draw the city of Jerusalem on it, 2 And lay siege against it, and build a fort against it, and throw a mount against it, set the camp also against it, and set battering rams against it all around. 3 Also, take yourself an iron pan, and set it for a wall of iron between you and the city, and set your face against it, and it shall be besieged, and you shall lay siege against it. This shall be a sign to the house of Israel. 4 Lie also on your left side, and lay the sin of the house of Israel on it, according to the number of the days that you shall lie on it, you'll bear their sin. 5 For I've laid on you the years of their sin, according to the number of the days, three hundred ninety days, so you'll bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. 6 And when you've accomplished them, lie again on your right side, and you'll bear the sin of the house of Judah forty days, I've appointed you each day for a year. 7 Therefore you'll set your face toward the siege of Jerusalem, and your arm shall be uncovered, and you'll prophesy against it. 8 And see, I'll lay bands on you, and you won't turn yourself from one side to another, until you've ended the days of your siege. 9 Take yourself wheat also, and barley, and beans, and lentiles, and millet, and fitches, and put them in one container, and make yourself bread from of, according to the number of the days that you shall lie on your side, you shall eat of it three hundred ninety days. 10 And your food that you'll eat shall be by weight, twenty shekels a day, from time to time you shall eat it. 11 You shall also drink water by measure, one sixth of a hin, from time to time you shall drink. 12 And you shall eat it like barley cakes, and you shall bake it with dung that comes out of man, in their sight." 13 And the Lord said, "Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, where I'll drive them." 14 Then I said, "Ah Lord God! See, my soul has not been polluted, for from my youth up even until now I haven't eaten of that which dies of itself, or is torn in pieces, nor has dirty flesh come into my mouth." 15 Then he said to me, "See, I've given you cow's dung instead of man's dung, and you'll prepare your bread with that." 16 Also, he said to me, "Son of man, see, I'll break the staff of bread in Jerusalem, and they'll eat bread by weight, and with care, and they'll drink water by measure, and with astonishment, 17 So they'll lack bread and water, and be astonished with each other, and be consumed away for their sin." ___Ezekiel chapter 5 1 "And you, son of man, take a sharp knife, take yourself a barber's razor, and cause it to pass on your head and on your beard, then take balances to weigh, and divide the hair. 2 You shall burn one third of it with fire in the middle of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled, and you shall take one third, and strike around it with a knife, and one third you shall scatter in the wind, and I will draw out a sword after them. 3 You shall also take from it a few in number, and tie them in your skirts. 4 Then take of them again, and throw them into the fire, and burn them in the fire, for of it, a fire shall come forth into all the house of Israel. 5 Thus says the Lord God, this is Jerusalem, I've set it among the nations and countries that are around her. 6 And she has changed my judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and my statutes more than the countries that are around her, for they've refused my judgments and my statutes, they have not walked in them. 7 Therefore thus says the Lord God, because you multiplied more than the nations that are around you, and haven't walked in my statutes, nor have kept my judgments, nor have done according to the judgments of the nations that are around you, 8 Therefore thus says the Lord God, see, I, even I, am against you, and will execute judgments among you in the sight of the nations. 9 And I will do in you that which I haven't done, and what I won't do anymore like it, because of all your dirty things. 10 Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons among you, and the sons shall eat their fathers, and I'll execute judgments in you, and I'll scatter the whole remnant of you into all the winds. 11 So, as I live, says the Lord God, surely, because you've defiled my sanctuary with all your detestable things, and with all your dirty things, therefore I'll also diminish you, nor shall my eye spare, nor will I have any pity. 12 A third part of you shall die with the pestilence, and they'll be consumed by famine among you, and a third part shall fall by the sword all around you, and I'll scatter a third part into all the winds, and I'll draw out a sword after them. 13 Thus shall my anger be accomplished, and I'll cause my fury to rest on them, and I'll be comforted, and they'll know that I the Lord have spoken it in my zeal, when I've accomplished my fury against them. 14 Also I'll make you waste, and a reproach among the nations that are all around you, in the sight of all that pass by. 15 So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment to the nations that are around you, when I shall execute judgments in you in anger and in fury and in furious reprimands. I the Lord have spoken it. 16 When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, that shall be for their destruction, and which I'll send to destroy you, and I'll increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread, 17 So I'll send on you famine and evil animals, and they'll bereave you, and pestilence and blood shall pass through you, and I will bring the sword against you. I the Lord have spoken it." ___Ezekiel chapter 6 1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them, 3 And say, You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God, thus says the Lord God to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, see, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places. 4 And your altars shall be desolate, and your images shall be broken, and I will throw down your slain men before your idols. 5 And I will lay the dead carcasses of the children of Israel before their idols, and I will scatter your bones around your altars. 6 In all your dwelling places, the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate, so that your altars will be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols broken and stopped, and your images will be cut down, and your works will be abolished. 7 And the slain shall fall among you, and you shall know that I am the Lord. 8 Yet I'll leave a remnant, so that you can have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when you'll be scattered through the countries. 9 And those who escape of you shall remember me among the nations where they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, that has departed from me, and with their eyes, that go a whoring after their idols, and they shall hate themselves for the evils that they've committed in all their dirty things. 10 And they shall know that I am the Lord, and that I haven't said in vain that I would do this evil to them. 11 Thus says the Lord God, strike with your hand, and stamp with your foot, and say, alas for all the evil dirty things of the house of Israel! For they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence. 12 He that is far off shall die from the pestilence, and he that is near shall fall by the sword, and he that remains and is besieged shall die by the famine, thus I'll accomplish my fury on them. 13 Then you'll know that I am the Lord, when their slain men shall be among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, in all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the place where they offered sweet odors to all their idols. 14 So I'll stretch out my hand on them, and make the land desolate, yes, more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblath, in all their habitations, and they shall know that I am the Lord." ___Ezekiel chapter 7 1 Also, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 "Also, you son of man, thus says the Lord God to the land of Israel, an end, the end has come on the four corners of the land. 3 Now the end has come on you, and I'll send my anger upon you, and will judge you according to your ways, and will repay on you for all your dirty things. 4 And my eye shall not spare you, nor will I have pity, but I will repay your ways upon you, and your dirty things shall be among you, and you'll know that I am the Lord. 5 Thus says the Lord God, an evil, an only evil, see, has come. 6 An end has come, the end has come, it watches for you, see, it has come. 7 The morning has come to you, O you that live in the land, the time has come, the day of trouble is near, and not the echoing from the mountains. 8 I will now shortly pour out my fury upon you, and accomplish my anger on you, and I will judge you according to your ways, and will repay you for all your dirty things. 9 And mine eye shall not spare, nor will I have pity, I will repay you according to your ways and your dirty things that are among you, and you'll know that I am the Lord that strikes. 10 See the day, see, it has come, the morning has gone forth, the rod has blossomed, pride has budded. 11 Violence has risen up into a rod of wickedness, none of them shall remain, nor of their multitude, nor of any of theirs, nor shall there be wailing for them. 12 The time has come, the day draws near, let the buyer not rejoice, nor the seller mourn, for anger is on all the multitude of them. 13 For the seller shall not return to that which is sold, although they were still alive, for the vision is concerning the whole multitude of it, which shall not return, nor shall any strengthen himself in the sin of his life. 14 They've blown the trumpet, even to make all ready, but no one goes to the battle, for my anger is on all the multitude of it. 15 The sword is outside, and the pestilence and the famine inside, he that is in the field shall die by the sword, and he that is in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him. 16 But those who escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, everyone for his sin. 17 All hands shall be feeble, and all knees shall be weak like water. 18 They shall also clothe themselves with burlap, and horror shall cover them, and shame shall be on all faces, and baldness on all their heads. 19 They shall throw their silver into the streets, and their gold shall be removed, their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the anger of the Lord, they won't satisfy their souls, nor fill their bowels, because it is the stumbling block of their sin. 20 As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty, but they made the images of their dirty things and of their detestable things in it, therefore I've set it far from them. 21 And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil, and they shall pollute it. 22 I'll turn my face also from them, and they'll pollute my secret place, for the robbers shall enter into it, and make it polluted. 23 Make a chain, for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence. 24 So I'll bring the worst of the heathen, and they'll possess their houses, I will also make the pomp of the strong to stop, and their holy places shall be defiled. 25 Destruction comes, and they'll seek peace, and there won't be any. 26 Mischief shall come on mischief, and rumor shall be on rumor, then they shall seek a vision of the prophet, but the law shall perish from the priest, and advice from the senior citizens. 27 The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled, I'll do to them after their way, and according to what they deserve I’ll judge them, and they shall know that I am the Lord." ___Ezekiel chapter 8 1 And in the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, the hand of the Lord God fell there on me. 2 Then I looked, and see, a likeness as the appearance of fire, from the appearance of his midsection downward, fire, and from his midsection upward, like the appearance of brightness, like the color of amber. 3 And he put forth the shape of a hand, and took me by a lock of my head, and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looks toward the north, where was the seat of the image of jealousy, that provokes to jealousy. 4 And see, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain. 5 Then he said to me, "Son of man, lift up your eyes now the way toward the north." So I lifted up my eyes the way toward the north, and see, northward at the gate of the altar was this image of jealousy in the entry. 6 He said furthermore to me, "Son of man, do you see what they do? Even the very detestable things that the house of Israel commits here, so that I should go far off from my sanctuary? But turn yet again, and you'll see worse detestable things." 7 And he brought me to the door of the court, and when I looked, see, a hole in the wall. 8 Then he said to me, "Son of man, dig now in the wall," and when I had dug in the wall, see, a door. 9 And he said to me, "Go in, and see the wicked detestable things that they do here." 10 So I went in and saw, and see, every form of creeping things, and dirty animals, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed on the wall all around. 11 And seventy men of the senior citizens of the house of Israel stood before them, and Jaazaniah, the son of Shaphan, stood among them, with every man his censer in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense went up. 12 Then he said to me, Son of man, have you seen what the seniors of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the rooms of his imagery? For they say, the Lord doesn't see us, the Lord has forsaken the earth. 13 He said also to me, turn still again, and you'll see worse detestable things that they do." 14 Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the Lord's house that was toward the north, and see, women were sitting and weeping for Tammuz. 15 Then he said to me, "Have you seen this, O son of man? Turn still again, and you'll see worse detestable things than these." 16 And he brought me into the inner court of the Lord's house, and see, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty five men with their backs toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east, and they worshipped the sun toward the east. 17 Then he said to me, "Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the detestable things that they commit here? For they've filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger, and see, they put the branch to their nose. 18 Therefore, I'll also deal in fury, my eye shall not spare, nor will I have pity, and though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, yet I won't hear them." ___Ezekiel chapter 9 1 He cried also in my ears with a loud voice, saying, "Cause those who have charge over the city to come near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand." 2 And see, six men came from the way of the higher gate, that lies toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand, and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side, and they went in, and stood beside the brass altar. 3 And the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, on which he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer's inkhorn by his side, 4 And the Lord said to him, "Go through the city, through Jerusalem, and set a mark on the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the detestable things that are being done in it." 5 And to the others, he said in my hearing, "Go after him through the city, and strike, don't let your eye spare, and don't have pity, 6 Completely kill old and young, both maids, and little children, and women, but don't come near any man on whom is the mark, and begin at my sanctuary." Then they began at the old men who were before the house. 7 And he said to them, "Pollute the house, and fill the courts with the slain, go forth." And they went forth, and killed in the city. 8 And while they were killing them, and I was left, I fell on my face, and shouted, and said, ah Lord God! Will you destroy all the remainder of Israel in your pouring out of your fury on Jerusalem?" 9 Then he said to me, the sin of the house of Israel and Judah is very large, and the land is full of blood, and the city is full of perverseness, for they say, the Lord has forsaken the earth, and the Lord doesn't see. 10 And as for me also, my eye shall not spare, nor will I have pity, but I will repay their way upon their heads." 11 And see, the man clothed with linen, who had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, "I've done as you've commanded me." ___Ezekiel chapter 10 1 Then I looked, and see, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them like a sapphire stone, like the appearance of the likeness of a throne. 2 And he spoke to the man clothed with linen, and said, "Go in between the wheels, under the cherub, and fill your hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city." And he went in in my sight. 3 Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in, and the cloud filled the inner court. 4 Then the glory of the Lord went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house, and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the Lord's glory. 5 And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard even to the outer court, like the voice of the Almighty God when he speaks. 6 And when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, "Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims," then he went in, and stood beside the wheels. 7 And one cherub stretched out his hand from between the cherubims to the fire that was between the cherubims, and took of it, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen, who took it, and went out. 8 And the form of a man's hand appeared in the cherubims under their wings. 9 And when I looked, see the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub, and the appearance of the wheels was as the color of a beryl stone. 10 And as for their appearances, the four of them had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the middle of a wheel. 11 When they went, they went on their four sides, they didn't turn as they went, but to the place that the head looked they followed it, they didn't turn as they went. 12 And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes all around, even the wheels that the four of them had. 13 As for the wheels, it was shouted to them in my hearing, "O wheel." 14 And everyone had four faces, the first face was the face of an angel, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third, the face of a lion, and the fourth, the face of an eagle. 15 And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar. 16 And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them, and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also didn't turn from beside them. 17 When they stood, these stood, and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also, for the spirit of the living creature was in them. 18 Then the glory of the Lord departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims. 19 And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight, when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and everyone stood at the door of the east gate of the Lord's house, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them, above. 20 This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar, and I knew that they were the cherubims. 21 Everyone had four faces each, and everyone four wings, and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings. 22 And the likeness of their faces was the same likeness that I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves, they all went straight forward. ___Ezekiel chapter 11 1 Also, the spirit lifted me up, and brought me to the east gate of the Lord's house, that looks eastward, and see, at the door of the gate, twenty five men, among whom I saw Jaazaniah, the son of Azur, and Pelatiah, the son of Benaiah, princes of the people. 2 Then he said to me, "Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked advice in this city, 3 Who say, it is not near, let us build houses, this city is the caldron, and we're the flesh. 4 Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man." 5 And the Spirit of the Lord fell on me, and said to me, "Speak, thus says the Lord, thus have you said, O house of Israel, for I know the things that come into your mind, everyone of them. 6 You've multiplied your slain in this city, and you've filled the streets of it with the slain. 7 Therefore, thus says the Lord God, your slain whom you've laid in the middle of it, they are the flesh, and this city is the caldron, but I'll bring you out of the middle of it. 8 You've feared the sword, and I'll bring a sword upon you, says the Lord God. 9 And I'll bring you out from among it, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you. 10 You'll fall by the sword, I'll judge you in the border of Israel, and you'll know that I am the Lord. 11 This city shall not be your caldron, nor shall you be the flesh among it, but I'll judge you in the border of Israel, 12 And you'll know that I am the Lord, for you haven't walked in my statutes, nor executed my judgments, but have done after the manner of the heathen that are around you." 13 And when I prophesied, Pelatiah, the son of Benaiah died. Then fell I down on my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, "Ah Lord God! Will you make a full end of the remnant of Israel?" 14 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 15 "Son of man, your brothers, even your brothers, the men of your kindred, and all the house of Israel completely, are those to whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, get you far from the Lord, this land has been given to us for a possession. 16 Therefore say, thus says the Lord God, although I've thrown them far off among the heathen, and although I've scattered them among the countries, yet I'll be to them like a little sanctuary in the countries where they'll go. 17 Therefore say, thus says the Lord God, I'll even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where you've been scattered, and I'll give you the land of Israel. 18 And they'll come there, and they'll take away all the detestable things of it, all the dirty things of it from there. 19 And I'll give them one heart, and I'll put a new spirit within you, and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh, 20 So they'll walk in my statutes, and keep my ordinances, and do them, and they shall be my people, and I'll be their God. 21 But as for those whose heart walks after the heart of their detestable things and their dirty things, I'll repay their way on their own heads, says the Lord God." 22 Then the cherubims lifted up their wings, and the wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them, above. 23 And the glory of the Lord went up from the city, and stood on the mountain that is on the east side of the city. 24 Afterwards, the spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to those of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me. 25 Then I told those of the captivity all the things that the Lord had showed me. ___Ezekiel chapter 12 1 The word of the Lord also came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, you dwell among a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, and don't see, they have ears to hear, and don't hear, for they are a rebellious house. 3 Therefore, son of man, prepare stuff for moving, and move by day in their sight, and you'll move from your place to another place in their sight, maybe they will consider, though they're a rebellious house. 4 Then shall you bring out your stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for moving, and you'll go forth at evening in their sight, like those who go forth into captivity. 5 Dig through the wall in their sight, and carry out through the hole. 6 You shall carry it on your shoulders in their sight, and carry it out in the twilight, you shall cover your face, so that you don't see the ground, for I've set you for a sign to the house of Israel." 7 And I did as I was commanded, I brought forth my stuff by day, as stuff for captivity, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my hand, I brought it forth in the twilight, and I carried it on my shoulder in their sight. 8 And in the morning the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9 "Son of man, hasn't the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, What are you doing? 10 Say to them, thus says the Lord God, this burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel that are among them. 11 Say, I am your sign, like I've done, so shall it be done to them, they shall remove and go into captivity. 12 And the prince that is among them shall carry on his shoulder in the twilight, and shall go out, they shall dig through the wall to carry out through the hole, he shall cover his face, so that he doesn't see the ground with his eyes. 13 I'll also spread my net on him, and he'll be taken in my trap, and I'll bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans, yet he won't see it, though he'll die there. 14 And I will scatter toward every wind all that are around him to help him, and all his bands, and I will draw out the sword after them. 15 And they'll know that I am the Lord, when I shall scatter them among the nations, and disperse them in the countries. 16 But I'll leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence, so that they can tell all their detestable things among the heathen where they go, and they'll know that I am the Lord." 17 Also the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 18 "Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink your water with trembling and with carefulness, 19 And say to the people of the land, thus says the Lord God about the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and about the land of Israel, they shall eat their bread with carefulness, and drink their water with astonishment, so that her land will be desolate from all that is in it, because of the violence of all of those who live in it. 20 And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate, and you'll know that I am the Lord." 21 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 22 "Son of man, what is that proverb that you have in the land of Israel, saying, the days are prolonged, and every vision fails? 23 Tell them therefore, thus says the Lord God, I will stop this proverb, and they'll no more use it as a proverb in Israel, but say to them, the days are at hand, and the effect of every vision. 24 For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel. 25 For I am the Lord, I'll speak, and the word that I shall speak shall happen, it shall be no more prolonged, for in your days, O rebellious house, I'll say the word, and will perform it, says the Lord God." 26 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 27 "Son of man, see, those of the house of Israel say, the vision that he sees is for many days to come, and he prophesies of the times that are far off. 28 Therefore say to them, thus says the Lord God, none of my words shall be prolonged anymore, but the word that I've spoken shall be done, says the Lord God." ___Ezekiel chapter 13 1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear the word of the Lord, 3 Thus says the Lord God, woe to the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! 4 O Israel, your prophets are like the foxes in the deserts. 5 You haven't gone up into the gaps, nor made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord. 6 They've seen vanity and lying divination, saying, the Lord says, and the Lord has not sent them, and they've made others hope that they would confirm the word. 7 Haven't you seen a vain vision, and haven't you spoken a lying divination, whereas you say, the Lord says it, but I have not spoken? 8 Therefore thus says the Lord God, because you have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore see, I am against you, says the Lord God. 9 And my hand shall be on the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies, they won't be in the assembly of my people, nor shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter into the land of Israel, and you'll know that I'm the Lord God. 10 Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, peace, and there was no peace, and someone built up a wall, and see, others daubed it with untempered mortar, 11 Say to those who daub it with untempered mortar, that it shall fall, there shall be an overflowing shower, and you, O great hailstones, shall fall, and a stormy wind shall tear it. 12 See, when the wall has fallen, won't it be said to you, where is the daubing with which you've daubed it? 13 Therefore, thus says the Lord God, I will even tear it with a stormy wind in my fury, and there shall be an overflowing shower in my anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it. 14 So I'll break down the wall that you've daubed with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation of it shall be uncovered, and it shall fall, and you'll be consumed in the middle of it, and you'll know that I am the Lord. 15 Thus I will accomplish my anger on the wall, and on those who've daubed it with untempered mortar, and will say to you, the wall is no more, nor those who daubed it, 16 Specifically: the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, says the Lord God. 17 Likewise, you son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own heart, and prophesy against them, 18 And say, thus says the Lord God, woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make handkerchiefs on the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of my people, and will you save the souls alive that come to you? 19 And will you pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to kill the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies? 20 So thus says the Lord God, see, I'm against your pillows, with which you hunt there the souls to make them fly, and I'll tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that you hunt to make them fly. 21 I'll also tear your handkerchiefs, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they'll no longer be in your hand to be hunted, and you'll know that I am the Lord. 22 Because you have made the heart of the righteous sad with lies, whom I have not made sad, and strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he wouldn't return from his wicked way, by promising him life, 23 Therefore you'll see no more vanity, nor divine divinations, for I will deliver my people out of your hand, and you'll know that I am the Lord." ___Ezekiel chapter 14 1 Then certain of the elders of Israel came to me, and sat before me. 2 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 3 "Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling block of their sin before their face, should I be inquired of at all by them? 4 Therefore speak to them, and say to them, thus says the Lord God, every man of the house of Israel that sets up his idols in his heart, and puts the stumbling block of his sin before his face, and comes to the prophet, I, the Lord, will answer him that comes according to the multitude of his idols, 5 So that I can take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they're all estranged from me through their idols. 6 Therefore say to the house of Israel, thus says the Lord God, repent, and turn yourselves from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your detestable things. 7 For everyone of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that visits in Israel, who separates himself from me, and sets up his idols in his heart, and puts the stumbling block of his sin before his face, and comes to a prophet to inquire of him concerning me, I the Lord will answer him by myself, 8 And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from among my people, and you'll know that I am the Lord. 9 And if the prophet is deceived when he has spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet, and I'll stretch out my hand on him, and will destroy him from among my people Israel. 10 And they shall bear the punishment of their sin, the punishment of the prophet shall even be like the punishment of him that seeks to him, 11 So that the house of Israel will no more go astray from me, nor be polluted anymore with all their transgressions, but so they'll be my people, and I will be their God, says the Lord God." 12 The word of the Lord came again to me, saying, 13 "Son of man, when the land sins against me by trespassing grievously, then I'll stretch out my hand on it, and will break the staff of the bread of it, and will send famine on it, and will cut off man and animal from it, 14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, says the Lord God. 15 If I cause vicious animals to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it's desolate, so that no man can pass through because of the animals, 16 Though these three men were in it, as I live, says the Lord God, they'll deliver neither sons nor daughters, they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate. 17 Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land, so that I cut off man and beast from it, 18 Though these three men were in it, as I live, says the Lord God, they'll deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves. 19 Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury on it in blood, to cut off man and beast from it, 20 Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, says the Lord God, they'll deliver neither son nor daughter, they'll only deliver their own souls by their righteousness. 21 For thus says the Lord God, how much more when I send my four severe judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the vicious animal, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast? 22 Yet see, a remnant shall be left in it that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters, see, they'll come forth to you, and you'll see their way and their doings, and you'll be comforted concerning the evil that I've brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought on it. 23 And they'll comfort you, when you see their ways and their doings, and you'll know that I haven't done without cause all that I've done in it, says the Lord God." ___Ezekiel chapter 15 1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, what is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch that is among the trees of the forest? 3 Shall wood be taken from it to do any work? Or will men take a pin of it to hang any container on it? 4 See, it's thrown into the fire for fuel, the fire devours both ends of it, and the middle of it is burned. Is it appropriate for any work? 5 See, when it was whole, it was appropriate for no work, how much less shall it be appropriate yet for any work, after the fire has devoured it, and it is burned? 6 Therefore thus says the Lord God, as the vine tree among the trees of the forest, that I've given to the fire for fuel, so I'll give the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 7 And I'll set my face against them, they'll go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them, and you'll know that I'm the Lord, when I set my face against them. 8 And I'll make the land desolate, because they've committed a trespass, says the Lord God." ___Ezekiel chapter 16 1 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her detestable things, 3 And say, thus says the Lord God to Jerusalem, your birth and your nativity is of the land of Canaan, your father was an Amorite, and your mother a Hittite. 4 And as for your nativity, in the day that you were born, your navel was not cut, nor were you washed in water to supple you, you weren't salted at all, nor swaddled at all. 5 No eye pitied you, to do any of these things to you, to have compassion on you, but you were thrown out in the open field, to the hating of your person, in the day that you were born. 6 And when I passed by you, and saw you polluted in your own blood, I said to you when you were in your blood, live, yes, I said to you when you were in your blood, live. 7 I've caused you to multiply like the bud of the field, and you've increased and grown great, and you've come to excellent ornaments, your breasts are fashioned, and your hair has grown, whereas you were naked and bare. 8 Now when I passed by you, and looked at you, see, your time was the time of love, and I spread my skirt over you, and covered your nakedness, yes, I swore to you, and entered into a covenant with you, says the Lord God, and you became mine. 9 Then washed I you with water, yes, I thoroughly washed away your blood from you, and I anointed you with oil. 10 I clothed you also with embroidered work, and shod you with badgers' skin, and I clothed you with fine linen, and I covered you with silk. 11 I decked you also with ornaments, and I put bracelets on your hands, and a chain on your neck. 12 And I put a jewel on your forehead, and earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. 13 Thus you were decked with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen, and silk, and embroidered work, you ate fine flour, and honey, and oil, and you were very beautiful, and you prospered into a kingdom. 14 And your renown went forth among the heathen for your beauty, for it was perfect through my attractiveness that I had put on you, says the Lord God. 15 But you trusted in your own beauty, and played the harlot because of your renown, and poured out your fornications on everyone that passed by, his it was. 16 And you took from your garments and decked your high places with various colors, and played the harlot on them, the like things shall not come, nor shall it be so. 17 You've also taken your fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, that I had given you, and made for yourself images of men, and committed whoredom with them, 18 And took your embroidered garments, and covered them, and you've set my oil and my incense before them. 19 My meat also that I gave you, fine flour, and oil, and honey, with which I fed you, you've set it before them for a sweet savor, and thus it was, says the Lord God. 20 Also you've taken your sons and your daughters, whom you've carried to me, and these you've sacrificed to them to be devoured. Is this of your whoredoms a small matter, 21 That you've killed my children, and delivered them to cause them to pass through the fire for them? 22 And in all your detestable things and your whoredoms you haven't remembered the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, and were polluted in your blood. 23 And after all your wickedness, (woe, woe to you! Says the Lord God,) 24 You've also built for yourself an eminent place, and have made yourself a high place in every street. 25 You have built your high place at every head of the way, and have made your beauty to be hated, and have opened your feet to every one that passed by, and multiplied your whoredoms. 26 You've also committed fornication with the Egyptians, your neighbors, great of flesh, and have increased your whoredoms, to provoke me to anger. 27 See, therefore I've stretched out my hand over you, and have diminished your ordinary food, and delivered you to the will of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who are ashamed of your lewd way. 28 You've played the whore also with the Assyrians, because you were insatiable, yes, you've played the prostitute with them, and yet couldn't be satisfied. 29 You've also multiplied your fornication in the land of Canaan to Chaldea, and yet you were not satisfied with this. 30 How weak is your heart, says the Lord God, seeing you do all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman, 31 In that you build your eminent place in the head of every way, and make your high place in every street, and haven't been like a harlot, in that you scorn wages, 32 But like a wife that commits adultery, who takes strangers instead of her husband! 33 They give gifts to all whores, but you give your gifts to all your lovers, and hire them, so that they'll come to you on every side for your whoredom. 34 And the contrary is in you from other women in your whoredoms, whereas no one follows you to commit whoredoms, and in that you give a reward, and no reward is given to you, therefore you're contrary. 35 So, O whore, hear the word of the Lord, 36 Thus says the Lord God, because your filthiness was poured out, and your nakedness discovered through your whoredoms with your lovers, and with all the idols of your detestable things, and by the blood of your children, that you gave to them, 37 See, therefore I'll gather all your lovers, with whom you've taken pleasure, and all of those that you've loved, with all of those that you've hated, I'll gather them all around against you, and will uncover your nakedness to them, so that they'll see all your nakedness. 38 And I will judge you, like women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged, and I'll give you blood in fury and jealousy. 39 And I'll also give you into their hand, and they'll throw down your eminent place, and shall break down your high places, they'll strip you also of your clothes, and shall take your fair jewels, and leave you naked and bare. 40 They'll also bring up a company against you, and they'll stone you with stones, and thrust you through with their swords. 41 And they shall burn your houses with fire, and execute judgments on you in the sight of many women, and I'll cause you to stop playing the whore, and you also shall give no wages anymore. 42 So I'll make my fury toward you to rest, and my jealousy shall depart from you, and I'll be quiet, and will no more be angry. 43 Because you haven't remembered the days of your youth, but have fretted me in all these things, see, therefore I also will repay your way on your head, says the Lord God, and you won't commit this lewdness above all your detestable things. 44 See, everyone that uses proverbs shall use this proverb against you, saying, as is the mother, so is her daughter. 45 You are your mother's daughter, that hates her husband and her children, and you are the sister of your sisters, who hated their husbands and their children, your mother was a Hittite, and your father an Amorite. 46 And your elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at your left hand, and your younger sister, that dwells at your right hand, is Sodom and her daughters. 47 Yet you haven't walked after their ways, nor done like their detestable things, but, as if that were a very little thing, you were corrupted more than they in all your ways. 48 As I live, says the Lord God, Sodom your sister has not done, she nor her daughters, as you've done, you and your daughters. 49 See, this was the sin of your sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, nor did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 50 And they were haughty, and committed detestable things before me, therefore I took them away as seemed good to me. 51 Nor has Samaria committed half of your sins, but you've multiplied your detestable things more than they, and have justified your sisters in all your detestable things that you've done. 52 You also, who has judged your sisters, bear your own shame for your sins that you've committed more detestable than they, they are more righteous than you, yes, you be confused also, and bear your shame, in that you have justified your sisters. 53 When I shall undo their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then I'll undo the captivity of your captives in the middle of them, 54 So that you'll bear your own shame, and will be confused in all that you've done, in that you're a comfort to them. 55 When your sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then you and your daughters shall return to your former estate. 56 For your sister Sodom was not mentioned by your mouth in the day of your pride, 57 Before your wickedness was discovered, as at the time of your reproach of the daughters of Syria, and all that are around her, the daughters of the Philistines, who despise you all around. 58 You've carried your lewdness and your detestable things, says the Lord. 59 For thus says the Lord God, I'll deal with you as you have done, who have despised the oath in breaking the covenant. 60 But I'll remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish to you an everlasting covenant. 61 Then you'll remember your ways, and be ashamed, when you shall receive your sisters, your elder and your younger, and I will give them to you for daughters, but not by your covenant. 62 And I will establish my covenant with you, and you'll know that I am the Lord, 63 So that you'll remember, and be confused, and never open your mouth anymore because of your shame, when I am pacified toward you for all that you've done, says the Lord God." ___Ezekiel chapter 17 1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel, 3 And say, thus says the Lord God, a great eagle with great wings, long winged, full of feathers, that had various colors, came to Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar, 4 He cropped off the top of his young twigs, and carried it into a land of traffic, he set it in a city of merchants. 5 He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field, he placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree. 6 And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots from it were under him, so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs. 7 There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers, and see, this vine bent her roots toward him, and shot forth her branches toward him, so he could water it by the furrows of her plantation. 8 It was planted in good soil by great waters, so it would bring forth branches, and so that it would bear fruit, so it would be a good vine. 9 Then say, thus says the Lord God, shall it prosper? Shall he not pull up the roots of it, and cut off the fruit of it, so that it withers? It shall wither in all the leaves of her spring, even without great power or many people to pluck it up by the roots of it. 10 Yes see, being planted, shall it prosper? Shall it not completely wither, when the east wind touches it? It shall wither in the furrows where it grew." 11 Also the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 12 "Say now to the rebellious house, don't you know what these things mean? Tell them, see, the king of Babylon has come to Jerusalem, and has taken the king of it, and the princes of it, and led them with him to Babylon, 13 And has taken of the king's descendants, and made a covenant with him, and has taken an oath from him, he has also taken the mighty of the land, 14 So that the kingdom would be low, so that it wouldn't lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it would stand. 15 But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, so that they'd give him horses and many people. Shall he prosper? Shall he escape that does such things? Or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered? 16 As I live, says the Lord God, surely in the place where the king lives that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he broke, even with him in the middle of Babylon he'll die. 17 Nor shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by throwing up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many people, 18 Seeing that he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, see, he had given his hand, and has done all these things, he shall not escape. 19 Therefore thus says the Lord God, as I live, surely my oath that he has despised, and my covenant that he has broken, I will repay it upon his own head. 20 And I will spread my net on him, and he'll be taken in my trap, and I'll bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass that he has trespassed against me. 21 And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and those who remain shall be scattered toward all winds, and you'll know that I the Lord have spoken it. 22 Thus says the Lord God, I'll also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it, I'll crop off a tender one from the top of his young twigs, and will plant it on a high mountain and eminent, 23 I'll plant it in the mountain of the height of Israel, and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar, and under it shall dwell all fowl of every kind, they'll live in the shadow of the branches of it. 24 And all the trees of the field shall know that I the Lord have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish, I the Lord have spoken and have done it." ___Ezekiel chapter 18 1 The word of the Lord came to me again, saying, 2 "What do you mean, that you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, the fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge? 3 As I live, says the Lord God, you shall not have occasion anymore to use this proverb in Israel. 4 See, all souls are mine, as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine, the soul that sins, it shall die. 5 But if a man is just, and does that which is lawful and right, 6 And has not eaten on the mountains, nor has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, nor has defiled his neighbor's wife, nor has come near a menstruous woman, 7 And has not oppressed any, but has restored to the debtor his security deposit, has spoiled no one by violence, has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment, 8 He that hasn't loaned at interest, nor has taken any increase, that has withdrawn his hand from sin, has executed true judgment between man and man, 9 Has walked in my statutes, and has kept my judgments, to deal truly, he is just, he shall surely live, says the Lord God. 10 If he fathers a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that does the like to any one of these things, 11 And that doesn't do any of those duties, but has eaten on the mountains, and defiled his neighbor's wife, 12 Has oppressed the poor and needy, has spoiled by violence, has not restored the security deposit, and has lifted up his eyes to the idols, has committed detestable things, 13 Has loaned at interest, and has taken increase, shall he then live? He shall not live, he has done all these detestable things, he shall surely die, his blood shall be upon himself. 14 Now see, if he fathers a son, that sees all his father's sins that he has done, and considers, and doesn't do like that, 15 That has not eaten on the mountains, nor has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, has not defiled his neighbor's wife, 16 Nor has oppressed any, has not withheld the security deposit, nor has spoiled by violence, but has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment, 17 That has taken off his hand from the poor, that has not received interest nor increase, has executed my judgments, has walked in my statutes, he shall not die for the sin of his father, he shall surely live. 18 As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, see, he shall die in his sin. 19 Yet you say, Why? Doesn't son bear the sin of the father? When the son has done that which is lawful and right, and has kept all my statutes, and has done them, he shall surely live. 20 The soul that sins shall die. The son shall not bear the sin of the father, nor shall the father bear the sin of the son, the righteousness of the righteous shall be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him. 21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he has committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 22 All his transgressions that he has committed, they shall not be mentioned to him, in his righteousness that he has done, he shall live. 23 Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? Says the Lord God, and not that he should return from his ways, and live? 24 But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits sin, and does according to all the detestable things that the wicked man does, shall he live? All his righteousness that he's done shall not be mentioned, in his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them he'll he die. 25 Yet you say, the way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel, is my way not equal? Are not your ways inequal? 26 When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits sin, and dies in them, he shall die for his sin that he has done. 27 Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. 28 Because he considers, and turns away from all his transgressions that he has committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, the way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? Are not your ways inequal? 30 Therefore I'll judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, says the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions, so that sin won't be your ruin. 31 Throw away from you all your transgressions, by which you've transgressed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit, for why do you want to die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dies, says the Lord God, so turn yourselves, and live." ___Ezekiel chapter 19 1 Also take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, 2 And say, "What is your mother? A lioness, she lay down among lions, she nourished her whelps among young lions. 3 And she brought up one of her whelps, it became a young lion, and it learned to catch the prey, it devoured men. 4 The nations also heard of him, he was taken in their pit, and they brought him with chains to the land of Egypt. 5 Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a young lion. 6 And he went up and down among the lions, he became a young lion, and learned to catch the prey, and devoured men. 7 And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities, and the land was desolate, and the fullness of it, by the noise of his roaring. 8 Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces, and spread their net over him, he was taken in their pit. 9 And they put him in prison in chains, and brought him to the king of Babylon, they brought him into holds, so that his voice would no more be heard on the mountains of Israel. 10 Your mother is like a vine in your blood, planted by the waters, she was fruitful and full of branches because of many waters. 11 And she had strong rods for the scepters of those who bore rule, and her stature was exalted among the thick branches, and she appeared in her height with the multitude of her branches. 12 But she was plucked up in fury, she was thrown down to the ground, and the east wind dried up her fruit, her strong rods were broken and withered, the fire consumed them. 13 And now she's planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground. 14 And fire has gone out of a rod of her branches, that has devoured her fruit, so that she has no strong rod to be a scepter to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation. ___Ezekiel chapter 20 1 And in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord, and sat before me. 2 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 3 "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. 4 Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Cause them to know the detestable things of their fathers, 5 And say to them, thus says the Lord God, on the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up my hand to the descendants of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up my hand to them, saying, I am the Lord your God, 6 On the day that I lifted up my hand to them, to bring them forth from the land of Egypt into a land that I had spied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands, 7 Then I said to them, throw away every man the detestable things of his eyes, and don't pollute yourselves with the idols of Egypt, I am the Lord your God. 8 But they rebelled against me, and wouldn't listen to me, they didn't throw away every man the detestable things of their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt, then I said, I'll pour out my fury on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the middle of the land of Egypt. 9 But I did for my name's sake, so it wouldn't be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known to them, in bringing them out of the land of Egypt. 10 So I caused them to go out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness. 11 And I gave them my statutes, and showed them my judgments, which if a man does, he'll live in them. 12 Also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, so that they'd know that I am the Lord that makes them holy. 13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness, they didn't walk in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man does, he shall live in them, and they greatly polluted my Sabbaths, then I said that I would pour out my fury on them in the wilderness, to consume them. 14 But I did for my name's sake, so it wouldn't be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out. 15 Yet also I lifted up my hand to them in the wilderness, so I wouldn't bring them into the land that I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands, 16 Because they despised my judgments, and didn't walk in my statutes, but polluted my Sabbaths, for their heart went after their idols. 17 But my eye spared them from destroying them, nor did I make an end of them in the wilderness. 18 But I said to their children in the wilderness, don't walk in the statutes of your fathers, nor observe their judgments, nor pollute yourselves with their idols, 19 I am the Lord your God, walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them, 20 And hallow my Sabbaths, and they'll be a sign between me and you, so that you'll know that I am the Lord your God. 21 But the children rebelled against me, they didn't walk in my statutes, and didn't keep my judgments to do them, which if a man does, he'll live in them, they polluted my Sabbaths, then I said that I would pour out my fury on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness. 22 But I withdrew my hand, and made for my name's sake, so it wouldn't be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth. 23 I lifted up my hand to them also in the wilderness, so that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries, 24 Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols. 25 So I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments by which they should not live, 26 And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that opens the womb, so that I would make them desolate, for the purpose that they would know that I am the Lord. 27 Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and say to them, thus says the Lord God, yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they've committed a trespass against me. 28 For when I had brought them into the land, for which I lifted up my hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered their sacrifices there, and there they presented the provocation of their offering, there also they made their sweet savor, and poured out there their drink offerings. 29 Then I said to them, what is the high place to which you go? And the name of it is called Bamah until this day. 30 So say to the house of Israel, thus says the Lord God, are you polluted after the manner of your fathers? And do you commit whoredom after their detestable things? 31 For when you offer your gifts, when you make your sons to pass through the fire, you pollute yourselves with all your idols, even until this day, and shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you. 32 And that which comes into your mind shall not be at all, that you say, we will be like the heathen, like the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone. 33 As I live, says the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, I'll rule over you, 34 And I'll bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries in which you are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. 35 And I'll bring you into the wilderness of the people, and I will plead with you there face to face. 36 Like I pled with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will plead with you, says the Lord God. 37 And I'll cause you to pass under the rod, and I'll bring you into the bond of the covenant, 38 And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and those who transgress against me, I'll bring them out of the country where they visit, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel, and you'll know that I am the Lord. 39 As for you, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord God, go, serve everyone his idols, and hereafter also, if you won't listen to me, but don't pollute my holy name anymore with your gifts, and with your idols. 40 For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, says the Lord God, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me, I will accept them there, and I will require your offerings there, and the first fruits of your offerings, with all your holy things. 41 I will accept you with your sweet odor, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries in which you have been scattered, and I will be made holy in you before the heathen. 42 And you'll know that I am the Lord, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for which I lifted up my hand to give it to your fathers. 43 And there shall you remember your ways, and all your doings, in which you have been defiled, and you'll hate yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that you've committed. 44 And you'll know that I am the Lord, when I have worked with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O you house of Israel, says the Lord God." 45 Also the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 46 "Son of man, set your face toward the south, and drop your word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field, 47 And say to the forest of the south, hear the word of the Lord, thus says the Lord God, see, I'll kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree in you, and every dry tree, the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned in it. 48 And all flesh shall see that I the Lord have kindled it, it shall not be quenched." 49 Then I said, "Ah Lord God! They say about me, doesn't he speak parables?" ___Ezekiel chapter 21 1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, and drop your word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel, 3 And say to the land of Israel, thus says the Lord, see, I am against you, and will draw forth my sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked. 4 Seeing then that I will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go out of its sheath against all flesh from the south to the north, 5 So that all flesh will know that I the Lord have drawn forth my sword out of its sheath, it shall not return anymore. 6 Sigh therefore, you son of man, with the breaking of your loins, and sigh with bitterness before their eyes. 7 And it shall be, when they say to you, Why do you sigh? That you shall answer, for the news, because it comes, and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak like water, see, it comes, and shall be made to happen, says the Lord God." 8 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9 "Son of man, prophesy, and say, thus says the Lord, say, a sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished, 10 It is sharpened to make a severe slaughter, it is furbished so that it will glitter, should we then make jokes? It holds the rod of my son in contempt, like every tree. 11 And he has given it to be furbished, so it will be handled, this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the one who will kill. 12 Cry and howl, son of man, for it shall be on my people, it shall be on all the princes of Israel, terrors because of the sword shall be on my people, slap your thigh therefore. 13 Because it is a trial, and what if the sword holds in contempt even the rod? It shall be no more, says the Lord God. 14 You therefore, son of man, prophesy, and strike your hands together, and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain, it is the sword of the great men that are slain, which enters into their private rooms. 15 I've set the point of the sword against all their gates, so that their hearts will faint, and their ruins be multiplied, ah! It is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter. 16 Go one way or the other, either on the right hand, or on the left, wherever your face is set. 17 I will also strike my hands together, and I'll cause my fury to rest, I the Lord have said it." 18 The word of the Lord came to me again, saying, 19 "Also, you son of man, appoint two ways, so the sword of the king of Babylon can come, the two shall come forth out of one land, and choose a place, choose it at the head of the way to the city. 20 Appoint a way, so the sword can come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem, the defenced. 21 For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination, he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver. 22 At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint battering rams against the gates, to throw a mount, and to build a fort. 23 And it shall be to them like a false divination in their sight, to those who've sworn oaths, but he will call to remembrance the sin, so they'll be taken. 24 Therefore thus says the Lord God, because you have made your sin to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins appear, because, I say, that you've come to remembrance, you'll be taken with the hand. 25 And you, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day has come, when sin shall have an end, 26 Thus says the Lord God, remove the diadem, and take off the crown, this shall not be the same, exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. 27 I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it, and it shall be no more, until he comes whose right it is, and I will give it to him. 28 And you, son of man, prophesy and say, thus says the Lord God concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their reproach, even say, the sword, the sword is drawn, for the slaughter it is furbished, to consume because of the glittering, 29 While they see vanity to you, while they divine a lie to you, to bring you on the necks of those who are killed, of the wicked, whose day has come, when their sin shall have an end. 30 Shall I cause it to return into its sheath? I will judge you in the place where you were created, in the land of your nativity. 31 And I will pour out my indignation on you, I will blow against you in the fire of my anger, and deliver you into the hand of brutish men, and skillful to destroy. 32 You'll be for fuel to the fire, your blood shall be in the middle of the land, you'll be remembered no more, for I the Lord have spoken it." ___Ezekiel chapter 22 1 Also the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 "Now, you son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Yes, you shall show her all her detestable things. 3 Then say, thus says the Lord God, the city sheds blood in the middle of it, so that her time will come, and makes idols against herself to pollute herself. 4 You've become guilty in your blood that you've shed, and have defiled yourself in your idols that you've made, and you've caused your days to draw near, and have come even to your years, therefore have I made you a reproach to the heathen, and a mocking to all countries. 5 Those who are near, and those that are far from you, shall mock you, who is infamous and much vexed. 6 See, the princes of Israel, every one were in you to their power to shed blood. 7 In you they haven't treated their father and mother right, among you they've dealt by oppression with the stranger, in you they've vexed the fatherless and the widow. 8 You've despised my holy things, and have profaned my Sabbaths. 9 Men that carry tales to shed blood are in you, and in you they eat on the mountains, among you they commit lewdness. 10 In you they've discovered their fathers' nakedness, in you they've humbled her that was set apart for pollution. 11 And one has committed a detestable thing with his neighbor's wife, and another has lewdly defiled his daughter in law, and another in you has humbled his sister, his father's daughter. 12 In you they've taken bribes to shed blood, you've taken interest and increase, and you have greedily gained from your neighbors by extortion, and have forgotten me, says the Lord God. 13 See, therefore I've struck my hand at your dishonest gain that you've gotten, and at your blood that's been among you. 14 Can your heart endure, or can your hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with you? I the Lord have spoken it, and will do it. 15 And I will scatter you among the heathen, and disperse you in the countries, and will consume your filthiness out of you. 16 And you shall take your inheritance in yourself in the sight of the heathen, and you shall know that I am the Lord." 17 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 18 "Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to me, they're all brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the middle of the furnace, they are the dross of silver. 19 Therefore thus says the Lord God, because you've all become dross, see, therefore I'll gather you into the middle of Jerusalem. 20 Like they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the middle of the furnace, to blow the fire on it, to melt it, so I'll gather you in my anger and in my fury, and I'll leave you there, and melt you. 21 Yes, I'll gather you, and blow on you in the fire of my anger, and you'll be melted among it. 22 As silver is melted in the middle of the furnace, so shall you be melted in the middle of it, and you'll know that I the Lord have poured out my fury on you." 23 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 24 "Son of man, say to her, you're the land that is not cleansed, nor rained on in the day of indignation. 25 There is a conspiracy of her prophets among it, like a roaring lion ravening the prey, they have devoured souls, they have taken the treasure and precious things, they have made her many widows in the middle of it. 26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned my holy things, they have put no difference between the holy and profane, nor have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hidden their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. 27 Her princes in the middle of it are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to obtain dishonest gain. 28 And her prophets have daubed them with untempered mortar, seeing vanity, and divining lies to them, saying, thus says the Lord God, when the Lord has not spoken. 29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy, yes, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. 30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, so that I wouldn't destroy it, but I found none. 31 Therefore I've I poured out my indignation on them, I've consumed them with the fire of my anger, I've repaid their own way upon their heads, says the Lord God." ___Ezekiel chapter 23 1 The word of the Lord came again to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother, 3 And they committed whoredoms in Egypt, they committed whoredoms in their youth, their breasts were pressed there, and they bruised the teats of their virginity there. 4 And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister, and they were mine, and they bore sons and daughters. Thus were their names, Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah. 5 And Aholah played the whore when she was mine, and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians, her neighbors, 6 Who were clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses. 7 Thus she committed her whoredoms with them, with all those who were the chosen men of Assyria, and with all on whom she doted, with all their idols she defiled herself. 8 Nor did she leave her whoredoms brought from Egypt, for in her youth they lay with her, and they bruised the breasts of her virginity, and poured their whoredom on her. 9 So I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, on whom she doted. 10 These uncovered her nakedness, they took her sons and her daughters, and killed her with the sword, and she became famous among women, for they had executed judgment on her. 11 And when her sister Aholibah saw this, she was more corrupt in her wrongful love than she, and in her whoredoms more than her sister in her whoredoms. 12 She doted on the Assyrians, her neighbors, captains and rulers clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding on horses, all of them desirable young men. 13 Then I saw that she was defiled, that they both took one way, 14 And that she increased her whoredoms, for when she saw men portrayed on the wall, the images of the Chaldeans portrayed with vermilion, 15 Girded with girdles on their midsections, exceeding in dyed attire on their heads, all of them princes to look at, after the manner of the Babylonians of Chaldea, the land of their nativity, 16 And as soon as she saw them with her eyes, she doted on them, and sent messengers to them into Chaldea. 17 And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they polluted her with their whoredom, and she was polluted with them, and her mind was alienated from them. 18 So she discovered her whoredoms, and discovered her nakedness, then my mind was alienated from her, like my mind was alienated from her sister. 19 Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, in remembering the days of her youth, in which she had played the whore in the land of Egypt. 20 For she doted on their paramours, whose flesh is like the flesh of donkeys, and whose issue is like the issue of horses. 21 Thus you remembered the lewdness of your youth, in bruising your teats by the Egyptians for the nipples of your youth. 22 Therefore, O Aholibah, thus says the Lord God, see, I will raise up your lovers against you, from whom your mind is alienated, and I will bring them against you on every side, 23 The Babylonians, and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, and Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, all of them desirable young men, captains and rulers, great lords and renowned, all of them riding on horses. 24 And they shall come against you with chariots, wagons, and wheels, and with an assembly of people, that shall set against you buckler and shield and helmet all around, and I will set judgment before them, and they shall judge you according to their judgments. 25 And I will set my jealousy against you, and they shall deal furiously with you, they shall take away your nose and your ears, and your remnant shall fall by the sword, they shall take your sons and your daughters, and your remainder shall be devoured by the fire. 26 They shall also strip you out of your clothes, and take away your fair jewels. 27 Thus I will make your lewdness to stop from you, and your whoredom brought from the land of Egypt, so that you won't lift up your eyes to them, nor remember Egypt anymore. 28 For thus says the Lord God, see, I will deliver you into the hand of those whom you hate, into the hand of those from whom your mind is alienated, 29 And they shall deal with you hatefully, and shall take away all your labor, and shall leave you naked and bare, and the nakedness of your whoredoms shall be uncovered, both your lewdness and your whoredoms. 30 I will do these things to you, because you have gone a whoring after the heathen, and because you're polluted with their idols. 31 You have walked in the way of your sister, therefore will I give her cup into your hand. 32 Thus says the Lord God, you shall drink of your sister's cup deep and large, you shall be laughed at scornfully and had in derision, it contains much. 33 You shall be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, with the cup of astonishment and desolation, with the cup of your sister, Samaria. 34 You shall even drink it and suck it out, and you shall break the broken pieces of it, and pluck off your own breasts, for I have spoken it, says the Lord God. 35 Therefore thus says the Lord God, because you have forgotten me, and thrown me behind your back, therefore bear also your lewdness and your whoredoms." 36 The Lord said also to me, "Son of man, will you judge Aholah and Aholibah? Yes, declare to them their detestable things, 37 That they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, and with their idols they have committed adultery, and have also caused their sons, whom they bore to me, to pass for them through the fire, to devour them. 38 Also, this they have done to me, they have defiled my sanctuary on the same day, and have profaned my Sabbaths. 39 For when they had sacrificed their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it, and see, thus have they done in the middle of my house. 40 And furthermore, that you have sent for men to come from far, to whom a messenger was sent, and see, they came, for whom you did wash yourself, painted your eyes, and decked yourself with ornaments, 41 And sat on a stately bed, and a table prepared before it, on which you have set my incense and my oil. 42 And a voice of a multitude being at ease was with her, and with the men of the common sort were brought Sabeans from the wilderness, who put bracelets on their hands, and beautiful crowns on their heads. 43 Then I said to her that was old in adulteries, will they now commit whoredoms with her, and she with them? 44 Yet they went in to her, as they go in to a woman that plays the whore, so went they in to Aholah and to Aholibah, the lewd women. 45 And the righteous men, they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women that shed blood, because they are adulteresses, and blood is in their hands. 46 For thus says the Lord God, I will bring up a company on them, and will give them to be removed and spoiled. 47 And the company shall stone them with stones, and dispatch them with their swords, they shall kill their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses with fire. 48 Thus I'll cause lewdness to stop out of the land, so that all women will be taught not to do according to your lewdness. 49 And they shall repay your lewdness on you, and you shall bear the sins of your idols, and you shall know that I am the Lord God." ___Ezekiel chapter 24 1 Again in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, write the name of the day, even of this same day, the king of Babylon set himself against Jerusalem this same day. 3 And speak a parable to the rebellious house, and say to them, thus says the Lord God, set on a pot, set it on, and also pour water into it, 4 Gather the pieces of it into it, even every good piece, the thigh, and the shoulder, fill it with the choice bones. 5 Take the choice of the flock, and burn also the bones under it, and make it boil well, and let them seethe its bones in it. 6 So thus says the Lord God, woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose scum is in it, and whose scum hasn't gone out of it! Bring it out piece by piece, let no lot fall on it. 7 For her blood is among her, she set it on the top of a rock, she didn't pour it on the ground, to cover it with dust, 8 So that it would cause fury to come up to take vengeance, I have set her blood on the top of a rock, so that it wouldn't be covered. 9 Therefore thus says the Lord God, woe to the bloody city! I will even make the pile for fire great. 10 Heap up wood, kindle the fire, consume the flesh, and spice it well, and let the bones be burned. 11 Then set it empty on the coals of it, so that the brass of it will be hot, and will burn, and that the filthiness of it will be cast in the foundry in it, so that the scum of it will be consumed. 12 She has wearied herself with lies, and her great scum didn't go out of her, her scum shall be in the fire. 13 In your filthiness is lewdness, because I have purged you, and you were not purged, you shall not be purged from your filthiness anymore, until I have caused my fury to rest on you. 14 I the Lord have spoken it, it shall happen, and I will do it, I will not go back, nor will I spare, nor will I repent, according to your ways, and according to your doings, shall they judge you, says the Lord God." 15 Also the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 16 "Son of man, see, I take away from you the desire of your eyes with a stroke, yet you shall neither mourn nor weep, nor shall your tears run down. 17 Refrain from crying, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of your head on you, and put on your shoes on your feet, and don't cover your lips, and don't eat the bread of men." 18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died, and I did in the morning as I was commanded. 19 "And the people said to me, will you not tell us what these things are to us, since you do so?" 20 Then I answered them, "The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 21 Speak to the house of Israel, thus says the Lord God, see, I'll profane my sanctuary, the excellence of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pities, and your sons and your daughters whom you have left shall fall by the sword. 22 And you'll do as I have done, you shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men. 23 And your tires shall be on your heads, and your shoes on your feet, you shall not mourn nor weep, but you'll pine away for your sins, and mourn toward each other. 24 Thus Ezekiel is to you a sign, according to all that he has done shall you do, and when this happens, you shall know that I am the Lord God. 25 Also, you son of man, shall it not be on the day when I take their strength from them, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that on which they set their minds, their sons and their daughters, 26 So that he that escapes in that day shall come to you, to cause you to hear it with your ears? 27 On that day your mouth shall be opened to him that has escaped, and you shall speak, and be no more dumb, and you shall be a sign to them, and they shall know that I am the Lord." ___Ezekiel chapter 25 1 The word of the Lord came again to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, set your face against the Ammonites, and prophesy against them, 3 And say to the Ammonites, hear the word of the Lord God, 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 desolate, and against the house of Judah, when they went into captivity, 4 See, therefore I will deliver you to the men of the east for a possession, and they shall set their palaces in you, and make their dwellings in you, they shall eat your fruit, and they shall drink your milk. 5 And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the Ammonites a couching place for flocks, and you shall know that I am the Lord. 6 For thus says the Lord God, because you have clapped your hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all your spite against the land of Israel, 7 See, therefore I will stretch out my hand on you, and will deliver you for a spoil to the heathen, and I will cut you off from the people, and I will cause you to perish out of the countries, I will destroy you, and you shall know that I am the Lord. 8 Thus says the Lord God, because Moab and Seir do say, see, the house of Judah is like all the heathen, 9 Therefore, see, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities that are on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Bethjeshimoth, Baalmeon, and Kiriathaim, 10 To the men of the east with the Ammonites, and will give them in possession, so that the Ammonites won't be remembered among the nations. 11 And I will execute judgments on Moab, and they shall know that I am the Lord. 12 Thus says the Lord God, because Edom has dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has greatly offended, and avenged himself against them, 13 Therefore thus says the Lord God, I will also stretch out my hand on Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it, and I will make it desolate from Teman, and those of Dedan shall fall by the sword. 14 And I will lay my vengeance on Edom by the hand of my people Israel, and they shall do in Edom according to my anger and according to my fury, and they shall know my vengeance, says the Lord God. 15 Thus says the Lord God, because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred, 16 Therefore thus says the Lord God, see, I will stretch out my hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethims, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast. 17 And I will execute great vengeance on them with furious reprimands, and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance on them." ___Ezekiel chapter 26 1 And in the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, because Tyrus has said against Jerusalem, aha, she has been broken that was the gates of the people, she has turned to me, I shall be replenished, now she has been laid waste, 3 Therefore thus says the Lord God, see, I am against you, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against you, like the sea causes his waves to come up. 4 And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers, I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock. 5 It shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the middle of the sea, for I have spoken it, says the Lord God, and it shall become a spoil to the nations. 6 And her daughters that are in the field shall be killed by the sword, and they shall know that I am the Lord. 7 For thus says the Lord God, see, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the north, with horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, and companies, and much people. 8 He shall kill your daughters with the sword in the field, and he shall make a fort against you, and throw a mount against you, and lift up the buckler against you. 9 And he shall set engines of war against your walls, and with his axes, he shall break down your towers. 10 Because of the abundance of his horses, their dust shall cover you, your walls shall shake at the noise of the horsemen, and of the wheels, and of the chariots, when he shall enter into your gates, like men enter into a city in which the wall has a gap. 11 With the hoofs of his horses he'll tread down all your streets, he shall kill your people by the sword, and your strong garrisons shall go down to the ground. 12 And they shall make a spoil of your riches, and make a prey of your merchandise, and they shall break down your walls, and destroy your pleasant houses, and they shall lay your stones and your timber and your dust in the middle of the water. 13 And I will cause the noise of your songs to stop, and the sound of your harps shall no more be heard. 14 And I will make you like the top of a rock, you shall be a place to spread nets on, you shall be built no more, for I the Lord have spoken it, says the Lord God. 15 Thus says the Lord God to Tyrus, shall not the islands shake at the sound of your fall, when the wounded cry, when the slaughter is made among you? 16 Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones, and lay away their robes, and put off their embroidered garments, they shall clothe themselves with trembling, they shall sit on the ground, and shall tremble at every moment, and be astonished at you. 17 And they shall take up a lamentation for you, and say to you, how have you been destroyed, that was inhabited by seafaring men, the renowned city, that was strong in the sea, she and her inhabitants, that caused their terror to be on all that haunt it! 18 Now shall the islands tremble in the day of your fall, yes, the islands that are in the sea shall be troubled at your departure. 19 For thus says the Lord God, when I shall make you a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited, when I shall bring up the deep on you, and great waters shall cover you, 20 When I shall bring you down with those who go down into the pit, with the people of old time, and shall set you in the low parts of the earth, in places desolate of old, with those who go down to the pit, so that you're not inhabited, and I shall set glory in the land of the living, 21 I will make you a terror, and you shall be no more, though you're sought for, yet you'll never be found again, says the Lord God." ___Ezekiel chapter 27 1 The word of the Lord came again to me, saying, 2 "Now, you son of man, take up a lamentation for Tyrus, 3 And say to Tyrus, O you who that is situated at the entry of the sea, that is a merchant of the people for many islands, thus says the Lord God, O Tyrus, you have said, I am of perfect beauty. 4 Your borders are among the seas, your builders have perfected your beauty. 5 They have made all your ship boards of fir trees of Senir, they have taken cedars from Lebanon to make masts for you. 6 From the oaks of Bashan they have made your oars, the company of the Ashurites have made your benches of ivory, brought out of the islands of Chittim. 7 Fine linen with embroidered work from Egypt was that which you spread out to be your sail, blue and purple from the islands of Elishah was that which covered you. 8 The inhabitants of Zidon and Arvad were your mariners, your wise men, O Tyrus, that were in you, were your pilots. 9 The ancients of Gebal and the wise men of it were in you your caulkers, all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in you to occupy your merchandise. 10 Those of Persia and of Lud and of Phut were in your army, your men of war, they hung the shield and helmet in you, they set forth your attractiveness. 11 The men of Arvad with your army were on your walls all around, and the Gammadims were in your towers, they hung their shields on your walls all around, they have made your beauty perfect. 12 Tarshish was your merchant because of the multitude of all kinds of riches, with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded in your fairs. 13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they were your merchants, they traded the persons of men and containers of brass in your market. 14 Those of the house of Togarmah traded in your fairs with horses and horsemen and mules. 15 The men of Dedan were your merchants, many islands were the merchandise of your hand, they brought you horns of ivory and ebony for a present. 16 Syria was your merchant by reason of the multitude of the wares of your making, they occupied in your fairs with emeralds, purple, and embroidered work, and fine linen, and coral, and agate. 17 Judah, and the land of Israel, they were your merchants, they traded wheat of Minnith in your market, and Pannag, and honey, and oil, and balm. 18 Damascus was your merchant in the multitude of the wares of your making, for the multitude of all riches, in the wine of Helbon, and white wool. 19 Dan also and Javan going back and forth occupied in your fairs, bright iron, cassia, and calamus, were in your market. 20 Dedan was your merchant in precious clothes for chariots. 21 Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they occupied with you in lambs, and rams, and goats, in these were they your merchants. 22 The merchants of Sheba and Raamah, they were your merchants, they occupied in your fairs with all the main spices, and with all precious stones, and gold. 23 Haran, and Canneh, and Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad, were your merchants. 24 These were your merchants in all sorts of things, in blue clothes, and embroidered work, and in chests of rich apparel, bound with cords, and made of cedar, among your merchandise. 25 The ships of Tarshish sang about you in your market, and you were replenished, and made very glorious among the seas. 26 Your rowers have brought you into great waters, the east wind has broken you among the seas. 27 Your riches, and your fairs, your merchandise, your mariners, and your pilots, your caulkers, and the occupiers of your merchandise, and all your men of war, that are in you, and in all your company which among you, shall fall into the middle of the seas on the day of your ruin. 28 The suburbs shall shake at the sound of the cry of your pilots. 29 And all that handle the oar, the mariners, and all the pilots of the sea, shall come down from their ships, they shall stand on the land, 30 And shall cause their voice to be heard against you, and shall cry bitterly, and shall throw up dust on their heads, they shall wallow themselves in the ashes, 31 And they shall make themselves completely bald for you, and gird themselves with sackcloth, and they shall weep for you with bitterness of heart and bitter wailing. 32 And in their wailing, they shall take up a lamentation for you, and lament over you, saying, What city is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the middle of the sea? 33 When your wares went out of the seas, you filled many people, you enriched the kings of the earth with the multitude of your riches and of your merchandise. 34 In the time when you shall be broken by the seas in the depths of the waters, your merchandise and all your company among you shall fall. 35 All the inhabitants of the islands shall be astonished at you, and their kings shall be very afraid, they shall be troubled in their facial expressions. 36 The merchants among the people shall hiss at you, you shall be a terror, and never shall be anymore." ___Ezekiel chapter 28 1 The word of the Lord came again to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, say to the prince of Tyrus, thus says the Lord God, because your heart is lifted up, and you have said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, among the seas, yet you're a man, and not God, though you set your heart like the heart of God, 3 See, you're wiser than Daniel, there is no secret that they can hide from you, 4 With your wisdom and with your understanding you have gotten yourself riches, and have gotten gold and silver into your treasures, 5 By your great wisdom and by your traffic you've increased your riches, and your heart is lifted up because of your riches, 6 Therefore thus says the Lord God, because you have set your heart as the heart of God, 7 See, therefore I will bring strangers upon you, the terrible of the nations, and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom, and they shall pollute your brightness. 8 They shall bring you down to the pit, and you shall die the deaths of those who are killed among the seas. 9 Will you yet say before him that kills you, I am God? But you shall be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that kills you. 10 You shall die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers, for I have spoken it, says the Lord God." 11 Also the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 12 "Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say to him, thus says the Lord God, you seal up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13 You have been in Eden, the garden of God, every precious stone was your covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold, the workmanship of your tabrets and of your pipes was prepared in you in the day that you were created. 14 You are the anointed cherub that covers, and I have set you so, you were on the holy mountain of God, you have walked up and down among the stones of fire. 15 You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created, until sin was found in you. 16 By the multitude of your merchandise they have filled the middle of you with violence, and you have sinned, therefore I will throw you as profane out of the mountain of God, and I will destroy you, O covering cherub, from among the stones of fire. 17 Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty, you have corrupted your wisdom by reason of your brightness, I will throw you to the ground, I will lay you before kings, so that they can see you. 18 You have defiled your sanctuaries by the multitude of your sins, by the iniquity of your traffic, therefore I will bring forth a fire from the middle of you, it shall devour you, and I will bring you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all those who see you. 19 All of those who know you among the people shall be astonished at you, you shall be a terror, and never shall you be anymore." 20 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 21 "Son of man, set your face against Zidon, and prophesy against it, 22 And say, thus says the Lord God, see, I am against you, O Zidon, and I will be glorified among you, and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be made holy in her. 23 For I will send into her pestilence, and blood into her streets, and the wounded shall be judged among her by the sword on her on every side, and they shall know that I am the Lord. 24 And there shall be no more a pricking brier to the house of Israel, nor any grieving thorn of all that are all around them, that despised them, and they shall know that I am the Lord God. 25 Thus says the Lord God, when I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be made holy in them in the sight of the heathen, then they shall dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob. 26 And they shall dwell safely in it, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards, yes, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments on all those that despise them all around them, and they shall know that I am the Lord their God." ___Ezekiel chapter 29 1 In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt, 3 Speak, and say, thus says the Lord God, see, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lies among his rivers, who has said, my river is my own, and I have made it for myself. 4 But I will put hooks in your jaws, and I will cause the fish of your rivers to stick to your scales, and I will bring you up out of the middle of your rivers, and all the fish of your rivers shall stick to your scales. 5 And I will leave you thrown into the wilderness, you and all the fish of your rivers, you shall fall on the open fields, you shall not be brought together, nor gathered, I have given you for meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven. 6 And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the Lord, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. 7 When they took hold of you by your hand, you broke, and tore all their shoulder, and when they leaned on you, you broke, and made all their midsections to be at a stand. 8 Therefore thus says the Lord God, see, I will bring a sword upon you, and cut off man and beast out of you. 9 And the land of Egypt shall be desolate and waste, and they shall know that I am the Lord, because he has said, the river is mine, and I have made it. 10 See, I am therefore against you, and against your rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt completely waste and desolate, from the tower of Syene to the border of Ethiopia. 11 No foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot of beast shall pass through it, nor shall it be inhabited forty years. 12 And I will make the land of Egypt desolate among the countries that are desolate, and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be desolate forty years, and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries. 13 Yet thus says the Lord God, at the end of forty years, I'll gather the Egyptians from the people where they were scattered, 14 And I will undo the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation, and they shall be a base kingdom there. 15 It shall be the basest of the kingdoms, nor shall it exalt itself anymore above the nations, for I will diminish them, so that they shall no more rule over the nations. 16 And it shall no more be the confidence of the house of Israel, which brings their sin to remembrance, when they shall look after them, but they shall know that I am the Lord God." 17 And in the seven and twentieth year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 18 "Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus, every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled, yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it, 19 Therefore thus says the Lord God, see, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey, and it shall be the wages for his army. 20 I have given him the land of Egypt for his labor with which he served against it, because they worked for me, says the Lord God. 21 On that day, I will cause the horn of the house of Israel to bud forth, and I will give you the opening of the mouth among them, and they shall know that I am the Lord." ___Ezekiel chapter 30 1 The word of the Lord came again to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, prophesy and say, thus says the Lord God, howl, woe worth the day! 3 For the day is near, even the day of the Lord is near, a cloudy day, it shall be the time of the heathen. 4 And the sword shall come upon Egypt, and great pain shall be in Ethiopia, when the slain shall fall in Egypt, and they shall take away her multitude, and her foundations shall be broken down. 5 Ethiopia, and Libya, and Lydia, and all the mixed people, and Chub, and the men of the land that are in league, shall fall with them by the sword. 6 Thus says the Lord, those also that uphold Egypt shall fall, and the pride of her power shall come down, from the tower of Syene shall they fall in it by the sword, says the Lord God. 7 And they shall be desolate among the countries that are desolate, and her cities shall be among the cities that are wasted. 8 And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I have set a fire in Egypt, and when all her helpers shall be destroyed. 9 On that day, messengers shall go forth from me in ships to make the careless Ethiopians afraid, and great pain shall come upon them, like on the day of Egypt, for see, it's coming. 10 Thus says the Lord God, I will also make the multitude of Egypt to stop by the hand of Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon. 11 He and his people with him, the terrible of the nations, shall be brought to destroy the land, and they shall draw their swords against Egypt, and fill the land with the dead. 12 And I will make the rivers dry, and sell the land into the hand of the wicked, and I will make the land waste, and all that is in it, by the hand of strangers, I the Lord have spoken it. 13 Thus says the Lord God, I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause their images to stop out of Noph, and there shall be no more a prince of the land of Egypt, and I will put a fear in the land of Egypt. 14 And I will make Pathros desolate, and will set fire in Zoan, and will execute judgments in No. 15 And I will pour my fury on Sin, the strength of Egypt, and I will cut off the multitude of No. 16 And I will set fire in Egypt, Sin shall have great pain, and No shall be torn in pieces, and Noph shall have distresses daily. 17 The young men of Aven and of Pibeseth shall fall by the sword, and these cities shall go into captivity. 18 At Tehaphnehes, also, the day shall be darkened, when I shall break there the yokes of Egypt, and the pomp of her strength shall be ended in her, as for her, a cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall go into captivity. 19 Thus I will execute judgments in Egypt, and they shall know that I am the Lord." 20 And in the eleventh year, in the first month, on the seventh day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 21 "Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and see, it shall not be bound up to be healed, to put a roller to tie it, to make it strong to hold the sword. 22 Therefore thus says the Lord God, see, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, the strong, and that which was broken, and I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand. 23 And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries. 24 And 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 shall groan before him with the groanings of a deadly wounded man. 25 But I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down, and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall stretch it out upon the land of Egypt. 26 And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them among the countries, and they shall know that I am the Lord." ___Ezekiel chapter 31 1 And in the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude, whom are you like in your greatness? 3 See, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of a high stature, and his top was among the thick boughs. 4 The waters made him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running all around his plants, and sent out her little rivers to all the trees of the field. 5 Therefore, his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth. 6 All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and all the beasts of the field brought forth their young under his branches, and all great nations lived under his shadow. 7 Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches, for his root was by great waters. 8 The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him, the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chestnut trees were not like his branches, nor was any tree in the garden of God like him in his beauty. 9 I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches, so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him. 10 Therefore thus says the Lord God, because you have lifted up yourself in height, and he has shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart has been lifted up in his height, 11 I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen, he shall surely deal with him, I have driven him out for his wickedness. 12 And strangers, the terrible of the nations, have cut him off, and have left him, on the mountains and in all the valleys his branches have fallen, and his boughs are broken by all the rivers of the land, and all the people of the earth have gone down from his shadow, and have left him. 13 On his ruin shall all the fowls of the heaven remain, and all the animals of the field shall be on his branches, 14 For the purpose that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, nor shoot up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their height, all that drink water, for they are all delivered to death, to the lower parts of the earth, among the children of men, with those who go down to the pit. 15 Thus says the Lord God, on the day when he went down to the grave I caused a mourning, I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods of it, and the great waters were stopped, and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him. 16 I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I threw him down to hell with those who go down into the pit, and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the lower parts of the earth. 17 They also went down into hell with him to those who've been killed by the sword, and those who were his arm, that lived under his shadow among the heathen. 18 To whom are you thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? Yet you shall be brought down with the trees of Eden to the lower parts of the earth, you shall lie among the uncircumcised with those who've been killed by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, says the Lord God." ___Ezekiel chapter 32 1 And in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say to him, you are like a young lion of the nations, and you are like a whale in the seas, and you came forth with your rivers, and troubled the waters with your feet, and fouled their rivers. 3 Thus says the Lord God, I will therefore spread out my net over you with a company of many people, and they shall bring you up in my net. 4 Then I will leave you on the land, I will throw you out on the open field, and will cause all the fowls of the heaven to remain on you, and I will fill the beasts of the whole earth with you. 5 And I will lay your flesh on the mountains, and fill the valleys with your height. 6 I will also water the land in which you swim with your blood, even to the mountains, and the rivers shall be full of you. 7 And when I shall put you out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars of it dark, I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give its light. 8 All the bright lights of heaven I will make dark over you, and set darkness on your land, says the Lord God. 9 I will also vex the hearts of many people, when I shall bring your destruction among the nations, into the countries that you haven't known. 10 Yes, I will make many people amazed at you, and their kings shall be horribly afraid for you, when I shall brandish my sword before them, and they shall tremble at every moment, every man for his own life, in the day of your fall. 11 For thus says the Lord God, the sword of the king of Babylon shall come against you. 12 By the swords of the mighty I will cause your multitude to fall, the terrible of the nations, all of them, and they shall spoil the pomp of Egypt, and all the multitude of it shall be destroyed. 13 I will destroy also all the beasts of it from beside the great waters, nor shall the foot of man trouble them anymore, nor the hoofs of animals trouble them. 14 Then I will make their waters deep, and cause their rivers to run like oil, says the Lord God. 15 When I shall make the land of Egypt desolate, and the country shall be destitute of that with which it was full, when I shall strike all of those who live in it, then shall they know that I am the Lord. 16 This is the lamentation with which they shall lament her, the daughters of the nations shall lament her, they shall lament for her, even for Egypt, and for all her multitude, says the Lord God." 17 Also in the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 18 "Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and throw them down, even her, and the daughters of the famous nations, to the lower parts of the earth, with those who go down into the pit. 19 Whom do you exceed in beauty? Go down, and lie with the uncircumcised. 20 They shall fall among those who are killed by the sword, she is given to the sword, draw her and all her multitudes. 21 The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the middle of hell with those who help him, they have gone down, they lie uncircumcised, killed by the sword. 22 Asshur is there and all her company, his graves are around him, all of them killed, fallen by the sword, 23 Whose graves are set in the sides of the pit, and her company is all around her grave, all of them killed, fallen by the sword, that caused terror in the land of the living. 24 There is Elam and all her multitude around her grave, all of them killed, fallen by the sword, who've gone down uncircumcised into the lower parts of the earth, which caused their terror in the land of the living, yet have they carried their shame with them that go down to the pit. 25 They have set her a bed among the slain with all her multitude, her graves are all around him, all of them uncircumcised, killed by the sword, though their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet they have carried their shame with those who go down to the pit, he has been put among those who are slain. 26 There is Meshech, Tubal, and all her multitude, her graves are all around him, all of them uncircumcised, killed by the sword, though they caused their terror in the land of the living. 27 And they shall not lie with the mighty that have fallen from the uncircumcised, who have gone down to hell with their weapons of war, and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their sins shall be on their bones, though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living. 28 Yes, you shall be broken among the uncircumcised, and shall lie with those who've been slain by the sword. 29 There is Edom, her kings, and all her princes, who with their might are laid by them that were killed by the sword, they shall lie with the uncircumcised, and with those who go down to the pit. 30 There are the princes of the north, all of them, and all the Zidonians, who've gone down with the killed, with their terror they are ashamed of their might, and they lie uncircumcised with those who've been slain by the sword, and bear their shame with those who go down to the pit. 31 Pharaoh shall see them, and shall be comforted over all his multitude, even Pharaoh and all his army killed by the sword, says the Lord God. 32 For I have caused my terror in the land of the living, and he shall be laid among the uncircumcised with those who've been slain by the sword, even Pharaoh and all his multitude, says the Lord God." ___Ezekiel chapter 33 1 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them, when I bring the sword on a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman, 3 If, when he sees the sword come on the land, he blows the trumpet, and warns the people, 4 Then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet, and doesn't take warning, if the sword comes, and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and didn't take warning, his blood shall be upon him. But he that takes warning shall deliver his soul. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword come, and doesn't blow the trumpet, and the people aren't warned, if the sword comes, and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his sin, but I will require his blood at the watchman's hand. 7 So you, O son of man, I have set you to be a watchman to the house of Israel, therefore you shall hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. 8 When I say to the wicked, O wicked man, you shall surely die, if you don't speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his sin, but his blood will I require at your hand. 9 But, if you warn the wicked of his way to turn from it, if he doesn't turn from his way, he shall die in his sin, but you have delivered your soul. 10 Therefore, O you son of man, speak to the house of Israel, speak like this, saying, if our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live? 11 Say to them, as I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked should turn from his way and live, turn, turn from your evil ways, for why would you want to die, O house of Israel? 12 Therefore, you son of man, say to the children of your people, the righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him on the day of his transgression, as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it on the day that he turns from his wickedness, nor shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness on the day that he sins. 13 When I shall say to the righteous that he shall surely live, if he trusts in his own righteousness, and commits sin, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered, but for his sin that he has committed, he shall die for it. 14 Again, when I say to the wicked, you shall surely die, if he turns from his sin, and does that which is lawful and right, 15 If the wicked person restores the security deposit, gives back what he had stolen, walks in the statutes of life, without committing sin, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 16 None of his sins that he has committed shall be mentioned to him, he has done that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live. 17 Yet the children of your people say, the way of the Lord is not equal, but as for them, their way is not equal. 18 When the righteous turns from his righteousness, and commits sin, that will cause his death. 19 But if the wicked turns from his wickedness, and does that which is lawful and right, that will cause him to live. 20 Yet you say, the way of the Lord is not equal. O you house of Israel, I will judge you every one according to ways." 21 And in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, someone who had escaped out of Jerusalem came to me, saying, the city has been struck. 22 Now the hand of the Lord was on me in the evening, before he that had escaped came, and had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning, and my mouth was opened, and I was not speechless anymore. 23 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 24 "Son of man, those who inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land, but we are many, the land is given to us as an inheritance. 25 So say to them, thus says the Lord God, you eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood, and shall you possess the land? 26 You stand on your sword, you do detestable things, and you defile every one his neighbor's wife, and shall you possess the land? 27 Say thus to them, thus says the Lord God, as I live, surely those who are in the wastes shall fall by the sword, and he that is in the open field I will give to the animals to be devoured, and those who are in the forts and in the caves shall die of the pestilence. 28 For I will lay the land most desolate, and the pomp of her strength shall stop, and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, so that no one shall pass through. 29 Then shall they know that I am the Lord, when I have laid the land most desolate because of all their detestable things that they have committed. 30 Also, you son of man, the children of your people are still talking against you by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak to each other, everyone to his brother, saying, come, please, and hear what the word is that comes forth from the Lord. 31 And they come to you like the people come, and they sit before you like my people, and they hear your words, but they won't do them, for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their covetousness. 32 And see, you are to them like a very lovely song of someone that has a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument, for they hear your words, but they don't do them. 33 And when this happens, (see, it will come,) then they shall know that a prophet has been among them." ___Ezekiel chapter 34 1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say to them, thus says the Lord God to the shepherds, woe be to the shepherds of Israel that feed themselves! Shouldn't the shepherds feed the flocks? 3 You eat the fat, and you clothe yourselves with the wool, you kill those that are fed, but you don't feed the flock. 4 You haven’t strengthened the diseased, nor have you healed that which was sick, nor have you bound up that which was broken, nor have you brought back that which was driven away, nor have you sought that which was lost, but you've ruled them with force and with cruelty. 5 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd, and they became food to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. 6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill, yes, my flock was scattered on all the face of the earth, and no one searched nor sought for them. 7 Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord, 8 As I live, says the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became food to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and didn't feed my flock, 9 Therefore, O you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord, 10 Thus says the Lord God, see, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to stop from feeding the flock, nor shall the shepherds feed themselves anymore, for I will deliver my flock out of their mouth, so that they won't be food for them. 11 For thus says the Lord God, see, I, even I, will both search for my sheep, and seek them out. 12 Like a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered, so I will seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. 13 And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them on the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14 I will feed them in a good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel, there they shall lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. 15 I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, says the Lord God. 16 I will seek that which was lost, and bring back that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick, but I will destroy the fat and the strong, I will feed them with judgment. 17 And as for you, O my flock, thus says the Lord God, see, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats. 18 Does it seem to be a small thing to you to have eaten up the good pasture, but you must tread down with your feet the remainder of your pastures? And to have drunk of the deep waters, but you must foul the remainder with your feet? 19 And as for my flock, they eat that which you have walked on with your feet, and they drink that which you have fouled with your feet. 20 Therefore thus says the Lord God to them, see, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle. 21 Because you have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, until you had scattered them abroad, 22 Therefore I will save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey, and I will judge between cattle and cattle. 23 And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David, he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. 24 And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them, I the Lord have spoken it. 25 And I will make a covenant of peace with them, and will cause the evil beasts to vanish out of the land, and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. 26 And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I will cause the showers to come down in their season, there shall be showers of blessing. 27 And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them. 28 And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, nor shall the beast of the land devour them, but they shall dwell safely, and no one shall make them afraid. 29 And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed by hunger in the land, nor bear the shame of the heathen anymore. 30 Thus they shall know that I, the Lord their God, am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, says the Lord God. 31 And you my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, says the Lord God." ___Ezekiel chapter 35 1 Also the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir, and prophesy against it, 3 And say to it, thus says the Lord God, see, O Mount Seir, I am against you, and I will stretch out my hand against you, and I will make you most desolate. 4 I will lay your cities waste, and you shall be desolate, and you shall know that I am the Lord. 5 Because you have had a perpetual hatred, and have shed the blood of the children of Israel by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time that their sin had ended, 6 Therefore, as I live, says the Lord God, I will prepare you to blood, and blood shall pursue you, since you have not hated blood, even blood shall pursue you. 7 Thus will I make Mount Seir most desolate, and cut off from it him that passes out and him that comes back. 8 And I will fill his mountains with his slain men, in your hills, and in your valleys, and in all your rivers, they shall fall that are killed by the sword. 9 I will make you perpetual desolations, and your cities shall not return, and you shall know that I am the Lord. 10 Because you have said, these two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess it, but the Lord was there, 11 Therefore, as I live, says the Lord God, I will even do according to your anger, and according to your envy that you have used out of your hatred against them, and I will make myself known among them, when I have judged you. 12 And you shall know that I am the Lord, and that I have heard all your blasphemies that you have spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, they are laid desolate, they have been given us to consume. 13 Thus with your mouth you have boasted against me, and have multiplied your words against me, I have heard them. 14 Thus says the Lord God, when the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate. 15 As you rejoiced at the inheritance of the house of Israel because it was desolate, so I will do to you, you shall be desolate, O Mount Seir, and all Idumea, even all of it, and they shall know that I am the Lord." ___Ezekiel chapter 36 1 "Also, you son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel, and say, You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord, 2 Thus says the Lord God, Because the enemy has said against you, aha, even the ancient high places are our possessions, 3 Therefore prophesy and say, thus says the Lord God, because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, so that you'd be a possession to the remainder of the heathen, and you are taken up in the lips of talkers, and are an infamy of the people, 4 Therefore, you mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God, thus says the Lord God to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes, and to the cities that have been forsaken, that became a prey and a derision to the remainder of the heathen that are all around, 5 Therefore thus says the Lord God, surely in the fire of my jealousy I have spoken against the remainder of the heathen, and against all of Idumea, who have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to throw it out for a prey. 6 Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel, and say to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, thus says the Lord God, see, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my fury, because you have carried the shame of the heathen, 7 Therefore thus says the Lord God, I have lifted up my hand, surely the heathen that are around you shall bear their shame. 8 But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel, for they are at hand to come. 9 For see, I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and planted, 10 And I will multiply men on you, all the house of Israel, even all of it, and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be built, 11 And I will multiply upon you man and beast, and they shall increase and bring fruit, and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better to you than at your beginnings, and you shall know that I am the Lord. 12 Yes, I will cause men to walk on you, even my people Israel, and they shall possess you, and you shall be their inheritance, and you shall no more from now on bereave them of men. 13 Thus says the Lord God, Because they say to you, you, Land devour up men, and have bereaved your nations, 14 Therefore you shall devour men no more, nor bereave your nations anymore, says the Lord God. 15 Nor will I cause men to hear in you the shame of the heathen anymore, nor shall you bear the reproach of the people anymore, nor shall you cause your nations to fall anymore, says the Lord God. 16 Also the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 17 Son of man, when the house of Israel lived in their own land, they polluted it by their own way and by their doings, their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman. 18 So I poured my fury on them for the blood that they had shed on the land, and for their idols with which they had polluted it, 19 And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries, according to their way and according to their doings, I judged them. 20 And when they entered to the heathen, where they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, these are the people of the Lord, and have gone forth out of his land. 21 But I had pity for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, where they went. 22 Therefore say to the house of Israel, thus says the Lord God, I don't do this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for my holy name's sake, that you've profaned among the heathen where you went. 23 And I will make my great name holy, that was profaned among the heathen, that you have profaned among them, and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, says the Lord God, when I shall be made holy in you, before their eyes. 24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, I will cleanse you. 26 I will also give you a new heart, and I will put inside you a new spirit, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my judgments, and do them. 28 And you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. 29 I will also save you from all your uncleannesses, and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine on you. 30 And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, so that you shall no more receive reproach of famine among the heathen. 31 Then you'll remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall hate yourselves in your own sight for your sins and for your detestable things. 32 Not for your sakes do I do this, says the Lord God, be it known to you, be ashamed and confused for your own ways, O house of Israel. 33 Thus says the Lord God, on the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your sins I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be built. 34 And the desolate land shall be tilled, although it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by. 35 And they shall say, This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden, and the waste and desolate and ruined cities have become fenced, and are inhabited. 36 Then the heathen that are left all around you shall know that I the Lord build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate, I the Lord have spoken it, and I will do it. 37 Thus says the Lord God, I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them, I will increase them with men like a flock. 38 As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts, so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men, and they shall know that I am the Lord." ___Ezekiel chapter 37 1 The hand of the Lord was on me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the middle of the valley that was full of bones, 2 And caused me to pass by them all around, and, see, there were very many in the open valley, and see, they were very dry. 3 And he said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord God, you know." 4 Again he said to me, "Prophesy about these bones, and say to them, O you dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones, see, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live, 6 And I will lay tendons on you, and will bring up flesh on you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord." 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded, and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and see a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 And when I looked, see, the tendons and the flesh came up on them, and the skin covered them above, but there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, thus says the Lord God, come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, so that they'll live." 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up on their feet, a very large army. 11 Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel, see, they say, our bones are dried, and our hope is lost, we are cut off for our parts. 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, thus says the Lord God, see, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, 14 And shall put my spirit in you, and you shall live, and I shall place you in your own land, then you'll know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, says the Lord." 15 The word of the Lord came again to me, saying, 16 "Also, you son of man, take one 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 for all the house of Israel, his companions, 17 And join them together into one stick, and they shall become one in your hand. 18 And when the children of your people shall speak to you, saying, will you not show us what you mean by these? 19 Say to them, thus says the Lord God, see, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in my hand. 20 And the sticks on which you write shall be in your hand before their eyes. 21 And say to them, thus says the Lord God, see, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, where they've gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land, 22 And I will make them one nation in the land on the mountains of Israel, and one king shall be king to them all, and they shall no more be two nations, nor shall they be divided into two kingdoms anymore at all, 23 Nor shall they defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions, but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them, so they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 24 And David my servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd, they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. 25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob my servant, in which your fathers have lived, and they shall dwell in it, even they, and their children, and their children's children forever, and my servant David shall be their prince forever. 26 Also I will make a covenant of peace with them, it shall be an everlasting covenant with them, and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary among them forever. 27 My tabernacle shall also be with them, yes, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 And the heathen shall know that I the Lord make Israel holy, when my sanctuary shall be among them forever." ___Ezekiel chapter 38 1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, set your face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 And say, thus says the Lord God, see, I am against you, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, 4 And I will turn you back, and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you forth, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all kinds of armor, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords, 5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them, all of them with shield and helmet, 6 Gomer, and all his bands, the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands, and many people with you. 7 Be prepared, and prepare for yourself, you, and all your company that are assembled to you, and be a guard to them. 8 After many days you shall be visited, in the latter years you shall come into the land that has been brought back from the sword, and has been gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, that have always been waste, but it has been brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. 9 You shall ascend and come like a storm, you shall be like a cloud to cover the land, you, and all your bands, and many people with you. 10 Thus says the Lord God, it shall also occur that at the same time, things shall come into your mind, and you'll think an evil thought, 11 And you shall say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages, I will go to those who are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, 12 To take a spoil, and to take a prey, to turn your hand on the desolate places that are now inhabited, and on the people that are gathered out of the nations, that have gotten cattle and goods, that live in the land. 13 Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions of it shall say to you, Have you come to take a spoil? Have you gathered your company to take a prey? To carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? 14 Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, thus says the Lord God, In that day when my people of Israel live safely, shall you not know it? 15 And you shall come from your place out of the north parts, you, and many people with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company, and a mighty army, 16 And you shall come up against my people of Israel, like a cloud to cover the land, it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring you against my land, so that the heathen will know me, when I shall be made holy in you, O Gog, before their eyes. 17 Thus says the Lord God, are you he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days many years that I would bring you against them? 18 And at the same time, when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, says the Lord God, my fury shall come up in my face. 19 For in my jealousy and in the fire of my anger I've spoken, surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel, 20 So that the fish of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all the men that are on the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. 21 And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, says the Lord God, every man's sword shall be against his brother. 22 And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood, and I will rain on him, and on his bands, and on the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and sulphur. 23 Thus I'll magnify myself, and make myself holy, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord." ___Ezekiel chapter 39 1 "Therefore, you son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, thus says the Lord God, see, I am against you, O Gog, the top prince of Meshech and Tubal, 2 And I will turn you back, and leave but one sixth of you, and will cause you to come up from the north parts, and will bring you upon the mountains of Israel, 3 And I will strike your bow out of your left hand, and will cause your arrows to fall out of your right hand. 4 You shall fall on the mountains of Israel, you, and all your bands, and the people that are with you, I will give you to the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. 5 You shall fall upon the open field, for I have spoken it, says the Lord God. 6 And I will send a fire on Magog, and among those who live carelessly in the islands, and they shall know that I am the Lord. 7 So I will make my holy name known among my people Israel, and I will not let them pollute my holy name anymore, and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy one in Israel. 8 See, it has come, and it's done, says the Lord God, this is the day about which I have spoken. 9 And those who live in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the hand staves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire for seven years, 10 So that they shall take no wood out of the field, nor cut down any out of the forests, for they shall burn the weapons with fire, and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, says the Lord God. 11 And in that day, I will give Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the travelers on the east of the sea, and it shall make a stink in the noses of the travelers, and they shall bury Gog there and all his multitude, and they shall call it the valley of Hamongog. 12 And the house of Israel shall be burying them for seven months, so that they can cleanse the land. 13 Yes, all the people of the land shall bury them, and it shall be to them a renown, the day that I shall be glorified, says the Lord God. 14 And they shall separate out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the travelers those that remain on the face of the earth, to cleanse it, after the end of seven months, they'll search. 15 And the travelers that pass through the land, when any sees a man's bone, then he shall set up a sign by it, until the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamongog. 16 And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus they shall cleanse the land. 17 And, you son of man, thus says the Lord God, speak to every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, assemble yourselves, and come, gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice on the mountains of Israel, so that you can eat flesh, and drink blood. 18 You shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan. 19 And you shall eat fat until you're full, and drink blood until you're drunk, of my sacrifice that I will sacrifice for you. 20 Thus you shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, says the Lord God. 21 And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them. 22 So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day on. 23 And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their sin, because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies, so they all fell by the sword. 24 According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done to them, and have hidden my face from them. 25 Therefore thus says the Lord God, now will I undo the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name, 26 After they have carried their shame, and all their trespasses by which they have trespassed against me, when they lived safely in their land, and no one made them afraid. 27 When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am made holy in them in the sight of many nations, 28 Then they'll know that I am the Lord their God, who caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen, but I have gathered them to their own land, and have left none of them there anymore. 29 Nor will I hide my face any more from them, for I have poured out my spirit on the house of Israel, says the Lord God." ___Ezekiel chapter 40 1 In the twenty fifth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was struck, in the same day, the hand of the Lord was on me, and brought me there. 2 In the visions of God, he brought me into the land of Israel, and set me on a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south. 3 And he brought me there, and see, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed, and he stood in the gate. 4 And the man said to me, "Son of man, see with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart on all that I shall show you, you've been brought here so that I can show them to you, declare all that you see to the house of Israel." 5 And see, a wall on the outside of the house all around, and in the man's hand a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and a hand breadth, so he measured the breadth of the building, one reed, and the height, one reed. 6 Then he came to the gate that looks toward the east, and went up the stairs of it, and measured the threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad, and the other threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad. 7 And every little room was one reed long, and one reed broad, and between the little rooms were five cubits, and the threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate inside was one reed. 8 He also measured the porch of the gate inside, one reed. 9 Then he measured the porch of the gate, eight cubits, and the posts of it, two cubits, and the porch of the gate was inward. 10 And the little rooms of the gate eastward were three on this side, and three on that side, the three of them were of one measure, and the posts had one measure on this side and on that side. 11 And he measured the breadth of the entry of the gate, ten cubits, and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits. 12 The space also before the little rooms was one cubit on this side, and the space was one cubit on that side, and the little rooms were six cubits on this side, and six cubits on that side. 13 Then he measured the gate from the roof of one little room to the roof of another, the breadth was twenty five cubits, door against door. 14 He made also posts of sixty cubits, even to the post of the court around the gate. 15 And from the face of the gate of the entrance to the face of the porch of the inner gate were fifty cubits. 16 And there were narrow windows to the little rooms, and to their posts inside the gate all around, and likewise to the arches, and windows were round about inward, and upon each post were palm trees. 17 Then he brought me into the outward court, and see, there were rooms, and a pavement made for the court all around, thirty rooms were on the pavement. 18 And the pavement by the side of the gates opposite the length of the gates was the lower pavement. 19 Then he measured the breadth from the forefront of the lower gate to the forefront of the inner court outside, a hundred cubits eastward and northward. 20 And the gate of the outward court that looked toward the north, he measured the length of it, and the breadth of it. 21 And the little rooms of it were three on this side and three on that side, and the posts of it and the arches of it were after the measure of the first gate, the length of it was fifty cubits, and the breadth twenty five cubits. 22 And their windows, and their arches, and their palm trees, were after the measure of the gate that looks toward the east, and they went up to it by seven steps, and the arches of it were before them. 23 And the gate of the inner court was opposite the gate toward the north, and toward the east, and he measured from gate to gate a hundred cubits. 24 After that he brought me toward the south, and see, a gate toward the south, and he measured the posts of it and the arches of it according to these measures. 25 And there were windows in it and in the arches of it all around, like those windows, the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth twenty five cubits. 26 And there were seven steps to go up to it, and the arches of it were before them, and it had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, on the posts of it. 27 And there was a gate in the inner court toward the south, and he measured from gate to gate toward the south a hundred cubits. 28 And he brought me to the inner court by the south gate, and he measured the south gate according to these measures, 29 And the little rooms of it, and the posts of it, and the arches of it, according to these measures, and there were windows in it and in the arches of it all around, it was fifty cubits long, and twenty five cubits broad. 30 And the arches all around were twenty five cubits long, and five cubits broad. 31 And the arches of it were toward the farthest court, and palm trees were on the posts of it, and the going up to it had eight steps. 32 And he brought me into the inner court toward the east, and he measured the gate according to these measures. 33 And the little rooms of it, and the posts of it, and the arches of it, were according to these measures, and there were windows in it and in the arches of it all around, it was fifty cubits long, and twenty five cubits broad. 34 And the arches of it were toward the outward court, and palm trees were on the posts of it, on this side, and on that side, and the going up to it had eight steps. 35 And he brought me to the north gate, and measured it according to these measures, 36 The little rooms of it, the posts of it, and the arches of it, and the windows to it all around, the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth twenty five cubits. 37 And the posts of it were toward the farthest court, and palm trees were upon the posts of it, on this side, and on that side, and the going up to it had eight steps. 38 And the rooms and the entries of it were by the posts of the gates, where they washed the burnt offering. 39 And two tables were in the porch of the gate on this side, and two tables on that side, to kill on them the burnt offering and the sin offering and the trespass offering. 40 And at the side outside, as one goes up to the entry of the north gate, were two tables, and on the other side, which was at the porch of the gate, were two tables. 41 Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate, eight tables, on which they killed their sacrifices. 42 And the four tables were of cut stone for the burnt offering, of a cubit and a half long, and a cubit and a half broad, and one cubit high, on which also they laid the instruments with which they killed the burnt offering and the sacrifice. 43 And inside were hooks, one hand broad, fastened all around, and the flesh of the offering was on the tables. 44 And outside the inner gate were the rooms of the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate, and their prospect was toward the south, one at the side of the east gate having the prospect toward the north. 45 And he said to me, "This room, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house. 46 And the room whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar, these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, who come near to the Lord to minister to him. 47 So he measured the court, a hundred cubits long, and a hundred cubits broad, foursquare, and the altar that was before the house. 48 And he brought me to the porch of the house, and measured each post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side, and the breadth of the gate was three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side. 49 The length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits, and he brought me by the steps by which they went up to it, and there were pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side." ___Ezekiel chapter 41 1 Afterward, he brought me to the temple, and measured the posts, six cubits broad on the one side, and six cubits broad on the other side, which was the breadth of the tabernacle. 2 And the breadth of the door was ten cubits, and the sides of the door were five cubits on the one side, and five cubits on the other side, and he measured the length of it, forty cubits, and the breadth, twenty cubits. 3 Then he went inward, and measured the post of the door, two cubits, and the door, six cubits, and the breadth of the door, seven cubits. 4 So he measured the length of it, twenty cubits, and the breadth, twenty cubits, before the temple, and he said to me, this is the most holy place. 5 Afterward, he measured the wall of the house, six cubits, and the breadth of every side room, four cubits, all around the house on every side. 6 And the side rooms were three, one over another, and thirty in order, and they entered into the wall that was of the house for the side rooms all around, so that they would be fastened, but they didn't have hold in the wall of the house. 7 And there was an enlarging, and a winding around still upward to the side rooms, for the winding around of the house went still upward all around the house, therefore the breadth of the house was still upward, and so increased from the lowest room to the highest by the middle. 8 I also saw the height of the house all around, the foundations of the side rooms were a full reed of six great cubits. 9 The thickness of the wall, that was for the side room outside, was five cubits, and that which was left was the place of the side rooms that were inside. 10 And between the rooms was the width of twenty cubits all around the house on every side. 11 And the doors of the side rooms were toward the place that was left, one door toward the north, and another door toward the south, and the breadth of the place that was left was five cubits all around. 12 Now the building that was before the separate place at the end toward the west was seventy cubits broad, and the wall of the building was five cubits thick all around, and the length of it ninety cubits. 13 So he measured the house, a hundred cubits long, and the separate place, and the building, with the walls of it, a hundred cubits long, 14 Also the breadth of the face of the house, and of the separate place toward the east, a hundred cubits. 15 And he measured the length of the building opposite the separate place that was behind it, and the galleries of it on the one side and on the other side, a hundred cubits, with the inner temple, and the porches of the court, 16 The door posts, and the narrow windows, and the galleries all around on their three stories, opposite the door, ceiled with wood all around, and from the ground up to the windows, and the windows were covered, 17 To that which was above the door, even to the inner house, and outside, and by all the wall all around inside and outside, by measure. 18 And it was made with cherubims and palm trees, so that a palm tree was between a cherub and a cherub, and every cherub had two faces, 19 So that the face of a man was toward the palm tree on the one side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm tree on the other side, it was made through all the house all around. 20 From the ground to above the door were cherubims and palm trees made, and on the wall of the temple. 21 The posts of the temple were squared, and the face of the sanctuary, the appearance of the one like the appearance of the other. 22 The altar of wood was three cubits high, and the length of it two cubits, and the corners of it, and the length of it, and the walls of it, were of wood, and he said to me, "This is the table that is before the Lord." 23 And the temple and the sanctuary had two doors. 24 And the doors had two leaves each, two turning leaves, two leaves for one door, and two leaves for the other door. 25 And cherubims and palm trees were made on the doors of the temple, like those that were made on the walls, and there were thick planks on the face of the porch outside. 26 And there were narrow windows and palm trees on the one side and on the other side, on the sides of the porch, and on the side rooms of the house, and thick planks. ___Ezekiel chapter 42 1 Then he brought me out into the farthest court, the way toward the north, and he brought me into the room that was opposite the separate place, and which was before the building toward the north. 2 Before the length of a hundred cubits was the north door, and the breadth was fifty cubits. 3 Opposite the twenty cubits that were for the inner court, and opposite the pavement that was for the complete court, was gallery against gallery in three stories. 4 And in front of the rooms was a walk of ten cubits breadth inward, a way of one cubit, and their doors toward the north. 5 Now the upper rooms were shorter, for the galleries were higher than these, than the lower, and than the middlemost of the building. 6 For they were in three stories, but didn't have pillars like the pillars of the courts, therefore the building was restricted more than the lowest and the middlemost from the ground. 7 And the wall that was outside opposite the rooms, toward the farthest court on the forepart of the rooms, the length of it was fifty cubits. 8 For the length of the rooms that were in the farthest court was fifty cubits, and see, before the temple were one hundred cubits. 9 And from under these rooms was the entry on the east side, as one goes into them from the complete court. 10 The rooms were in the thickness of the wall of the court toward the east, opposite the separate place, and opposite the building. 11 And the way before them was like the appearance of the rooms that were toward the north, as long as they were, and as broad as they were, and all their goings out were both according to their fashions, and according to their doors. 12 And according to the doors of the rooms that were toward the south was a door in the head of the way, even the way directly before the wall toward the east, as one enters into them. 13 Then he said to me, "The north rooms and the south rooms, that are before the separate place, they are holy rooms, where the priests that approach to the Lord shall eat the most holy things, they shall lay the most holy things there, and the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering, for the place is holy. 14 When the priests enter into it, then they won't go out of the holy place into the farthest court, but they shall lay their garments in which they minister there, for they are holy, and shall put on other garments, and shall approach the things that are for the people. 15 Now when he had finished measuring the inner house, he brought me forth toward the gate whose prospect is toward the east, and measured it all around. 16 He measured the east side with the measuring reed, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed all around. 17 He measured the north side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed all around. 18 He measured the south side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed. 19 He turned around to the west side, and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed. 20 He measured it by the four sides, it had a wall all around, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place. ___Ezekiel chapter 43 1 Afterward, he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looks toward the east, 2 And see, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east, and his voice was like a noise of many waters, and the earth shined with his glory. 3 And it was according to the appearance of the vision that I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city, and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar, and I fell on my face. 4 And the glory of the Lord came into the house by the way of the gate that looks toward the east. 5 So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court, and see, the glory of the Lord filled the house. 6 And I heard him speaking to me out of the house, and the man stood by me. 7 And he said to me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will live among the children of Israel forever, and my holy name, the house of Israel shall not defile anymore, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the dead bodies of their kings in their high places. 8 In their setting of their threshold by my thresholds, and their post by my posts, and the wall between me and them, they have even defiled my holy name by their detestable things that they have committed, so I have consumed them in my anger. 9 Now let them put away their whoredom, and the dead bodies of their kings, far from me, and I will live among them forever. 10 You son of man, show the house to the house of Israel, so that they'll be ashamed of their sins, and let them measure the pattern. 11 And if they're ashamed of all that they have done, show them the form of the house, and the fashion of it, and the goings out of it, and the comings in of it, and all the forms of it, and all the ordinances of it, and all the forms of it, and all the laws of it, and write it in their sight, so they can keep the whole form of it, and all the ordinances of it, and do them. 12 This is the law of the house, on the top of the mountain the whole limit of it all around shall be most holy. See, this is the law of the house. 13 And these are the measures of the altar according to the cubits, the cubit is a cubit and a hand breadth, even the bottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and the border of it by the edge of it all around shall be a span, and this shall be the higher place of the altar. 14 And from the bottom on the ground even to the lower settle shall be two cubits, and the breadth, one cubit, and from the lesser settle even to the greater settle shall be four cubits, and the breadth, one cubit. 15 So the altar shall be four cubits, and from the altar and upward shall be four horns. 16 And the altar shall be twelve cubits long, twelve broad, square in the four squares of it. 17 And the settle shall be fourteen cubits long and fourteen broad in the four squares of it, and the border around it shall be half a cubit, and the bottom of it shall be a cubit around, and its stairs shall look toward the east. 18 And he said to me, "Son of man, thus says the Lord God, these are the ordinances of the altar on the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt offerings on it, and to sprinkle blood on it. 19 And you shall give to the priests the Levites that are of the descendants of Zadok, that approach to me, to minister to me, says the Lord God, a young bullock for a sin offering. 20 And you shall take of the blood of it, and put it on the four horns of it, and on the four corners of the settle, and on the border all around, thus you shall cleanse and purge it. 21 You shall take the bullock also of the sin offering, and he shall burn it in the appointed place of the house, outside the sanctuary. 22 And on the second day you shall offer a kid of the goats without blemish for a sin offering, and they shall cleanse the altar like they cleansed it with the bullock. 23 When you have finished cleansing it, you shall offer a young bullock without blemish, and a ram out of the flock without blemish. 24 And you shall offer them before the Lord, and the priests shall throw salt on them, and they shall offer them up for a burnt offering to the Lord. 25 Every day for seven days you shall prepare a goat for a sin offering, they shall also prepare a young bullock, and a ram out of the flock, without blemish. 26 Seven days they shall purge the altar and purify it, and they shall consecrate themselves. 27 And when these days have expired, it shall be, that on the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings on the altar, and your peace offerings, and I will accept you, says the Lord God." ___Ezekiel chapter 44 1 Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary that looks toward the east, and it was shut. 2 Then the Lord said to me, "This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it, because the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut. 3 It is for the prince, the prince shall sit in it to eat bread before the Lord, he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out the same way." 4 Then he brought me the way of the north gate before the house, and I looked, and see, the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord, and I fell on my face. 5 And the Lord said to me, "Son of man, identify well, and see with your eyes, and hear with your ears all that I say to you concerning all the ordinances of the house of the Lord, and all the laws of it, and identify well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary. 6 And you shall say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, thus says the Lord God, O you house of Israel, let it be sufficient for you of all your detestable things, 7 In that you have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when you offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your detestable things. 8 And you have not kept the charge of my holy things, but you have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves. 9 Thus says the Lord God, No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel. 10 And the Levites that have gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, who went astray away from me after their idols, they shall bear their sin. 11 Yet they shall be ministers in my sanctuary, having charge at the gates of the house, and ministering to the house, they shall kill the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister to them. 12 Because they ministered to them before their idols, and caused the house of Israel to fall into sin, therefore I've lifted up my hand against them, says the Lord God, and they shall bear their sin. 13 And they shall not come near to me, to do the office of a priest to me, nor to come near to any of my holy things, in the most holy place, but they shall bear their shame, and their detestable things that they have committed. 14 But I will make them keepers of the charge of the house, for all the service of it, and for all that shall be done in it. 15 But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister to me, and they shall stand before me to offer to me the fat and the blood, says the Lord God, 16 They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister to me, and they shall keep my charge. 17 And when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments, and no wool shall come on them, while they minister in the gates of the inner court, and inside. 18 They shall have linen bonnets on their heads, and shall have linen pants on their loins, they shall not gird themselves with anything that causes sweat. 19 And when they go forth into the farthest court, even into the farthest court to the people, they shall put off their garments in which they ministered, and lay them in the holy rooms, and they shall put on other garments, and they shall not make the people holy with their garments. 20 Nor shall they shave their heads, nor allow their locks to grow long, they shall only poll their heads. 21 Nor shall any priest drink wine, when they enter into the inner court. 22 Nor shall they take for their wives a widow, nor her that is divorced, but they shall take virgins of the descendants of the house of Israel, or a widow that had previously been wife to a priest. 23 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. 24 And in controversy, they shall stand in judgment, and they shall judge it according to my judgments, and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all my assemblies, and they shall hallow my Sabbaths. 25 And they shall come near no dead person to defile themselves, but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister that has had no husband, they may defile themselves. 26 And after he has been cleansed, they shall reckon to him seven days. 27 And on the day that he goes into the sanctuary, to the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he shall offer his sin offering, says the Lord God. 28 And it shall be to them for an inheritance, I am their inheritance, and you shall give them no possession in Israel, I am their possession. 29 They shall eat the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering, and every dedicated thing in Israel shall be theirs. 30 And the first of all the first fruits of all things, and every offering of all, of every sort of your offerings, shall be the priest's, you shall also give to the priest the first of your dough, so he can cause the blessing to rest in your house. 31 The priests shall not eat of anything that dies on its own, or torn, whether it's fowl or animal." ___Ezekiel chapter 45 1 Also, when you shall divide the land for inheritance by drawing straws, you shall offer an offering to the Lord, a holy portion of the land, the length shall be the length of twenty five thousand reeds, and the breadth shall be ten thousand. This shall be holy in all the borders of it all around. 2 Of this, there shall be for the sanctuary five hundred in length, with five hundred in breadth, square all around, and fifty cubits all around for the suburbs of it. 3 And of this measure shall you measure the length of twenty five thousand, and the breadth of ten thousand, and in it shall be the sanctuary and the most holy place. 4 The holy portion of the land shall be for the priests, the ministers of the sanctuary, that shall come near to minister to the Lord, and it shall be a place for their houses, and a holy place for the sanctuary. 5 And the twenty five thousand of length, and the ten thousand of breadth, shall also the Levites, the ministers of the house, have for themselves, for a possession for twenty rooms. 6 And you shall appoint the possession of the city five thousand broad, and twenty five thousand long, opposite the offering of the holy portion, it shall be for the whole house of Israel. 7 And a portion shall be for the prince on the one side and on the other side of the offering of the holy portion, and of the possession of the city, before the offering of the holy portion, and before the possession of the city, from the west side westward, and from the east side eastward, and the length shall be opposite one of the portions, from the west border to the east border. 8 In the land shall be his possession in Israel, and my princes shall no more oppress my people, and they shall give the rest of the land to the house of Israel according to their tribes. 9 Thus says the Lord God, let it be sufficient for you, O princes of Israel, remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions from my people, says the Lord God. 10 You shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath. 11 The ephah and the bath shall be of the same measure, so that the bath will contain one tenth of a homer, and the ephah one tenth of a homer, the measure of it shall be according to the homer. 12 And the shekel shall be twenty gerahs, twenty shekels, twenty five shekels, fifteen shekels, shall be your maneh. 13 This is the offering that you shall offer, the one sixth of an ephah of a homer of wheat, and you shall give one sixth of an ephah of a homer of barley, 14 Concerning the ordinance of oil, the bath of oil, you shall offer one tenth of a bath out of the cor, which is a homer of ten baths, for ten baths are a homer, 15 And one lamb out of the flock, out of two hundred, out of the fat pastures of Israel, for a meat offering, and for a burnt offering, and for peace offerings, to make reconciliation for them, says the Lord God. 16 All the people of the land shall give this offering for the prince in Israel. 17 And it shall be the prince's part to give burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, and in the new moons, and in the Sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel, he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meat offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel. 18 Thus says the Lord God, in the first month, on the first day of the month, you shall take a young bullock without blemish, and cleanse the sanctuary, 19 And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering, and put it on the posts of the house, and on the four corners of the settle of the altar, and on the posts of the gate of the inner court. 20 And so you shall do the seventh day of the month for everyone that errs, and for him that is simple, so shall you reconcile the house. 21 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. 22 And on that day the prince shall prepare a bullock for a sin offering for himself and for all the people of the land. 23 And for the seven days of the feast, he shall prepare a burnt offering to the Lord, seven bullocks and seven rams without blemish daily for the seven days, and a kid of the goats daily for a sin offering. 24 And he shall prepare a meat offering of an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and a hin of oil for an ephah. 25 In the seventh month, on the fifteenth day of the month, he shall do similarly in the feast of the seven days, according to the sin offering, according to the burnt offering, and according to the meat offering, and according to the oil." ___Ezekiel chapter 46 1 Thus says the Lord God, the gate of the inner court that looks toward the east shall be shut the six working days, but on the Sabbath, it shall be opened, and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened. 2 And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate outside, and shall stand by the post of the gate, and the priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate, then he shall go forth, but the gate shall not be shut until the evening. 3 Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the Lord in the Sabbaths and in the new moons. 4 And the burnt offering that the prince shall offer to the Lord on the Sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish, and a ram without blemish. 5 And the meat offering shall be an ephah for a ram, and the meat offering for the lambs, as he shall be able to give, and a hin of oil to an ephah. 6 And on the day of the new moon it shall be a young bullock without blemish, and six lambs, and a ram, they shall be without blemish. 7 And he shall prepare a meat offering, an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and for the lambs according as his hand shall be able to get, and a hin of oil to an ephah. 8 And when the prince shall enter, he shall go in by the way of the porch of that gate, and he shall go forth by the way of it. 9 But when the people of the land shall come before the Lord in the solemn feasts, he that enters in by the way of the north gate to worship shall go out by the way of the south gate, and he that enters by the way of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate, he shall not return by the way of the gate by which he came in, but shall go forth opposite it. 10 And the prince among them, when they go in, shall go in, and when they go forth, shall go forth. 11 And in the feasts and in the solemnities, the meat offering shall be an ephah to a bullock, and an ephah to a ram, and to the lambs as he is able to give, and a hin of oil to an ephah. 12 Now when the prince shall prepare a voluntary burnt offering or peace offerings voluntarily to the Lord, someone shall then open for him the gate that looks toward the east, and he shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, as he did on the Sabbath day, then he shall go forth, and after his going forth someone shall shut the gate. 13 You shall daily prepare a burnt offering to the Lord of a lamb of the first year without blemish, you shall prepare it every morning. 14 And you shall prepare a meat offering for it every morning, one sixth of an ephah, and one third of a hin of oil, to temper with the fine flour, a meat offering continually by a perpetual ordinance to the Lord. 15 Thus shall they prepare the lamb, and the meat offering, and the oil, every morning for a continual burnt offering. 16 Thus says the Lord God, if the prince gives a gift to any of his sons, the inheritance of it shall be his sons', it shall be their possession by inheritance. 17 But if he gives a gift of his inheritance to one of his servants, then it shall be his until the year of liberty, afterward it shall return to the prince, but his inheritance shall be his sons' for them. 18 Also, the prince shall not take of the people's inheritance by oppression, to thrust them out of their possession, but he shall give his sons inheritance out of his own possession, so that my people are not scattered every man from his possession. 19 After he brought me through the entry, that was at the side of the gate, into the holy rooms of the priests, that looked toward the north, and see, there was a place on the two sides westward. 20 Then he said to me, this is the place where the priests shall boil the trespass offering and the sin offering, where they shall bake the meat offering, so that they don't carry them out into the farthest court, to make the people holy. 21 Then he brought me forth into the farthest court, and caused me to pass by the four corners of the court, and see, in every corner of the court there was a court. 22 In the four corners of the court, there were courts joined of forty cubits long and thirty broad, these four corners were of the same measure. 23 And there was a row of building all around in them, all around them, four, and it was made with boiling places under the rows all around. 24 Then he said to me, these are the places of those who boil, where the ministers of the house shall boil the sacrifice of the people." ___Ezekiel chapter 47 1 Afterward, he brought me again to the door of the house, and see, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward, for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. 2 Then he brought me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me around the way outside to the complete gate by the way that looks eastward, and see, waters ran out on the right side. 3 And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters, the waters were to the ankles. 4 Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters, the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through, the waters were to the hips. 5 Afterward he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I couldn't pass over, for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over. 6 And he said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?" Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river. 7 Now when I had returned, see, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8 Then he said to me, "These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea, which, being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. 9 And every thing that lives, which moves, wherever the rivers shall come, shall live, and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come there, for they shall be healed, and everything shall live where the river comes. 10 And the fishermen shall stand on it from Engedi even to Eneglaim, they shall be a place to spread forth nets, their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, very many. 11 But the miry places of it and the marshes of it shall not be healed, they shall be given to salt. 12 And by the river, on the bank of it, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for food, whose leaf shall not fade, nor shall the fruit of it be consumed, it shall bring forth new fruit according to its months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary, and the fruit of it shall be for food, and the leaf of it for medicine. 13 Thus says the Lord God, This shall be the border, by which you shall inherit the land, according to the twelve tribes of Israel, Joseph shall have two portions. 14 And you shall inherit it, one as well as another, concerning which I lifted up my hand to give it to your fathers, and this land shall fall to you for inheritance. 15 And this shall be the border of the land toward the north side, from the Mediterranean sea, the way of Hethlon, as men go to Zedad, 16 Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath, Hazarhatticon, which is by the coast of Hauran. 17 And the border from the sea shall be Hazarenan, the border of Damascus, and the north northward, and the border of Hamath. And this is the north side. 18 And you shall measure the east side from Hauran, and from Damascus, and from Gilead, and from the land of Israel by Jordan, from the border to the east sea. And this is the east side. 19 And the south side southward, from Tamar to the waters of strife in Kadesh, the river to the Mediterranean sea. And this is the south side southward. 20 The west side also shall be the Mediterranean sea from the border, until a man comes opposite Hamath. This is the west side. 21 So shall you divide this land to yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. 22 And you shall divide it by lot for an inheritance to yourselves, and to the strangers that visit among you, who shall father children among you, and they shall be to you as born in the country among the children of Israel, they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel. 23 And in whatever tribe the stranger visits, you shall give him his inheritance there, says the Lord God." ___Ezekiel chapter 48 1 Now these are the names of the tribes. From the north end to the coast of the way of Hethlon, as you go to Hamath, Hazarenan, the border of Damascus northward, to the coast of Hamath, for these are his sides east and west, a portion for Dan. 2 And by the border of Dan, from the east side to the west side, a portion for Asher. 3 And by the border of Asher, from the east side even to the west side, a portion for Naphtali. 4 And by the border of Naphtali, from the east side to the west side, a portion for Manasseh. 5 And by the border of Manasseh, from the east side to the west side, a portion for Ephraim. 6 And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even to the west side, a portion for Reuben. 7 And by the border of Reuben, from the east side to the west side, a portion for Judah. 8 And by the border of Judah, from the east side to the west side, shall be the offering that you shall offer of twenty five thousand reeds in breadth, and in length as one of the other parts, from the east side to the west side, and the sanctuary shall be in the middle of it. 9 The offering that you shall offer to the Lord shall be of twenty five thousand in length, and of ten thousand in breadth. 10 And for them, even for the priests, shall be this holy offering, toward the north, twenty five thousand in length, and toward the west, ten thousand in breadth, and toward the east, ten thousand in breadth, and toward the south, twenty five thousand in length, and the sanctuary of the Lord shall be in the middle of it. 11 It shall be for the priests that are made holy of the sons of Zadok, who have kept my charge, who didn't go astray when the children of Israel went astray, like the Levites went astray. 12 And this offering of the land that is offered shall be to them a thing most holy by the border of the Levites. 13 And opposite the border of the priests, the Levites shall have twenty five thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth, all the length shall be twenty five thousand, and the breadth ten thousand. 14 And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the first fruits of the land, for it is holy to the Lord. 15 And the five thousand, that are left in the breadth opposite the twenty five thousand, shall be a profane place for the city, for dwelling, and for suburbs, and the city shall be in the middle of it. 16 And these shall be the measures of it, the north side four thousand five hundred, and the south side four thousand five hundred, and on the east side four thousand five hundred, and the west side four thousand five hundred. 17 And the suburbs of the city shall be toward the north, two hundred fifty, and toward the south, two hundred fifty, and toward the east, two hundred fifty, and toward the west, two hundred fifty. 18 And the remainder in length opposite the offering of the holy portion shall be ten thousand eastward, and ten thousand westward, and it shall be opposite the offering of the holy portion, and the increase of it shall be for food for those who serve the city. 19 And those who serve the city shall serve it out of all the tribes of Israel. 20 All the offering shall be twenty five thousand by twenty five thousand, you shall offer the holy offering foursquare, with the possession of the city. 21 And the remainder shall be for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy offering, and of the possession of the city, opposite the twenty five thousand of the offering toward the east border, and westward opposite the twenty five thousand toward the west border, opposite the portions for the prince, and it shall be the holy offering, and the sanctuary of the house shall be in the middle of it. 22 Also from the possession of the Levites, and from the possession of the city, being in the middle of that which is the prince's, between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin, shall be for the prince. 23 As for the rest of the tribes, from the east side to the west side, Benjamin shall have a portion. 24 And by the border of Benjamin, from the east side to the west side, Simeon shall have a portion. 25 And by the border of Simeon, from the east side to the west side, Issachar a portion. 26 And by the border of Issachar, from the east side to the west side, Zebulun a portion. 27 And by the border of Zebulun, from the east side to the west side, Gad a portion. 28 And by the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be from Tamar to the waters of strife in Kadesh, and to the river toward the Mediterranean sea. 29 This is the land that you shall divide by drawing straws to the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these are their portions, says the Lord God. 30 And these are the goings out of the city on the north side, four thousand five hundred measures. 31 And the gates of the city shall be according to the names of the tribes of Israel, three gates northward, one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of Levi. 32 And at the east side, four thousand five hundred, and three gates, and one gate of Joseph, one gate of Benjamin, one gate of Dan. 33 And at the south side four thousand five hundred measures, and three gates, one gate of Simeon, one gate of Issachar, one gate of Zebulun. 34 At the west side four thousand five hundred, with their three gates, one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, one gate of Naphtali. 35 It was all around, eighteen thousand measures, and the name of the city from that day shall be, the Lord is there. ___Daniel chapter 1 1 In the third year of the rule of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, went to Jerusalem, and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim, king of Judah, into his hand, with part of the containers of the house of God, that he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god, and he brought the containers into the treasure house of his god. 3 And the king spoke to Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's descendants, and of the princes, 4 Children in whom there was no blemish, but well favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they could teach the learning and the language of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine that he drank, so nourishing them for three years, so that at the end of it they could stand before the king. 6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 7 To whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names, for he gave to Daniel, the name of Belteshazzar, and to Hananiah, of Shadrach, and to Mishael, of Meshach, and to Azariah, of Abednego. 8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine that he drank, therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 10 And the prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your meat and your drink, for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children who are of your sort? Then you would make me endanger my head to the king." 11 Then Daniel said to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 "Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 13 Then you look at our faces, and the faces of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat, and as you see, deal with your servants." 14 So he consented to them in this matter, and tested them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days, their faces appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children who ate the portion of the king's meat. 16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they would drink, and gave them pulse. 17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he would bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king communed with them, and among them all, no one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, therefore they stood before the king. 20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. 21 And Daniel continued until the first year of king Cyrus. ___Daniel chapter 2 1 And in the second year of the rule of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, because of which his spirit was troubled, and his sleep broke from him. 2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to show the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, "I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream." 4 Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Syriack, "O king, live forever, tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation." 5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, "The thing has gone from me, if you won't make known to me the dream, with the interpretation of it, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a manure pile. 6 But if you show the dream, and the interpretation of it, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor, therefore show me the dream, and the interpretation of it." 7 They answered him, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation of it." 8 The king answered and said, "I know of certainty that you're trying to gain the time, because you see that the thing has gone from me. 9 But if you will not make known to me the dream, there is but one decree for you, for you have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, until the time is changed, therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me the interpretation of it." 10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, "There is not a man on earth that can show the king's matter, therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things of any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. 11 And it is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is no one that can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh." 12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be killed, and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be killed. 14 Then Daniel answered with advice and wisdom to Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon, 15 He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, "Why is the decree so hasty from the king?" Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. 16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation. 17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18 So that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said, "Blessed be the name of God forever and always, for wisdom and might are his, 21 And he changes the times and the seasons, he removes kings, and sets up kings, he gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who know understanding, 22 He reveals the deep and secret things, he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. 23 I thank you, and praise you, O God of my fathers, who has given me wisdom and might, and has made known to me now what we desired of you, for you have now made known to us the king's matter." 24 Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon, he went and said thus to him, "Don't destroy the wise men of Babylon, bring me in before the king, and I will show to the king the interpretation." 25 Then Arioch brought Daniel in before the king in haste, and said thus to him, "I have found a man of the captives of Judah that will make known to the king the interpretation." 26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, "Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen, and the interpretation of it?" 27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, "The secret that the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, can't show to the king, 28 But there is a God in heaven that reveals secrets, and makes known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head on your bed, are these, 29 As for you, O king, your thoughts came into your mind on your bed, what would occur hereafter, and he that reveals secrets is making known to you what shall happen. 30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and so that you'll know the thoughts of your heart. 31 You, O king, saw, and behold, a large image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before you, and the form of it was terrible. 32 This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, 33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. 34 You saw until a stone was cut out without hands, that struck the image on his feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them to pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, was broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors, and the wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them, and the stone that struck the image became a large mountain, and filled the whole earth. 36 This is the dream, and we will tell the interpretation of it before the king. 37 You, O king, are a king of kings, for the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 38 And wherever the children of men live, he has given the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all. You are this head of gold. 39 And after you another kingdom shall arise, inferior to you, and another third kingdom of brass, that shall bear rule over all the earth. 40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron, since iron breaks in pieces and subdues all things, and like iron that breaks all these, it will break in pieces and bruise. 41 And whereas you saw the feet and toes, part of potter's clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided, but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, since you saw the iron mixed with miry clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. 43 And whereas you saw iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mix themselves with the descendants of men, but they shall not stick to each other, just as iron doesn't mix with clay. 44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, that shall never be destroyed, and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. 45 Since you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what shall occur hereafter, and the dream is certain, and the interpretation of it sure." 46 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an offering and sweet odors to him. 47 The king answered Daniel, and said, "Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing that you could reveal this secret." 48 Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon, but Daniel sat in the gate of the king. ___Daniel chapter 3 1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits, and the breadth of it six cubits, he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up, and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Then an announcer shouted out loud, "To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, 5 That when you hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up, 6 And whoever doesn't fall down and worship shall the same hour be thrown into the middle of a burning fiery furnace. 7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages, they fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 8 So at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. 9 They spoke and said to king Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever. 10 You, O king, have made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image, 11 And whoever doesn't fall down and worship, that he should be thrown into the middle of a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, these men, O king, have not regarded you, they don't serve your gods, nor worship the golden image that you have set up." 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said to them, "Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, don't you serve my gods, nor worship the golden image that I have set up? 15 Now if you're ready, when you hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well, but if you don't worship, you shall be thrown the same hour into the middle of a burning fiery furnace, and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?" 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer you in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image that you have set up." 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the form of his facial expression was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, therefore he spoke, and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times as hot as it usually was. 20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to tie Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to throw them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were tied in their coats, their stockings, and their hats, and their other garments, and were thrown into the middle of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace was exceptionally hot, the flame of the fire killed those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the middle of the burning fiery furnace. 24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spoke, and said to his counselors, "Didn't we throw three men bound into the middle of the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king." 25 He answered and said, "See, I see four men loose, walking in the middle of the fire, and they have no hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spoke, and said, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the most high God, come out, and come here." Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came out of the middle of the fire. 27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, on whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was a hair of their head singed, nor were their coats changed, nor did the smell of fire stick to them. 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spoke, and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, so that they wouldn't serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree, that every people, nation, and language, who speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a manure pile, because there is no other God that can deliver like this." 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon. ___Daniel chapter 4 1 "Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth, peace be multiplied to you. 2 I thought it good to show the signs and wonders that the high God has made toward me. 3 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. 4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace, 5 I saw a dream that made me afraid, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. 6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, so that they could make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers, and I told the dream before them, but they did not make known to me the interpretation of it. 8 But at last, Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods, and before him I told the dream, saying, 9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no secret troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation of it. 10 Thus were the visions of my head in my bed, I saw, and behold a tree in the middle of the earth, and the height of it was great. 11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height of it reached to heaven, and the sight of it to the end of all the earth, 12 The leaves of it were fair, and the fruit of it much, and in it there was food for all, the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven lived in the boughs of it, and all flesh was fed by it. 13 I saw in the visions of my head on my bed, and, see, a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven, 14 He shouted out loud, and said thus, Cut down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit, let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches, 15 But leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field, and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth, 16 Let his heart be changed from man's, and let an animal's heart be given to him, and let seven times pass over him. 17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones, for the purpose that the living will know that the most high rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will, and sets up over it the basest of men. 18 I, king Nebuchadnezzar, have seen this dream. Now you, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation of it, since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you." 19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spoke, and said, "Belteshazzar, don't let the dream, or the interpretation of it, trouble you." Belteshazzar answered, "My lord, the dream is to those who hate you, and the interpretation of it to your enemies. 20 The tree that you saw, that grew, and was strong, whose height reached to the heaven, and the sight of it to all the earth, 21 Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit of it much, and in it was food for all, under which the beasts of the field lived, and on whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation, 22 It is you, O king, that has grown and become strong, for your greatness has grown, and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the end of the earth. 23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, cut the tree down, and destroy it, yet leave the stump of the roots of it in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field, and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, until seven times pass over him, 24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most high, that has come upon my lord the king, 25 That they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen, and they shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the most high rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will. 26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots, your kingdom shall be sure to you, after that you come to know that the heavens rule. 27 So, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, if it may be a lengthening of your peace." 28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. 30 The king spoke, and said, "Isn't this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?" 31 While the king was still speaking, a voice fell from heaven, saying, "O king Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken, the kingdom has departed from you. 32 And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field, they shall make you eat grass like oxen, and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the most high rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will." 33 The thing was fulfilled the same hour on Nebuchadnezzar, and he was driven from men, and ate grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. 34 "And at the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the most high, and I praised and honored him that lives forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation, 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth have the reputation of being nothing, and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, and no one can hold back his hand, or say to him, what are you doing? 36 At the same time, my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and brightness returned to me, and my counselors and my lords sought to me, and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. 37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways justice, and those that walk in pride he is able to abase." ___Daniel chapter 5 1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. 2 Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the gold and silver containers that his father, Nebuchadnezzar, had taken out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, so that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, could drink from them. 3 Then they brought the gold containers that had been taken out of the temple of the house of God that was at Jerusalem, and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank from them. 4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. 5 In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote opposite the candlestick on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. 6 Then the king's facial expression was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees struck against each other. 7 The king shouted out loud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spoke, and said to the wise men of Babylon, "Whoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation of it, shall be clothed with red cloth, and have a chain of gold around his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. 8 Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation of it. 9 Then king Belshazzar was greatly troubled, and his facial expression was changed in him, and his lords were astonished. 10 Now the queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house, and the queen said, "O king, live forever, don't let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your facial expression be changed, 11 There is a man in your kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods, and in the days of your father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him, whom the king Nebuchadnezzar, your father, the king, I say, your father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers, 12 Since an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation." 13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. And the king said to Daniel, "Are you that Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry? 14 I have even heard of you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in you. 15 And now, the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, so that they should read this writing, and make known to me the interpretation of it, but they could not show the interpretation of the thing, 16 And I have heard of you, that you can make interpretations, and dissolve doubts, now if you can read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation of it, you shall be clothed with red cloth, and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom." 17 Then Daniel answered the king, "Let your gifts be to yourself, and give your rewards to someone else, yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation. 18 O you king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar, your father, a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honor, 19 And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him. Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive, and whom he would, he set up, and whom he would, he put down. 20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him, 21 And he was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys, they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appoints over it whomever he will. 22 And you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, 23 But have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven, and they have brought the containers of his house before you, and you, and your lords, your wives, and your concubines, have drunk wine in them, and you have praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, that don't see, nor hear, nor know, and the God in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your ways, you haven't glorified, 24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him, and this writing was written. 25 And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. 26 This is the interpretation of the thing, MENE, God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it. 27 TEKEL, you are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting. 28 PERES, your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians." 29 Then Belshazzar commanded, and they clothed Daniel with red cloth, and put a chain of gold around his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he was the third ruler in the kingdom. 30 That night, Belshazzar, the king of the Chaldeans, was killed. 31 And Darius, the Median, took the kingdom, being about sixty two years old. ___Daniel chapter 6 1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty princes, who would be over the whole kingdom, 2 And over these, three presidents, of whom Daniel was first, so that the princes would give account to them, and so that the king would have no loss. 3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no occasion nor fault, since he was faithful, nor was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then these men said, "We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God." 6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus to him, "King Darius, live forever. 7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counselors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, except of you, O king, he shall be thrown into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, so it won't be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, that doesn't change." 9 So king Darius signed the writing and the decree. 10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house, his windows being open in his room toward Jerusalem, he kneeled on his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, like he did previously. 11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's decree, "Haven't you signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, except from you, O king, shall be thrown into the den of lions?" The king answered, "The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, that doesn't change." 13 Then they answered the king, "That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, doesn't regard you, O king, nor the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day." 14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was very displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him, and he labored until the going down of the sun to provide deliverance for him. 15 Then these men assembled to the king, and said to the king, "Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, that no decree nor statute that the king establishes can be changed." 16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and threw him into the den of lions. Now the king said to Daniel, "Your God whom you serve continually, he will deliver you." 17 And a stone was brought, and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords, so that the purpose wouldn't be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting, nor were instruments of music brought before him, and he couldn't sleep. 19 Then the king got up very early in the morning, and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice to Daniel, and the king spoke and said to Daniel, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, is your God, whom you serve continually, able to deliver you from the lions?" 21 Then said Daniel to the king, "O king, live forever. 22 My God has sent his angel, and has shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me, since before him innocence was found in me, and also before you, O king, I've done no hurt." 23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of hurt was found on him, because he believed in his God. 24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they threw them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives, and the lions had the mastery of them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever hit the bottom of the den. 25 Then king Darius wrote to all people, nations, and languages, that live in all the earth, "Peace be multiplied to you. 26 I make a decree, that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, and steady forever, and his kingdom is that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall continue until the end. 27 He delivers and rescues, and he works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions." 28 So this Daniel prospered in the rule of Darius, and in the rule of Cyrus the Persian. ___Daniel chapter 7 1 In the first year of Belshazzar, king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head on his bed, then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. 2 Daniel spoke and said, "I saw in my vision by night, and see, the four winds of the heaven fought on the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, different from each other. 4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings, I satched until the wings of it were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand on the feet like a man, and a man's heart was given to it. 5 And, see, another beast, a second, like a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth, and they said thus to it, Arise, devour much flesh. 6 After this I watched, and see another, like a leopard, who had on the back of it four wings of a fowl, the beast had also four heads, and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and see a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and very strong, and it had great iron teeth, it devoured and broke in pieces, and stomped on the remainder with its feet, and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and see, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up roots and all, and see, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. 9 I watched until the thrones were thrown down, and the Ancient of days sat, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool, his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels like burning fire. 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him, thousand thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him, the judgment was set, and the books were opened. 11 I watched then because of the voice of the great words that the horn spoke, I watched even until the beast was killed, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. 12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. 13 I saw in the night visions, and see, someone like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And dominion was given to him, and glory, and a kingdom, so that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him, his dominion is an everlasting dominion, that won't pass away, and his kingdom is that which shall not be destroyed. 15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the middle of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. 16 I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. 17 These great beasts, who are four, are four kings, that shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the most high shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and always. 19 Then I wanted to know the truth of the fourth beast, that was different from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass, who devoured, broke in pieces, and stomped on the remainder with his feet, 20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other that came up, and before whom three fell, even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. 21 I watched, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them, 22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most high, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. 23 Thus he said, the fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom on earth, that shall be different from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. 24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise, and another shall rise after them, and he shall be different from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. 25 And he shall speak great words against the most high, and shall wear out the saints of the most high, and think to change times and laws, and they shall be given into his hand until a time, and times, and the dividing of time. 26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it to the end. 27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most high, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. 28 Until now is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my facial expression changed, but I kept the matter in my heart." ___Daniel chapter 8 1 "In the third year of the rule of king Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, even to me, Daniel, after the one that appeared to me at the first. 2 And I saw in a vision, and it occurred, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam, and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai. 3 Then I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram that had two horns, and the two horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. 4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward, so that no animals could stand before him, nor was there any that could deliver out of his hand, but he did according to his will, and became great. 5 And as I was considering, see, a he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and didn't touch the ground, and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. 6 And he came to the ram that had two horns, that I had seen standing before the river, and ran to him in the fury of his power. 7 And I saw him come close to the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and struck the ram, and broke his two horns, and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he threw him down to the ground, and stomped on him, and there was no one that could deliver the ram out of his hand. 8 Therefore, the he goat grew very great, and when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven. 9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which grew exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. 10 And it grew great, even to the host of heaven, and it threw down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stomped on them. 11 Yes, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was thrown down. 12 And a host was given to him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it threw down the truth to the ground, and it practiced, and prospered. 13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said to that certain saint who spoke, How long shall the vision be concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be walked on under foot? 14 And he said to me, Until two thousand three hundred days, then the sanctuary shall be cleansed. 15 And it occurred, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then see, there stood before me like the appearance of a man. 16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, that called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. 17 So he came near where I stood, and when he came, I was afraid, and fell on my face, but he said to me, understand, O son of man, for the vision shall be at the time of the end. 18 Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground, but he touched me, and set me upright. 19 And he said, see, I will make you know what shall be in the last end of the indignation, for at the time appointed the end shall be. 20 The ram that you saw having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. 21 And the rough goat is the king of Greece, and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. 23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have come to the full, a king of fierce facial expression, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. 24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power, and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. 25 And through his policy also, he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand, and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many, he shall also stand up against the prince of princes, but he shall be broken without hand. 26 And the vision of the evening and the morning that was told is true, so shut up the vision, for it shall be for many days. 27 And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick certain days, afterward I rose up, and did the king's business, and I was astonished at the vision, but no one understood it." ___Daniel chapter 9 1 In the first year of Darius, the son of Ahasuerus, of the descendants of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans, 2 In the first year of his rule, I, Daniel, understood by books the number of the years, from the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. 3 And I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes, 4 And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, "O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to those who love him, and to those who keep his commandments, 5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from your precepts and from your judgments, 6 Nor have we listened to 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. 7 O Lord, righteousness belongs to you, but to us confusion of faces, as at this day, to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries where you have driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against you. 8 O Lord, to us belongs confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. 9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him, 10 Nor have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, that he set before us by his servants the prophets. 11 Yes, all Israel have transgressed your law, even by departing, so that they wouldn't obey your voice, therefore the curse has been poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. 12 And he has confirmed his words, that he spoke against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing on us a great evil, for under the whole heaven has not been done as has been done on Jerusalem. 13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil has come on us, yet we didn't make our prayer before the Lord our God, so that we would turn from our sins, and understand your truth. 14 Therefore the Lord has watched on the evil, and brought it on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works that he does, for we didn't obey his voice. 15 And now, O Lord our God, that has brought your people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have gotten yourself renown, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly. 16 O Lord, according to all your righteousness, I beg of you, let your anger and your fury be turned away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain, because for our sins, and for the sins of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a reproach to all that are around us. 17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of your servant, and his supplications, and cause your face to shine on your sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. 18 O my God, incline your ear, and hear, open your eyes, and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name, for we do not present our supplications before you for our righteousnesses, but for your great mercies. 19 O Lord, hear, O Lord, forgive, O Lord, listen and do, don't defer, for your own sake, O my God, for your city and your people are called by your name." 20 And while I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God, 21 Yes, while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me at about the time of the evening offering. 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, "O Daniel, I've now come forth to give you skill and understanding. 23 At the beginning of your supplications the commandment came forth, and I've come to show you, for you are greatly beloved, therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. 24 Seventy weeks are determined on your people and on your holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for sin, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem until the Messiah, the prince, shall be seven weeks, and sixty two weeks, the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26 And after sixty two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself, and the people of the prince that shall come, shall destroy the city and the sanctuary, and the end of it shall be with a flood, and until the end of the war, desolations are determined. 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week, and in the middle of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to stop, and for the overspreading of detestable things he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and what has been determined shall be poured on the desolate." ___Daniel chapter 10 1 In the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, a thing was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar, and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long, and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. 2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant bread, nor did flesh nor wine come into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, until three whole weeks were fulfilled. 4 And in the twenty fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel, 5 Then I lifted up my eyes, and looked, and see a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz, 6 His body also was like the beryl, and his face like the appearance of lightning, and his eyes like lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet in color like polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. 7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men that were with me didn't see the vision, but a great quaking fell on them, so that they fled to hide themselves. 8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me, for my attractiveness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. 9 Yet I heard the voice of his words, and when I heard the voice of his words, then I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face toward the ground. 10 And see, a hand touched me, that set me on my knees and on the palms of my hands. 11 And he said to me, "O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I am now sent to you." And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood trembling. 12 Then he said to me, "Don't be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to afflict yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I've come because of your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty one days, but see, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I've come to make you understand what shall happen to your people in the latter days, for yet the vision is for many days." 15 And when he had spoken such words to me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb. 16 And see, someone with the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips, then I opened my mouth, and spoke, and said to him that stood before me, "O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned on me, and I have retained no strength. 17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? For as for me, immediately there remained no strength in me, nor is there breath left in me." 18 Then someone like the appearance of a man came again and touched me, and he strengthened me, 19 And said, "O man greatly beloved, don't be afraid, peace be to you, be strong, yes, be strong." And when he had spoken to me, I was strengthened, and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me." 20 Then he said, "Do you know why I come to you? And now I will return to fight with the prince of Persia, and when I've gone forth, see, the prince of Greece shall come. 21 But I will show you that which is noted in the scripture of truth, and there is no one that holds with me in these things, except Michael your prince." ___Daniel chapter 11 1 "Also I, in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him. 2 And now I'll show you the truth. See, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia, and the fourth shall be far richer than all of them, and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece. 3 And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. 4 And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven, and not to his descendants, nor according to his dominion which he ruled, for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those. 5 And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes, and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion, his dominion shall be a great dominion. 6 And at the end of years they shall join themselves together, for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement, but she shall not retain the power of the arm, nor shall he stand, nor his arm, but she shall be given up, and those who brought her, and he that fathered her, and he that strengthened her in these times. 7 But out of a branch of her roots shall someone stand up in his estate, that shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail, 8 And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious containers of silver and of gold, and he shall continue more years than the king of the north. 9 So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land. 10 But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces, and someone shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through, then he shall return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress. 11 And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north, and he shall set forth a great multitude, but the multitude shall be given into his hand. 12 And when he has taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up, and he shall throw down many tens of thousands, but he shall not be strengthened by it. 13 For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the previous multitude, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches. 14 And in those times, there shall many stand up against the king of the south, also the robbers of your people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision, but they shall fall. 15 So the king of the north shall come, and throw up a mount, and take the most fenced cities, and the arms of the south shall not withstand, nor his chosen people, nor shall there be any strength to withstand. 16 But he that comes against him shall do according to his own will, and no one shall stand before him, and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed. 17 He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him, thus shall he do, and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her, but she shall not stand on his side, nor be for him. 18 After this, he shall turn his face to the islands, and shall take many, but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to stop, without his own reproach, he shall cause it to turn on him. 19 Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land, but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found. 20 Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom, but within a few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle. 21 And in his estate shall stand up a filthy person, to whom they shall not give the honor of the kingdom, but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. 22 And with the arms of a flood they'll be overflowed from before him, and shall be broken, yes, also the prince of the covenant. 23 And after the league made with him, he shall work deceitfully, for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. 24 He shall enter peaceably even on the fattest places of the province, and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers, he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches, yes, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time. 25 And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army, and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army, but he shall not stand, for they shall forecast devices against him. 26 Yes, those who feed of the portion of his food shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow, and many shall fall down slain. 27 And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table, but it shall not prosper, for yet the end shall be at the time appointed. 28 Then he shall return into his land with great riches, and his heart shall be against the holy covenant, and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land. 29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south, but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter. 30 For the ships of Chittim shall come against him, therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant, so shall he do, he shall even return, and have intelligence with those who forsake the holy covenant. 31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall put into position the detestable thing that makes desolate. 32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries, but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. 33 And those who understand among the people shall instruct many, yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. 34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help, but many shall stick to them with flatteries. 35 And some of those of understanding shall fall, to test them, and to purge, and to make them white, even until the time of the end, because it is yet for a time appointed. 36 And the king shall do according to his will, and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper until the indignation is accomplished, for what has been determined shall be done. 37 Nor shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god, for he shall magnify himself above all. 38 But in his estate shall he honor the God of forces, and a god whom his fathers didn't know shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. 39 Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory, and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain. 40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him, and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships, and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. 41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown, but these shall escape out of his hand: Edom, and Moab, and the main part of the children of Ammon. 42 He shall stretch forth his hand also on the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt, and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. 44 But news out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him, therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and completely to make away many. 45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain, yet he shall come to his end, and no one shall help him. ___Daniel chapter 12 1 And at that time, Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people, and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation until that same time, and at that time your people shall receive deliverance, everyone that shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and always. 4 But you, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even until the time of the end, many shall run back and forth, and knowledge shall be increased." 5 Then I Daniel looked, and see, there stood two others, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. 6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was on the waters of the river, "How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?" 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was on the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him that lives forever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half, and when he shall have accomplished the scattering of the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished." 8 And I heard, but I didn't understand, then I said, "O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?" 9 And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tested, but the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. 11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the detestable thing that makes desolate set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred ninety days. 12 Blessed is he that waits, and comes to the thousand three hundred thirty five days. 13 But go you your way until the end is, for you shall rest, and stand in your lot at the end of the days. ___Hosea chapter 1 1 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. 2 The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea. And the Lord said to Hosea, "Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms, for the land has committed great whoredom, departing from the Lord." 3 So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, who conceived, and bore him a son. 4 And the Lord said to him, "Call his name Jezreel, for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel on the house of Jehu, and will cause to stop the kingdom of the house of Israel. 5 And it shall happen at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel." 6 And she conceived again, and bore a daughter. And God said to him, "Call her name Loruhamah, for I will no more have mercy on the house of Israel, but I will completely take them away. 7 But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and will save them by the Lord their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen." 8 Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bore a son. 9 Then God said, "Call his name Loammi, for you are not my people, and I will not be your God. 10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, that can't be measured nor numbered, and it shall occur that in the place where it was said to them, you are not my people, there it shall be said to them, you are the sons of the living God. 11 Then the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land, for the day of Jezreel shall be great." ___Hosea chapter 2 1 "Say you to your brothers, Ammi, and to your sisters, Ruhamah. 2 Plead with your mother, plead, for she is not my wife, nor am I her husband, let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts, 3 So that I don't strip her naked, and set her like in the day that she was born, and make her like a wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and kill her with thirst. 4 And I will not have mercy on her children, for they are the children of whoredoms. 5 For their mother has played the harlot, she that conceived them has done shamefully, for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink. 6 Therefore, see, I will hedge up your way with thorns, and make a wall, so that she won't find her paths. 7 And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them, and she shall seek them, but shall not find them, then she shall say, I will go and return to my first husband, for then it was better with me than now. 8 For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal. 9 Therefore I will return, and take away my corn in the time of it, and my wine in the season of it, and will recover my wool and my flax given to cover her nakedness. 10 And now I will discover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and no one shall deliver her out of my hand. 11 I will also cause all her mirth to stop, her feast days, her new moons, and her Sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts. 12 And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, about which she has said, these are my rewards that my lovers have given me, and I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them. 13 And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, in which she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgot me, says the Lord. 14 Therefore, see, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably to her. 15 And I will give her her vineyards from there, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope, and she shall sing there, like in the days of her youth, and like in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. 16 And it shall be at that day, says the Lord, that you'll call me Ishi, and shall no more call me Baali. 17 For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name. 18 And on that day, I'll make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground, and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them lie down safely. 19 And I will betroth you to me forever, yes, I'll betroth you to me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving kindness, and in mercies. 20 I will even betroth you to me in faithfulness, and you'll know the Lord. 21 And it shall occur on that day, I will hear, says the Lord, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth, 22 And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil, and they shall hear Jezreel. 23 And I will plant her to me in the earth, and I will have mercy on her that had not obtained mercy, and I will say to those who were not my people, you are my people, and they shall say, you are my God." ___Hosea chapter 3 1 Then the Lord said to me, "Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the Lord toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine." 2 So I bought her for myself for fifteen pieces of silver, and for one and one half homers of barley, 3 And I said to her, "You shall abide for me many days, you shall not play the harlot, and you shall not be for another man, so will I also be for you." 4 For the children of Israel shall live many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim, 5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days. ___Hosea chapter 4 1 Hear the word of the Lord, you children of Israel, for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. 2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood touches blood. 3 Therefore the land shall mourn, and everyone that lives in it shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, yes, the fish of the sea also shall be taken away. 4 Yet let no man strive, nor reprove someone else, for your people are like those who strive with the priest. 5 Therefore you'll fall during the day, and the prophet also shall fall with you at night, and I will destroy your mother. 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, because you've rejected knowledge, I'll also reject you, so that you'll be no priest to me. Since you've forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. 7 As they were increased, so they sinned against me, therefore will I change their glory into shame. 8 They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their sin. 9 And there shall be, like people, like priest, and I will punish them for their ways, and repay them for their doings. 10 For they shall eat and not have enough, they'll commit whoredom, and shall not increase, because they've left off to pay attention to the Lord. 11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart. 12 My people ask advice from their stocks, and their staff declares to them, for the spirit of whoredoms has caused them to err, and they've gone whoring from under their God. 13 They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow of them is good, therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery. 14 I won't punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery, for they themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with prostitutes, therefore the people that do not understand shall fall. 15 Though you, Israel, play the harlot, yet let Judah not offend, and don't go to Gilgal, and don't go up to Bethaven, nor swear "The Lord lives." 16 For Israel slides back like a backsliding young cow, now the Lord will feed them like a lamb in a large place. 17 Ephraim has joined up with idols, let him alone. 18 Their drink is sour, they've committed whoredom continually, her rulers love with shame, give ye. 19 The wind has bound her up in her wings, and they'll be ashamed because of their sacrifices. ___Hosea chapter 5 1 Hear this, O priests, and listen, you house of Israel, and give ear, O house of the king, for judgment is facing you, because you've been a trap on Mizpah, and a net spread on Tabor. 2 And the revolters are profound to make slaughter, though I've been a reprimander of them all. 3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me, for now, O Ephraim, you commit whoredom, and Israel is defiled. 4 They will not arrange their doings to turn to their God, for the spirit of whoredoms is among them, and they haven't known the Lord. 5 And the pride of Israel testifies to his face, therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their sin, Judah also shall fall with them. 6 They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the Lord, but they won't find him, he has withdrawn himself from them. 7 They've dealt treacherously against the Lord, for they have begotten strange children, now a month shall devour them with their portions. 8 Blow the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah, cry out loud at Bethaven, after you, O Benjamin. 9 Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of reprimand, among the tribes of Israel I've made known what shall surely be. 10 The princes of Judah were like those who remove the boundary, therefore I'll pour out my anger on them like water. 11 Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment. 12 Therefore will I be to Ephraim like a moth, and to the house of Judah like rottenness. 13 When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then Ephraim went to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb, yet he couldn't heal you, nor cure you of your wound. 14 For I will be to Ephraim like a lion, and like a young lion to the house of Judah, I, even I, will tear and go away, I will take away, and no one shall rescue him. 15 I will go and return to my place, until they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face, in their affliction they'll seek me early. ___Hosea chapter 6 1 Come, and let us return to the Lord, for he has torn and he will heal us, he has struck and he will bandage us. 2 After two days he'll revive us, on the third day he'll raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. 3 Then we'll know, if we follow on to know the Lord, his going out is prepared like the morning, and he'll come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth. 4 O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? O Judah, what shall I do to you? For your goodness is like a morning cloud, and like the early dew it goes away. 5 Therefore I've cut them by the prophets, I've killed them by the words of my mouth, and your judgments are like the light that goes out. 6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. 7 But they, like men, have transgressed the covenant, they have dealt treacherously against me there. 8 Gilead is a city of those who sin, and is polluted with blood. 9 And like troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent, for they commit lewdness. 10 I've seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel, the whoredom of Ephraim is there, Israel is defiled. 11 Also, O Judah, he has set a harvest for you, when I returned the captivity of my people. ___Hosea chapter 7 1 When I would have healed Israel, then the sin of Ephraim was uncovered, and the wickedness of Samaria, for they commit falsehood, and the thief comes in, and the troop of robbers spoils outside. 2 And they don't consider in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness, now their own doings have surrounded them, they are before my face. 3 They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies. 4 They are all adulterers, like an oven heated by the baker, who stops from raising after he has kneaded the dough, until it's leavened. 5 In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine, he stretched out his hand with scorners. 6 For they've made their heart ready like an oven, while they lie in wait, their baker sleeps all night, in the morning it burns like a flaming fire. 7 They are all hot like an oven, and have devoured their judges, all their kings have fallen, there is no one among them that calls to me. 8 Ephraim, he has mixed himself among the people, Ephraim is a pancake that doesn't get flipped over. 9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he doesn't know it, yes, gray hairs are here and there on him, but he doesn't know it. 10 And the pride of Israel testifies to his face, and they don't return to the Lord their God, nor seek him for all of this. 11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart, they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. 12 When they shall go, I'll spread my net on them, I'll bring them down like the fowls of the heaven, I'll chastise them, like their congregation has heard. 13 Woe to them! For they've fled from me, destruction to them! Because they've transgressed against me, though I've redeemed them, yet they've spoken lies against me. 14 And they haven't cried to me with their heart, when they howled on their beds, they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me. 15 Though I've bandaged and strengthened their arms, yet they imagine mischief against me. 16 They return, but not to the most high, they are like a deceitful bow, their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue, this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt. ___Hosea chapter 8 1 Set the trumpet to your mouth. He shall come like an eagle against the house of the Lord, because they've transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law. 2 Israel shall cry to me, "My God, we know you." 3 Israel has thrown off the thing that is good, the enemy shall pursue him. 4 They have set up kings, but not by me, they have made princes, and I didn't know it, they've they made themselves idols out of their silver and their gold, so that they'll be cut off. 5 Your calf, O Samaria, has thrown you away, my anger is kindled against them, how long will it be before they become innocent? 6 For it was from Israel also, the workman made it, therefore it is not God, but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces. 7 For they've planted the wind, and they shall harvest the whirlwind, it has no stalk, the bud shall yield no meal, if it does yield anything, the strangers shall swallow it up. 8 Israel has been swallowed up, now they'll be among the Gentiles like a container in which is no pleasure. 9 For they've gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself, Ephraim has hired lovers. 10 Yes, though they have hired among the nations, now I'll gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes. 11 Because Ephraim has made many altars to sin, altars shall be for him to sin. 12 I've written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted like a strange thing. 13 They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of my offerings, and eat it, but the Lord doesn't accept them, now he'll remember their sin, and visit their sins, they'll return to Egypt. 14 For Israel has forgotten his maker, and builds temples, and Judah has multiplied fenced cities, but I'll send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces of it. ___Hosea chapter 9 1 Don't rejoice, O Israel, for joy, like other people, for you've gone whoring from your God, you have loved a bribe on every corn floor. 2 The floor and the winepress won't feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her. 3 They won't live in the Lord's land, but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they'll eat unclean things in Assyria. 4 They won't offer wine offerings to the Lord, nor shall they be pleasing to him, their sacrifices shall be to them like the bread of mourners, all that eat of it shall be polluted, for their bread that is for their soul shall not come into the house of the Lord. 5 What will you do in the solemn day, and in the day of the feast of the Lord? 6 For see, they've gone because of destruction, Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them, the pleasant places for their silver, nettles shall possess them, thorns shall be in their tents. 7 The days of visitation have come, the days of repayment have come, Israel shall know it, the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is insane, for the multitude of your sins, and the great hatred. 8 The watchman of Ephraim was with my God, but the prophet is a trap of a bird catcher in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God. 9 They've deeply corrupted themselves, like in the days of Gibeah, therefore he'll remember their sin, he will visit their sins. 10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness, I saw your fathers like the first ripe in the fig tree at her first time, but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves to that shame, and their detestable things were according as they loved. 11 As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception. 12 Though they bring up their children, yet I'll bereave them, so that there won't be a man left, yes, woe also to them when I depart from them! 13 Ephraim, like I saw Tyrus, is planted in a pleasant place, but Ephraim shall bring out his children to the murderer. 14 Give them, O Lord, what will you give? Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts. 15 All their wickedness is in Gilgal, for I hated them there, for the wickedness of their doings I'll drive them out of my house, I will love them no more, all their princes are revolters. 16 Ephraim has been struck, their root has dried up, they won't bear any fruit, yes, though they bring forth, yet I'll kill even the beloved fruit of their womb. 17 My God will throw them away, because they didn't listen to him, and they'll be wanderers among the nations. ___Hosea chapter 10 1 Israel is an empty vine, he produces fruit for himself, according to the multitude of his fruit he has increased the altars, according to the goodness of his land they've made goodly images. 2 Their heart is divided, now they'll be found faulty, he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images. 3 For now they'll say, "We have no king, because we didn't fear the Lord, what then should a king do to us?" 4 They've spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant, thus judgment springs up like hemlock in the furrows of the field. 5 The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven, for the people of it shall mourn over it, and the priests of it that rejoiced on it, for the glory of it, because it had departed from it. 6 It shall also be carried to Assyria for a present to king Jareb, Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own advice. 7 As for Samaria, her king has been cut off like the foam on the water. 8 The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed, the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars, and they shall say to the mountains, cover us, and to the hills, fall on us. 9 O Israel, you've sinned from the days of Gibeah, they stood there, the battle in Gibeah against the children of sin didn't overtake them. 10 It is in my desire that I should chastise them, and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall bind themselves in their two furrows. 11 And Ephraim is like a heifer that is taught, and loves to tread out the corn, but I passed over on her fair neck, I will make Ephraim to ride, Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods. 12 Plant to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy, break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and rains righteousness on you. 13 You've plowed wickedness, you've reaped sin, you've eaten the fruit of lies, because you trusted in your way, in the multitude of your mighty men. 14 Therefore a tumult shall arise among your people, and all your fortresses shall be spoiled, like Shalman spoiled Betharbel in the day of battle, the mother was smashed in pieces upon her children. 15 So shall Bethel do to you because of your great wickedness, in a morning, the king of Israel shall completely be cut off. ___Hosea chapter 11 1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. 2 As they called them, so they went from them, they sacrificed to Baalim, and burned incense to engraved images. 3 I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms, but they didn't know that I healed them. 4 I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love, and I was to them like those who take off the yoke from their jaws, and I gave food to them. 5 He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return. 6 And the sword shall remain on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own advice. 7 And my people are bent to backsliding from me, though they called them to the most high, no one at all would exalt him. 8 How shall I give you up, Ephraim? How shall I give you deliverance, Israel? How shall I make you like Admah? How shall I set you as Zeboim? My heart has turned inside me, my repentings are kindled together. 9 I will not execute the fierceness of my anger, I won't return to destroy Ephraim, for I am God, and not man, the Holy one among you, and I won't enter into the city. 10 They shall walk after the Lord, he shall roar like a lion, when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west. 11 They shall tremble like a bird out of Egypt, and like a dove out of the land of Assyria, and I'll place them in their houses, says the Lord. 12 Ephraim surrounds me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit, but Judah yet rules with God, and is faithful with the saints. ___Hosea chapter 12 1 Ephraim feeds on wind, and pursues the east wind, he increases lies and desolation daily, and they make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt. 2 The Lord also has a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways, he will repay him according to his doings. 3 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God, 4 Yes, he had power over the angel, and prevailed, he wept, and made supplication to him, he found him in Bethel, and there he spoke with us, 5 Even the Lord God of hosts, the Lord is his memorial. 6 Therefore turn to your God, keep mercy and judgment, and wait on your God continually. 7 He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand, he loves to oppress. 8 And Ephraim said, "Yet I've become rich, I've found myself substance, in all my labors they won't find any iniquity in me that is sin." 9 And I that am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt will yet make you to live in tents, like in the days of the solemn feast. 10 I've also spoken by the prophets, and I've multiplied visions, and used likenesses, by the ministry of the prophets. 11 Is there sin in Gilead? Surely they are vanity, they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal, yes, their altars are like heaps in the furrows of the fields. 12 And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep. 13 And by a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved. 14 Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly, therefore he'll leave his blood on him, and his Lord shall return to him his reproach. ___Hosea chapter 13 1 When Ephraim trembled as he spoke, he exalted himself in Israel, but when he offended with Baal, he died. 2 And now they sin more and more, and have made for themselves images from their silver, by casting in the foundry, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen, they say about them, "Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves." 3 Therefore they shall be like the morning cloud, and like the early dew that passes away, like the chaff that gets driven by the whirlwind out of the floor, and like the smoke out of the chimney. 4 Yet I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt, and you'll know no god but me, for there is no savior beside me. 5 I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. 6 According to their pasture, so they were filled. They were filled, and their heart was exalted, therefore they've forgotten me. 7 Therefore I will be to them like a lion, I'll observe them like a leopard by the road, 8 I'll meet them like a bear that's been robbed of her whelps, and will tear the caul of their heart, and I'll devour them there like a lion, the wild beast shall tear them. 9 O Israel, you've destroyed yourself, but in me is your help. 10 I will be your king, where is any other that can save you in all your cities? And your judges about whom you said, "Give me a king and princes"? 11 I gave you a king in my anger, and took him away in my anger. 12 The sin of Ephraim is bound up, his sin is hidden. 13 The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come on him, he is an unwise son, for he shouldn't stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children. 14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave, I will redeem them from death, O death, I will be your plagues, O grave, I will be your destruction, repentance shall be hidden from my eyes. 15 Though he is fruitful among his brothers, an east wind shall come, the wind of the Lord shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up, he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant containers. 16 Samaria shall become desolate, for she has rebelled against her God, they shall fall by the sword, their infants shall be smashed to pieces, and their pregnant women shall be ripped up. ___Hosea chapter 14 1 O Israel, return to the Lord your God, for you've fallen by your sin. 2 Take with you words, and turn to the Lord, say to him, "Take away all sin, and receive us graciously, so we will give the calves of our lips." 3 Asshur shall not save us, we will not ride on horses, nor will we say anymore to the work of our hands, "You are our gods, for in you the fatherless finds mercy." 4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for my anger has turned away from him. 5 I will be like the dew to Israel, he shall grow like the lily, and put out his roots like Lebanon. 6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be like the olive tree, and his smell like Lebanon. 7 Those who live under his shadow shall return, they'll revive like the corn, and grow like the vine, the scent of it shall be like the wine of Lebanon. 8 Ephraim shall say, "What do I have to do with idols anymore?" I've heard him, and observed him, I am like a green fir tree. Your fruit is found from me. 9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? Prudent, and he shall know them? For the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them, but the transgressors shall fall in it. ___Joel chapter 1 1 The word of the Lord that came to Joel the son of Pethuel. 2 Hear this, you old men, and listen, all you inhabitants of the land. Has this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers? 3 Tell your children about it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. 4 That which the palmerworm has left, the locust has eaten, and that which the locust has left, the canker worm has eaten, and that which the canker worm has left the caterpillar has eaten. 5 Awake you drunkards, and cry, and howl, all you drinkers of wine, because of the new wine, for it is not available to your mouth. 6 For a nation has come up on my land, strong, and uncountable, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he has the cheek teeth of a large lion. 7 He has laid my vine waste, and debarked my fig tree, he has made it completely bare, and thrown it away, the branches of it have been made white. 8 Lament like a virgin clothed with sackcloth for the husband of her youth. 9 The meat offering and the drink offering have been cut off from the house of the Lord, the priests, the Lord's ministers, mourn. 10 The field has become wasted, the land mourns, for the corn has become wasted, the new wine has been dried up, the oil languishes. 11 Be ashamed O you farmers, howl, O you vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley, because the harvest of the field has perished. 12 The vine has become dried up, and the fig tree languishes, the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field are withered, because joy has withered away from the sons of men. 13 Dress yourselves and lament you priests, howl, you ministers of the altar, come, lie all night in burlap, you ministers of my God, for the meat offering and the drink offering have been withheld from the house of your God. 14 Make holy a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry to the Lord, 15 Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is at hand, and it shall come like a destruction from the Almighty. 16 Isn't the meat cut off before our eyes, yes, joy and gladness from the house of our God? 17 The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down, for the corn has withered. 18 Look at how the animals groan! The herds of cattle are perplexed because they have no pasture, yes, the flocks of sheep have been made desolate. 19 "O Lord, to you I'll cry, for the fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame has burned all the trees of the field. 20 The beasts of the field also cry to you, for the rivers of waters have dried up, and the fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness." ___Joel chapter 2 1 Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain, let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord comes, for it is close at hand, 2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, like the morning spread on the mountains, a great people and a strong, there has never been the like, nor shall there be after it anymore, even to the years of many generations. 3 A fire devours before them, and behind them a flame burns, the land is like the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness, yes, and nothing shall escape them. 4 The appearance of them is like the appearance of horses, and like horsemen, so they shall run. 5 They'll leap like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains, like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, like a strong people set in battle array. 6 Before their face, the people shall be much pained, all faces shall gather blackness. 7 They shall run like mighty men, they shall climb the wall like men of war, and each of them shall march on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks, 8 Nor shall they push each other, they shall walk every one in his path, and when they fall on the sword, they won't be wounded. 9 They shall run back and forth in the city, they shall run on the wall, they shall climb up on the houses, they shall enter into the windows like a burglar. 10 The earth shall quake before them, the heavens shall tremble, the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining, 11 And the Lord shall speak his voice before his army, for his camp is very great, for he is strong that executes his word, for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible, and who can survive it? 12 Therefore also now, says the Lord, turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning, 13 And tear your heart, not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and has changed his mind about the evil. 14 Who knows if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him, even a meat offering and a drink offering to the Lord your God? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, make holy a fast, call a solemn assembly, 16 Gather the people, make the congregation holy, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those who suck the breasts, let the bridegroom go out of his room, and the bride out of her closet. 17 Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, cry between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare your people, O Lord, and don't give your heritage to reproach, so that the heathen will rule over them, so they would say among the people, where is their God? 18 Then the Lord will be jealous for his land, and pity his people. 19 Yes, the Lord will answer and say to his people, see, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and you'll be satisfied with that, and I won't again make you a reproach among the heathen, 20 But I'll remove the northern army far off from you, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his rear end toward the farthest sea, and his stink shall come up, and his bad odor shall come up, because he has done great things. 21 Don't be afraid, O land, be glad and rejoice, for the Lord will do great things. 22 Don't be afraid, you animals of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness spring up water, for the tree bears its fruit, the fig tree and the vine yield their strength. 23 Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. 24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. 25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten, the canker worm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army that I sent among you. 26 And you'll eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God that has dealt wondrously with you, and my people shall never be ashamed. 27 And you'll know that I am among Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and no one else, and my people shall never be ashamed. 28 And it shall occur afterward, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions, 29 And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days, I will pour out my spirit. 30 And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord comes. 32 And whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered, for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, like the Lord has said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call. ___Joel chapter 3 1 For see, in those days, and at that time, when I undo the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and divided my land. 3 And they have drawn straws for my people, and have given a boy for a prostitute, and sold a girl for wine, so that they can drink. 4 Yes, and what do you have to do with me, O Tyre and Zidon, and all the borders of Palestine? Will you give me a repayment? And if you repay me, swiftly and speedily, I'll return your repayment on your own head, 5 Because you've taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly, pleasant things, 6 You've also sold the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem to the Greeks, so that you could remove them far from their border. 7 See, I will raise them out of the place where you've sold them, and will return your repayment on your own head, 8 And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off, for the Lord has spoken it. 9 Proclaim this among the Gentiles, prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war come near, let them come up, 10 Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears, let the weak say, I am strong. 11 Assemble yourselves, and come, all you heathen, and gather yourselves all around, cause your mighty ones to come down there, O Lord. 12 Let the heathen be awakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, for I will sit to judge all the heathen around there. 13 Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe, come, get down, for the press is full, the vats overflow, for their wickedness is great. 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision, for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. 15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall stop their shining. 16 The Lord shall also roar out of Zion, and speak his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shall shake, but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. 17 So you'll know that I am the Lord your God living in Zion, my holy mountain, then Jerusalem shall be holy, and no strangers shall pass through her anymore. 18 And in that day, the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come out of the house of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim. 19 Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. 20 But Judah shall live forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. 21 For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed, for the Lord lives in Zion. ___Amos chapter 1 1 The words of Amos, who was among the herdsmen of Tekoa, that he saw 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. 2 And he said, "The Lord will roar from Zion, and speak his voice from Jerusalem, and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither." 3 Thus says the Lord, "For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I won't turn away the punishment of it, because they've threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron, 4 But I'll send a fire into the house of Hazael, that will devour the palaces of Benhadad. 5 I'll also break the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and him that holds the scepter from the house of Eden, and the people of Syria shall go into captivity to Kir," says the Lord. 6 Thus says the Lord, "For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I won't turn away the punishment of it, because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them to Edom, 7 But I'll send a fire on the wall of Gaza, that will devour the palaces of it, 8 And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holds the scepter from Ashkelon, and I will turn my hand against Ekron, and the remnant of the Philistines shall die, says the Lord God." 9 Thus says the Lord, "For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I won't turn away the punishment of it, because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and didn't remember the brotherly covenant, 10 But I'll send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, that will devour the palaces of it." 11 Thus says the Lord, "For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I won't turn away the punishment of it, because he pursued his brother with the sword, and threw away all pity, and his anger tore perpetually, and he kept his anger forever, 12 But I'll send a fire on Teman, that will devour the palaces of Bozrah." 13 Thus says the Lord, "For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I won't turn away the punishment of it, because they have ripped up the pregnant women of Gilead, so they could enlarge their border, 14 But I'll kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces of it, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind, 15 And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together," says the Lord. ___Amos chapter 2 1 Thus says the Lord, "For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I won't turn away the punishment of it, because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime, 2 But I'll send a fire on Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth, and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet, 3 And I'll cut off the judge from the middle of it, and will kill all the princes of it with him," says the Lord. 4 Thus says the Lord, "For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I won't turn away the punishment of it, because they've despised the law of the Lord, and haven't kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after which their fathers have walked, 5 But I'll send a fire on Judah, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem." 6 Thus says the Lord, "For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I won't turn away the punishment of it, because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes, 7 That pant for the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek, and a man and his father will go in to the same maid, to profane my holy name, 8 And they lay themselves down on clothes that are security deposits by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god. 9 Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks, yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath. 10 Also, I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and led you forty years through the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite. 11 And I raised up from your sons for prophets, and from your young men for Nazarites. Is it not just like that, O you children of Israel?" Says the Lord. 12 "But you gave the Nazarites wine to drink, and commanded the prophets, Don't prophesy. 13 See, I am pressed under you, like a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves. 14 Therefore the escape shall go away from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, nor shall the mighty deliver himself, 15 Nor shall he stand that handles the bow, and he that is swift of foot won't deliver himself, nor shall he that rides the horse deliver himself. 16 And he that is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked on that day," says the Lord. ___Amos chapter 3 1 "Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, 2 I've known only you of all the families of the earth, therefore I'll punish you for all your sins. 3 Can two walk together, unless they're in agreement? 4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Will a young lion cry out of his den, if he's taken nothing? 5 Can a bird fall into a trap on the earth, where there's no trap for him? Shall someone take up a trap from the earth, and have caught nothing at all? 6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord has not done it? 7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets. 8 The lion has roared, who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken, who can but prophesy? 9 Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria, and see the great tumults in the middle of it, and the oppressed in the middle of it. 10 For they don't know to do right, says the Lord, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces. 11 Therefore thus says the Lord God, there shall be an adversary around the land, and he shall bring down your strength from you, and your palaces shall be spoiled. 12 Thus says the Lord, as the shepherd takes out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the children of Israel be taken out that live in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch. 13 Hear, and testify in the house of Jacob, says the Lord God, the God of hosts, 14 That on the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel on him I'll also visit the altars of Bethel, and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and they'll fall to the ground. 15 And I'll strike the winter house with the summer house, and the houses of ivory shall be destroyed, and the great houses shall have an end," says the Lord. ___Amos chapter 4 1 "Hear this word, you kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink. 2 The Lord God has sworn by his holiness, that see, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your descendants with fishhooks. 3 And you'll go out at the breaches, every cow at what is before her, and you'll throw them into the palace," says the Lord. 4 "Come to Bethel, and transgress, at Gilgal multiply transgression, and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years, 5 And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings, for you like this, O you children of Israel," says the Lord God. 6 "And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and lack of bread in all your places, yet you haven't returned to me," says the Lord. 7 "And also I've withheld the rain from you, when there were yet three months until the harvest, and I caused it to rain on one city, and caused it not to rain on another city, one piece was rained on, and the piece on which it didn't rain withered. 8 So two or three cities wandered to one city, to drink water, but they were not satisfied, yet you haven't returned to me," says the Lord. 9 "I have struck you with blasting and mildew, when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them, yet you haven't returned to me," says the Lord. 10 "I've sent among you the pestilence like in Egypt, I've killed your young men with the sword, and have taken away your horses, and I've made the stink of your camps to come up to your nostrils, yet you haven't returned to me," says the Lord. 11 "I've overthrown some of you, like God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a firebrand plucked out of the burning, yet you haven't returned to me," says the Lord. 12 "Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel, and because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel. 13 For see, he that forms the mountains, and creates the wind, and declares to man what he is thinking, that makes the morning darkness, and treads on the high places of the earth, the Lord, the God of hosts, is his name." ___Amos chapter 5 1 Hear this word that I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel. 2 The virgin of Israel has fallen, she shall rise no more, she's been forsaken on her land, there is no one to raise her up. 3 For thus says the Lord God, "The city that went out by a thousand shall leave a hundred, and what went out by a hundred shall leave ten, to the house of Israel." 4 For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel, "Seek me, and you shall live, 5 But don't seek Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and don't pass to Beersheba, for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nothing. 6 Seek the Lord, and you'll live, so he doesn't break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be no one to quench it in Bethel. 7 You who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off with righteousness in the earth, 8 Seek him that makes the seven stars and Orion, and turns the shadow of death into the morning, and makes the day dark with night, that calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the face of the earth, the Lord is his name, 9 That strengthens the spoiled against the strong, so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress. 10 They hate him that reprimands in the gate, and they abhor him that speaks uprightly. 11 Since therefore you are trampling poor, and you take from him burdens of wheat, you've built houses of cut stone, but you won't live in them, you've planted pleasant vineyards, but you won't drink wine from them. 12 For I know your many transgressions and your mighty sins, they afflict the righteous, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their rights. 13 Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time, for it is an evil time. 14 Seek good, and not evil, so that you'll live, and so that the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with you, like you've said. 15 Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish justice in the gate, it may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph." 16 Therefore the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord, says thus, "Wailing shall be in all streets, and they'll say in all the highways, alas!, alas! And they'll call the farmer to mourning, and such as are skillful at lamentation to wailing. 17 And in all vineyards there'll be wailing, for I will pass through you," says the Lord. 18 "Woe to you that desire the day of the Lord! To what end is it for you? The day of the Lord is darkness, and not light. 19 As if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him, or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a snake bit him. 20 Won't the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light? Even very dark, and no brightness in it? 21 I hate, I despise your feast days, and I won't smell in your solemn assemblies. 22 Though you offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I won't accept them, nor will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. 23 Take away from me the noise of your songs, for I won't listen to the melody of your stringed instruments. 24 But let judgment run down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream. 25 Have you offered to me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? 26 But you've carried the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun, your images, the star of your god, that you made for yourselves. 27 Therefore I'll cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus," says the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts. ___Amos chapter 6 1 Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, that are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came! 2 Pass to Calneh, and see, and from there go to Hamath the great, then go down to Gath of the Philistines, are they better than these kingdoms? Or their border greater than your border? 3 You that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near, 4 That lie on beds of ivory, and stretch themselves on their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the middle of the stall, 5 That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of music, like David, 6 That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments, but they aren't grieved for the affliction of Joseph. 7 Therefore now they'll go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of those who stretched themselves shall be removed. 8 The Lord God has sworn by himself, says the Lord the God of hosts, I hate the excellence of Jacob, and hate his palaces, therefore I'll deliver up the city with all that is in it. 9 And it shall happen that if ten men remain in one house, that they'll die. 10 And a man's uncle shall take him up, and he that burns him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say to him that is by the sides of the house, are there any more with you? And he shall say, No. Then he'll say, hold your tongue, for we may not make mention of the name of the Lord. 11 For see, the Lord commands, and he will strike the great house with holes, and the little house with clefts. 12 Shall horses run on the rock? Will someone plow there with oxen? For you've turned justice into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock, 13 You who rejoice in a thing of nothing, who say, haven't we taken to us horns by our own strength? 14 But see, I'll raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, says the Lord the God of hosts, and they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath to the river of the wilderness. ___Amos chapter 7 1 Thus has the Lord God shown me, and see, he formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth, and see, it was the latter growth after the king's mowings. 2 And it occurred that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, "O Lord God, forgive, I beg of you, by whom shall Jacob arise? For he is small." 3 The Lord repented for this, "It shall not be," says the Lord. 4 Thus has the Lord God shown me, and see, the Lord God called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and ate up a part. 5 Then I said, "O Lord God, stop, I beg of you, by whom shall Jacob arise? For he is small." 6 The Lord repented for this, "This also shall not be," says the Lord God. 7 Thus he showed me, and see, the Lord stood on a wall made by a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. 8 And the Lord said to me, "Amos, what do you see?" And I said, "A plumb line." Then said the Lord, "See, I'll set a plumb line among my people Israel, I won't pass by them again anymore, 9 And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste, and I'll rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword." 10 Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent to Jeroboam, king of Israel, and said, "Amos has conspired against you in the middle of the house of Israel, the land is not able to bear all his words. 11 For this is what Amos says, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land." 12 Also, Amaziah said to Amos, "O you seer, go, flee away into the land of Judah, and eat bread there, and prophesy there, 13 But don't prophesy again anymore at Bethel, for it is the king's chapel, and it is the king's court." 14 Then Amos answered Amaziah, "I was no prophet, nor was I a prophet's son, but I was a herdsman, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit, 15 And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said to me, go, prophesy to my people Israel. 16 Now therefore hear the word of the Lord, you say, don't prophesy against Israel, and don't drop your word against the house of Isaac. 17 Therefore thus says the Lord, your wife shall be a prostitute in the city, and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be divided by line, and you'll die in a polluted land, and Israel shall surely go into captivity out of his land." ___Amos chapter 8 1 Thus has the Lord God showed me, and see a basket of summer fruit. 2 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 on my people of Israel, I won't pass by them again anymore. 3 And the songs of the temple shall be howlings on that day, says the Lord God, there shall be many dead bodies in every place, they shall throw them out in silence. 4 Hear this, O you that swallow up the needy, to make the poor of the land to fail, 5 Saying, when will the new moon be gone, so that we can sell corn? And the Sabbath, so that we can put out wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel large, and falsifying the balances by deceit? 6 So that we can buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes, yes, and sell the worst of the wheat? 7 The Lord has sworn by the excellence of Jacob, surely I will never forget any of their works. 8 Shall the land not tremble for this, and everyone mourn that lives in it? And it shall rise up completely like a flood, and it shall be thrown out and drowned, like by the flood of Egypt. 9 And it shall happen on that day, says the Lord God, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth during the clear day, 10 And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation, and I will bring up sackcloth on all midsections, and baldness on every head, and I will make it like the mourning for an only son, and the end of it like a bitter day. 11 See, the days come, says the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord, 12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run back and forth to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it. 13 On that day the fair virgins and young men shall faint for thirst. 14 Those who swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, your god, O Dan, lives, and, the manner of Beersheba lives, they shall fall, and never rise up again." ___Amos chapter 9 1 I saw the Lord standing on the altar, and he said, "Strike the lintel of the door, so that the posts will shake, and cut them in the head, all of them, and I will kill the last of them with the sword, he that flees of them shall not flee away, and he that escapes of them shall not get deliverance. 2 Though they dig into hell, my hand shall take them there, though they climb up to heaven, from there I'll bring them down, 3 And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out of there, and though they're hidden from my sight at the bottom of the sea, I'll command the serpent there, and he'll bite them, 4 And though they go into captivity before their enemies, I'll command the sword there, and it shall kill them, and I will set my eyes on them for evil, and not for good. 5 And the Lord God of hosts is he that touches the land, and it shall melt, and all that live in it shall mourn, and it shall rise up completely like a flood, and shall be drowned, like by the flood of Egypt. 6 It is he that builds his stories in the heaven, and has founded his battalion on the earth, he that calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the face of the earth, the Lord is his name. 7 Aren't you like children of the Ethiopians to me, O children of Israel? Says the Lord. Haven't I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt? And the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir? 8 See, the eyes of the Lord God are on the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth, except that I won't completely destroy the house of Jacob, says the Lord. 9 For see, I'll command, and I'll sift the house of Israel among all nations, like corn is sifted in a sieve, yet the least grain shall not fall on the ground. 10 All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, who say, the evil shall not overtake nor go before us. 11 On that day I'll raise up the tabernacle of David that has fallen, and close up the holes of it, and I'll raise up his ruins, and I'll build it like in the days of old, 12 So they can possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, who are called by my name, says the Lord that does this. 13 See, the days come, says the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that plants seed, and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. 14 And I will undo the captivity of my people of Israel, and they'll build the waste cities, and inhabit them, and they'll plant vineyards, and drink the wine of them, they'll also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. 15 And I will plant them on their land, and they'll no more be pulled up out of their land that I've given them, says the Lord your God." ___Obadiah 1 The vision of Obadiah. The Lord God says this about Edom: "We've heard a rumor from the Lord, and an ambassador has been sent among the heathen, get up, and let's rise up against her in battle. 2 See, I've made you small among the heathen, you are greatly despised. 3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, you that live in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high, that says in his heart, who shall bring me down to the ground? 4 Though you exalt yourself like the eagle, and though you set your nest among the stars, I'll bring you down from there, says the Lord. 5 If thieves came to you, if robbers at night, (how are you cut off!), wouldn't they have stolen until they had enough? If the grape gatherers came to you, wouldn't they leave some grapes? 6 How are the things of Esau searched out! How are his hidden things sought out! 7 All the men of your confederacy have brought you to the border, the men that were at peace with you have deceived you, and prevailed against you, those who eat your bread have laid a wound under you, there is no understanding in him. 8 In that day, says the Lord, shouldn't I destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mountain of Esau? 9 And your mighty men, O Teman, shall be disappointed, so that everyone of the mountain of Esau will be cut off by slaughter. 10 For your violence against your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you'll be cut off forever. 11 On the day that you stood on the other side, on the day that the strangers carried away his forces captive, and foreigners entered into his gates, and drew straws for Jerusalem, you were like one of them. 12 But you shouldn't have looked on the day of your brother, on the day that he became a stranger, nor should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah on the day of their destruction, nor should you have spoken proudly on the day of distress. 13 You shouldn't have entered into the gate of my people on the day of their calamity, yes, you shouldn't have looked at their affliction on the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their goods on the day of their calamity, 14 Nor should you have stood in the crossway to cut off those of his that escaped, nor should you have delivered up those of his that remained in the day of distress. 15 For the day of the Lord is near on all the heathen, as you have done, it shall be done to you, your reward shall return upon your own head. 16 For as you've drunk on my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink continually, yes, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been. 17 But there shall be deliverance on Mount Zion, and there shall be holiness, and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. 18 And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for kindling wood, and they shall start a fire in them, and devour them, and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau, for the Lord has spoken it. 19 And those of the south shall possess the mountain of Esau, and those of the plain the Philistines, and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria, and Benjamin shall possess Gilead. 20 And the captivity of this army of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even as far as Zarephath, and the captivity of Jerusalem, that is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south. 21 And saviors shall come up on Mount Zion to judge the mountain of Esau, and the kingdom shall be the Lord's." ___Jonah chapter 1 1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 "Get up, go to Nineveh, that large city, and preach against it, for their wickedness has come up before me." 3 But Jonah got up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa, and he found a ship going to Tarshish, so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. 4 But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty storm at sea, so that the ship was nearly broken. 5 Then the sailors were afraid, and each of them cried to his god, and threw out the merchandise that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone down into the sides of the ship, and he lay fast asleep. 6 So the captain of the ship came to him, and said to him, "What do you mean, O sleeper? Get up, call on your God, if perhaps God will think about us, so that we don't die." 7 And they all said to their co-workers, "Let's draw straws, so that we'll know which of us is the cause of this evil that’s on us." So they drew straws, and it came out Jonah. 8 Then they said to him, "Tell us, please, for whose cause this evil is on us, what is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?" 9 And he said to them, "I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who has made the sea and the dry land." 10 Then the men were very afraid, and said to him, "Why have you done this?" For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. 11 Then they said to him, "What shall we do to you, so the sea will be calm to us?" For the sea rolled, and was tempestuous. 12 And he said to them, "Take me up, and throw me into the sea, so the sea shall be calm for you, because I know that because of me this great tempest is upon you." 13 But the men rowed hard to bring it to land, but they couldn't, for the sea rolled, and was tempestuous against them. 14 So they shouted to the Lord, "We beg of you, O Lord, we beg of you, don't let us die for this man's life, and don't lay upon us innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you." 15 So they took up Jonah, and threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging. 16 Then the men feared the Lord very much, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord, and made vows. 17 Now the Lord had prepared a whale to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights. ___Jonah chapter 2 1 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God out of the fish's belly, 2 And said, "I cried because of my affliction to the Lord, and he heard me, out of the belly of hell I cried, and you heard my voice. 3 For you threw me into the deep, in the middle of the seas, and the floods surrounded me, all your billows and your waves passed over me. 4 Then I said, I am thrown out of your sight, yet I will look again toward your holy temple. 5 The waters surrounded me, even to the soul, the depth closed around me, the weeds were wrapped around my head. 6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains, the earth with her bars was around me forever, yet you've brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God. 7 When my soul fainted inside me I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple. 8 Those who observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. 9 But I will sacrifice to you with the voice of thanksgiving, I will pay that which I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord." 10 And the Lord spoke to the whale, and it vomited out Jonah on the dry land. ___Jonah chapter 3 1 And the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 "Get up, go to Nineveh, that large city, and preach to it the preaching that I tell you." 3 So Jonah got up, and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was a very large city of three-day's journey. 4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he shouted, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown." 5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. 6 For word came to the king of Nineveh, and he got up from his throne, and he laid his robe off of him, and covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, "Let neither man nor animal, herd nor flock, taste anything, let them not eat, nor drink water, 8 But let man and animal be covered with burlap, and cry mightily to God, yes, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. 9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we don't die?" 10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way, and God changed his mind about evil that he had said that he would do to them, and he didn't do it. ___Jonah chapter 4 1 But it very much displeased Jonah, and he was very angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord, and said, "I pray you, O Lord, wasn't this what I said when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before to Tarshish, for I knew that you are a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and change your mind about the evil. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beg of you, my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live." 4 Then the Lord said, "Are you doing well to be angry?" 5 So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and made himself a booth there, and sat under it in the shadow, until he could see what would become of the city. 6 And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, so that it would be a shadow over his head, to give him relief from his grief. So Jonah was very glad about the gourd. 7 But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it struck the gourd so that it dried up. 8 And when the sun arose, God prepared a strong east wind, and the sun beat on Jonah's head, and he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, "It is better for me to die than to live." 9 And God said to Jonah, "Are you doing well to be angry about the gourd?" And he said, "I do well to be angry, even until death." 10 Then the Lord said, "You've had pity on the gourd, for which you haven't labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night, and died in a night, 11 And shouldn't I spare Nineveh, that large city, in which are more than one hundred twenty thousand people that can't tell the difference between their right hand and their left hand, and also much cattle?" __Micah chapter 1 1 The word of the Lord that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, that he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. 2 Hear, all you people, listen, O earth, and all that's in it, and let the Lord God be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple. 3 For see, the Lord comes out of his place, and will come down, and walk on the high places of the earth. 4 And the mountains shall melt under him, and the valleys shall be split, like wax near fire, and like the waters that are poured down a steep place. 5 All of this is for the transgression of Jacob, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? And what are the high places of Judah? Are they not Jerusalem? 6 Therefore I'll make Samaria like a heap of the field, and like plantings of a vineyard, and I'll pour down the stones of it into the valley, and I will uncover the foundations of it. 7 And all the engraved images of it shall be beaten to pieces, and all the wages of it shall be burned with the fire, and I'll lay desolate all the idols of it, for she gathered it from the wages of a prostitute, and they shall return to the wages of a prostitute. 8 Therefore I'll wail and howl, I'll go stripped and naked, I'll make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning like the owls. 9 For her wound is incurable, for it has come to Judah, he has come to the gate of my people, to Jerusalem. 10 Don't declare it at Gath, don't cry at all, in the house of Aphrah, roll yourself in the dust. 11 Pass away, you inhabitant of Saphir, having your shame naked, the inhabitant of Zaanan didn't come out in the mourning of Bethezel, he shall receive his standing from you. 12 For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good, but evil came down from the Lord to the gate of Jerusalem. 13 O you inhabitant of Lachish, tie the chariot to the swift beast, she is the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion, for the transgressions of Israel were found in you. 14 Therefore you'll give presents to Moreshethgath, the houses of Achzib shall be a lie to the kings of Israel. 15 Yet I'll bring an heir to you, O inhabitant of Mareshah, he shall come to Adullam, the glory of Israel. 16 Make yourself bald, and poll yourself for your delicate children, enlarge your baldness like the eagle, for they've gone into captivity from you. ___Micah chapter 2 1 Woe to those who devise sin, and work evil on their beds! When the day breaks, they practice it, because it's in the power of their hand. 2 And they covet fields, and take them by violence, and houses, and take them away, so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his inheritance. 3 Therefore thus says the Lord, see, against this family I devise an evil, from which you won't remove your necks, nor shall you go haughtily, for this time is evil. 4 On that day, someone shall take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, we're completely spoiled, he has changed the portion of my people, how has he removed it from me! Turning away, he has divided our fields. 5 Therefore you'll have no one that shall throw a cord by drawing straws in the congregation of the Lord. 6 Don't prophesy, they say to those who prophesy, they shall not prophesy to them, so that they won't be shamed. 7 O you that's named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the Lord restricted? Are these his doings? Don't my words do good to him that walks uprightly? 8 Even lately, my people have risen up like an enemy, you pull off the robe with the garment from those who pass by securely, like men who don't want war. 9 You've thrown out the women of my people from their pleasant houses, you've taken away my glory forever from their children. 10 Arise and depart, for this is not your rest, because it is polluted, it shall destroy you with a severe destruction. 11 If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood tells a lie, saying, "I will prophesy to you of wine and of strong drink," he shall be the prophet of these people. 12 I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob, I will surely gather the remnant of Israel, I will put them together like the sheep of Bozrah, like the flock in the middle of their fold, they'll make great noise because of the multitude of men. 13 The breaker has come up before them, they've broken up, and have passed through the gate, and have gone out of it, and their king shall pass before them, and the Lord on the head of them. ___Micah chapter 3 1 And I said, "Hear, please, O heads of Jacob, and you princes of the house of Israel, is it not for you to know judgment? 2 Who hate the good, and love the evil, who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones, 3 Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them, and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, like for the pot, and like flesh in the caldron. 4 Then they'll cry to the Lord, but he won't hear them, he will hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves badly in their doings. 5 Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry "Peace," and he that doesn't put into their mouths, they prepare war against him. 6 Therefore night shall be to you, so that you won't have a vision, and it shall be dark to you, so that you won't divine, and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them. 7 Then the seers shall be ashamed, and the diviners shall be confused, yes, they'll all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God. 8 But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin. 9 Hear this, please, you heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that hate justice, and pervert all equity. 10 They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with sin. 11 The heads of it judge for bribes, and the priests of it teach for wages, and the prophets of it who divine for money, yet they'll lean on the Lord, and say, "Isn't the Lord among us? No evil can come upon us." 12 Therefore Zion shall for your sake be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house like the high places of the forest. ___Micah chapter 4 1 But in the last days, it shall happen that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills, and people shall flow to it. 2 And many nations shall come, and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us his ways, and we'll walk in his paths, for the law shall go out of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 3 And he shall judge among many people, and reprimand strong nations far off, and they'll beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks, nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, nor shall they learn war anymore. 4 But they'll sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken it. 5 For all people will walk each one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and always. 6 "In that day," says the Lord, "I'll assemble her that walks with difficulty, and I'll gather her that's been driven out, and her that I've afflicted, 7 And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was thrown far off a strong nation, and the Lord shall rule over them in Mount Zion from now on, and forever. 8 And you, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, to you it shall come, even the first dominion, the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem. 9 Now why do you cry out loud? Is there no king in you? Has your counselor died? For pangs have taken you like a woman in travail. 10 Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail, for now you'll go out of the city, and you'll live in the field, and you'll go to Babylon, you'll be delivered there, the Lord shall redeem you from the hand of your enemies there. 11 Now also many nations have gathered against you, that say, "Let her be defiled, and let our eye look at Zion." 12 But they didn't know the thoughts of the Lord, nor do they understand his advice, for he shall gather them like the sheaves into the floor. 13 Get up and thresh, O daughter of Zion, for I'll make your horn iron, and I'll make your hoofs brass, and you'll beat many people to pieces, and I'll consecrate their gain to the Lord, and their substance to the Lord of the whole earth. ___Micah chapter 5 1 Now gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops, he has laid siege against us, they shall strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek. 2 But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you're little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come to me he that is to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. 3 Therefore he'll give them up, until the time that she who travails has brought forth, then the remnant of his brothers shall return to the children of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God, and they shall live, for now he'll be great to the ends of the earth. 5 And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land, and when he shall walk in our palaces, then we'll raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men. 6 And they'll waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances of it, thus he'll deliver us from the Assyrian, when he comes into our land, and when he treads inside our borders. 7 And the remnant of Jacob shall be among many people like a dew from the Lord, like the showers on the grass, that doesn't wait for man, and doesn't wait for the sons of men. 8 And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles among many people like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he goes through, both treads down, and tears in pieces, and no one can give deliverance. 9 Your hand shall be lifted up upon your adversaries, and all your enemies shall be cut off. 10 "And it shall happen on that day," says the Lord, "that I will cut off your horses out of the middle of you, and I will destroy your chariots, 11 And I will cut off the cities of your land, and throw down all your strong holds, 12 And I will cut off witchcrafts out of your hand, and you'll have no more soothsayers, 13 I will cut off also your engraved images, and your standing images out of the middle of you, and you won't anymore worship the work of your hands. 14 And I will pluck up your groves out of the middle of you, so I'll destroy your cities. 15 And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury on the heathen, such as they have not heard. ___Micah chapter 6 1 Hear now what the Lord says, get up, contend before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. 2 Hear you, O mountains, the Lord's controversy, and you strong foundations of the earth, for the Lord has a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel. 3 O my people, what have I done to you? And how have I wearied you? Testify against me. 4 For I brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of servants, and I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam before you. 5 O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab advised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim to Gilgal, so that you'll know the righteousness of the Lord. 6 With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? 7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has shown you, O man, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? 9 The Lord's voice shouts to the city, and the man of wisdom shall see your name. Hear the rod, and who has appointed it. 10 Are there still the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is dirty? 11 Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights? 12 For the rich men of it are full of violence, and the inhabitants of it have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. 13 Therefore also I'll make you sick in striking you, in making you desolate because of your sins. 14 You'll eat, but not be satisfied, and your throwing down shall be in the middle of you, and you'll take hold, but won't deliver, and that which you deliver I'll give up to the sword. 15 You'll plant, but you won't harvest, you shall tread the olives, but you won't anoint yourselves with oil, and sweet wine, but won't drink wine. 16 For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and you walk following their advice, so that I should make you a desolation, and the inhabitants of it a hissing, therefore you'll bear the reproach of my people. ___Micah chapter 7 1 Woe is me! For I am like when they've gathered the summer fruits, like what's left of the grapes after the grape harvest from the vineyard, there is no cluster to eat, my soul desired the first ripe fruit. 2 The good man has perished out of the earth, and there is no one upright among men, they all lie in wait for blood, every man hunts his brother with a net. 3 So that they can do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asks, and the judge asks for a bribe, and the great man, he speaks his mischievous desire, so they wrap it up. 4 The best of them is like a brier, the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge, the day of your watchmen and your visitation is coming, their perplexity shall be now. 5 Don't trust a friend, don't put confidence in a guide, keep the doors of your mouth from her that lies in your bosom. 6 For the son dishonors the father, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law, a man's enemies are the men of his own house. 7 Therefore I'll look to the Lord, I'll wait for the God of my salvation, my God will hear me. 8 Don't rejoice against me, O my enemy, when I fall, I'll arise, when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light to me. 9 I will carry the indignation of the Lord, because I've sinned against him, until he pleads my cause, and executes judgment for me, he will bring me out to the light, and I'll see his righteousness. 10 Then she that is my enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her who said to me, "Where is the Lord your God?" My eyes shall see her, now shall she be walked on like the mire of the streets. 11 On the day that your walls are to be built, on that day shall the decree be far removed. 12 On that day also he shall come to you from Assyria, and from the fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river, and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain. 13 But the land shall be desolate because of those who live in it, for the fruit of their doings. 14 Feed your people with your rod, the flock of your heritage, who live alone in the woods, in the middle of Carmel, let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, like in the days of old. 15 According to the days of your coming out of the land of Egypt I'll show to him marvelous things. 16 The nations shall see and be confused at all their might, they shall lay their hand on their mouth, their ears shall be deaf. 17 They shall lick the dust like a snake, they'll move out of their holes like worms of the earth, they'll be afraid of the Lord our God, and shall fear because of you. 18 Who is a God like you, that pardons sin, and passes by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He doesn't retain his anger forever, because he delights in mercy. 19 He'll turn back, he'll have compassion on us, he'll subdue our sins, and you'll throw all their sins into the depths of the sea. 20 You'll perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham that you've sworn to our fathers from the days of old. ___Nahum chapter 1 1 The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite. 2 God is jealous, and the Lord avenges, the Lord avenges, and is furious, the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserves anger for his enemies. 3 The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all excuse the wicked, the Lord has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. 4 He reprimands the sea, and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers, Bashan languishes, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languishes. 5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yes, the world and all that live in it. 6 Who can stand before his indignation? And who can survive in the fierceness of his anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. 7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and he knows those who trust in him. 8 But with an overwhelming flood he will make a complete end of its place, and darkness shall pursue his enemies. 9 What do you imagine against the Lord? He will make a complete end, affliction shall not rise up the second time. 10 For while they're folded together like thorns, and while they are drunk like drunkards, they shall be devoured like totally dry kindling wood. 11 Someone has come out of you that imagines evil against the Lord, a wicked counselor. 12 Thus says the Lord, though they're quiet, and also many, yet this is how they'll be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I've afflicted you, I'll afflict you no more. 13 For now I'll break his yoke off of you, and will break your bonds in pieces. 14 And the Lord has given a commandment concerning you, so that no more of your name is planted, out of the house of your gods I'll cut off the engraved image and the image that's a casting from the foundry, I will make your grave, for you are filthy. 15 See, on the mountains, the feet of him that brings good news, that publishes peace! O Judah, keep your solemn feasts, perform your vows, for the wicked shall no more pass through you, he's completely cut off. ___Nahum chapter 2 1 He that dashes in pieces has come up before your face, keep the munition, watch the way, make your midsections strong, fortify your power mightily. 2 For the Lord has turned away the excellence of Jacob, like the excellence of Israel, for the emptiers have emptied them out, and ruined their vine branches. 3 The shield of his mighty men has been made red, the valiant men are in red cloth, the chariots shall be with flaming torches on the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken. 4 The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall jostle against each other in the broad ways, they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightning. 5 He shall tell his worthies, they shall stumble in their walk, they shall hurry to the wall of it, and the defense shall be prepared. 6 The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved. 7 And Huzzab shall be led away captive, she shall be brought up, and her maids shall lead her like with the voice of doves, tabering on their breasts. 8 But since old times, Nineveh is like a pool of water, yet they shall flee away. "Stand, stand," they shall shout, but no one shall look back. 9 Take the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold, for there is no end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture. 10 She is empty, and void, and waste, and the heart melts, and the knees bang together, and a lot of pain is in all midsections, and the faces of them all gather blackness. 11 Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the feeding place of the young lions, where the lion walked, the old lion, and the lion's whelp, and no one made them afraid? 12 The lion tore in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravin. 13 See, I am against you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions, and I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall be heard no more. ___Nahum chapter 3 1 Woe to the bloody city! It is all full of lies and robbery, the prey doesn't depart, 2 The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the prancing horses, and of the jumping chariots. 3 The horseman lifts up both the bright sword and the glittering spear, and there is a multitude of dead bodies, and a great number of carcasses, and there is no end of their corpses, they stumble upon their corpses, 4 Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the well favored prostitute, the mistress of witchcrafts, that sells nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts. 5 See, I am against you, says the Lord of hosts, and I'll discover your skirts upon your face, and I'll show the nations your nakedness, and the kingdoms your shame. 6 And I will throw dirty filth on you, and make you filthy, and will set you like a gazing stock. 7 And all of those who that look at you shall run away from you, and say, Nineveh has been laid waste, who will mourn for her? From where shall I seek comforters for you? 8 Are you better than populous No, that was situated among the rivers, that had the waters around it, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was from the sea? 9 Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, and it was infinite, Put and Lubim were your helpers. 10 Yet she was carried away, she went into captivity, her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets, and they drew straws for her honorable men, and all her great men were bound in chains. 11 You also shall be drunk, you shall be hidden, you also shall seek strength because of the enemy. 12 All your strong holds shall be like fig trees with the firstripe figs, if they're shaken, they'll fall into the mouth of the eater. 13 See, your people in the middle of you are women, the gates of your land shall be set wide open to your enemies, the fire shall devour the bars of your gates. 14 Draw waters for the siege, fortify your strong holds, go into clay, and tread the mortar, make the brick kiln strong. 15 The fire shall devour you there, the sword shall cut you off, it shall eat you up like the canker worm, multiply yourself like the canker worm, multiply yourself like the locusts. 16 You have multiplied your merchants more than the stars of heaven, the canker worm spoils, and flies away. 17 Those of you who are crowned are like the locusts, and your captains like the large grasshoppers that camp in the hedges on a cold day, but when the sun rises they flee away, and where their place is, no one knows. 18 Your shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria, your nobles shall dwell in the dust, your people are scattered on the mountains, and no man gathers them. 19 There is no healing of your bruise, your wound is grievous, all that hear the bruit of you shall clap the hands over you, for on whom has your wickedness not passed continually? ___Habakuk chapter 1 1 The burden that the prophet Habakkuk saw. 2 "O Lord, how long shall I call to you and you won't hear! Even call out to you about violence, and you won't save! 3 Why do you show me sin, and cause me to see grievance? For spoiling and violence are before me, and there are those who raise up strife and contention. 4 Therefore the law has been slacked, and justice doesn't happen, for the wicked surround the righteous, therefore injustice proceeds. 5 See among the heathen, and notice, and wonder marvelously, for I will work a work in your days that you won't believe, though it's told to you. 6 For see, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, that shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling places that are not theirs. 7 They are terrible and dreadful, their judgment and their dignity shall proceed from themselves. 8 Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves, and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far, they shall fly like the eagle that hurries to eat. 9 They shall all come for violence, their faces shall eat up like the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity like the sand. 10 And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn to them, they shall deride every stronghold, for they shall heap dust, and take it. 11 Then his mind shall change, and he shall cross over, and offend, imputing his power to his god. 12 Are you not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy one? We shall not die. O Lord, you've ordained them for judgment, and, O mighty God, you've established them for correction. 13 You are of purer eyes than to see evil, and can't look at sin, so why do you look at those who deal treacherously and remain silent when the wicked devours the man that is more righteous than he is? 14 And make men like the fish of the sea, like the creeping things, that have no ruler over them? 15 All of them take up with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag, therefore they rejoice and are glad. 16 Therefore they sacrifice to their net, and burn incense to their drag, because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous. 17 Shall they therefore empty their net, and not stop continually killing the nations?" ___Habakuk chapter 2 1 I will stand my watch, and set myself on the tower, and will watch to see what he will say to me, and what I shall answer when I am reprimanded. 2 And the Lord answered me, "Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets, so he can run that reads it. 3 For the vision is for a later appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie, though it doesn't come right away, wait for it, because it will surely come, it won't wait. 4 See, his soul that is lifted up is not upright in him, but the just shall live by his faith. 5 Yes also, because he transgresses by wine, he is a proud man, and doesn't stay home, who enlarges his desire as hell, and is like death, and can't be satisfied, but gathers to himself all nations, and heaps to himself all tribes, 6 Shall not all of these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, “Woe to him that increases that which is not his! How long? And to him that burdens himself with thick clay!” 7 Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite you, and shall they not awake that shall vex you, and you shall be for spoils of war to them? 8 Because you've spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil you, because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all who live in it. 9 Woe to him that covets an evil covetousness to his house, so that he can set his nest on high, so that he can be delivered from the power of evil! 10 You have consulted shame to your house by cutting off many people, and have sinned against your soul. 11 For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it. 12 Woe to him that builds a town with blood, and establishes a city by sin! 13 See, is it not of the Lord of hosts that the people shall labor in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for vanity? 14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, like the waters cover the sea. 15 Woe to him that gives his neighbor drink, that puts your bottle to him, and makes him drunk also, so you can look at their nakedness! 16 You're filled with shame instead of glory, drink also, and let your foreskin be uncovered, the cup of the Lord's right hand shall be turned to you, and shameful vomiting shall be on your glory. 17 For the violence of Lebanon shall cover you, and the spoil of animals, that made them afraid, because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all who live in it. 18 How does the engraver profit from the engraved image that he has made, the image made by casting in the foundry, and a teacher of lies, so that the maker of his work trusts in it, to make speechless idols? 19 Woe to him that says to the wood, awake, to the dumb stone, get up, it shall teach! See, it is plated with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the middle of it. 20 But the Lord is in his holy temple, let all the earth keep silence before him." ___Habakuk chapter 3 1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet on Shigionoth. 2 "O Lord, I've heard your speech, and was afraid, O Lord, revive your work in the middle of the years, in the middle of the years make known, in anger, remember mercy. 3 God came from Teman, and the Holy one from Mount Paran. (Pause.) His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. 4 And his brightness was like the light, he had horns coming out of his hand, and there was the hiding of his power. 5 The pestilence went before him, and burning coals went out at his feet. 6 He stood and measured the earth, he saw, and split the nations in pieces, and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills bowed, his ways are everlasting. 7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction, and the curtains of the land of Midian trembled. 8 Was the Lord displeased with the rivers? Was your anger against the rivers? Was your anger against the sea, so that you rode on your horses and your chariots of salvation? 9 Your bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even your word. (Pause.) You split the earth with rivers. 10 The mountains saw you, and they trembled, the overflowing of the water passed by, the deep spoke its voice, and lifted up its hands on high. 11 The sun and moon stood still in their habitation, at the light of your arrows they went, and at the shining of your glittering spear. 12 You marched through the land in indignation, you threshed the heathen in anger. 13 You went out for the salvation of your people, for salvation with your anointed, you wounded the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation to the neck. (Pause.) 14 With his staves, you struck the head of his villages, they came out like a whirlwind to scatter me, their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly. 15 You walked through the sea with your horses, through the heap of great waters. 16 When I heard, my belly trembled, my lips quivered at the voice, rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, so that I could rest in the day of trouble, when he comes up to the people, he will invade them with his troops. 17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, nor shall fruit be in the vines, the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no food, the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in stalls, 18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk on my high places." ___Zephaniah chapter 1 1 The word of the Lord that came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah. 2 "I will completely consume all things from off the land, says the Lord. 3 I will consume man and beast, I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fish of the sea, and the stumbling blocks with the wicked, and I will cut off man from off the land, says the Lord. 4 I will also stretch out my hand on Judah, and on all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests, 5 And those who worship the host of heaven on the housetops, and those who worship and that swear by the Lord, and that swear by Malcham, 6 And those who are turned back from the Lord, and those that have not sought the Lord, nor inquired of him. 7 Be quiet at the presence of the Lord God, for the day of the Lord is at hand, for the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, he has invited his guests. 8 And on the day of the Lord's sacrifice, I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all of those who are clothed with strange apparel. 9 On the same day I'll also punish all those that jump on the threshold, who fill their masters' houses with violence and deceit. 10 And on that day, says the Lord, there shall be the noise of a cry from the fish gate, and a howling from the second, and a great crashing from the hills. 11 Howl, you inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people have been cut down, all of those who carry silver are cut off. 12 And at that time, I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees, that say in their heart, the Lord will not do good, nor will he do evil. 13 Therefore their goods shall become a spoil, and their houses a desolation, they shall also build houses, but not live in them, and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine from them. 14 The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hurries greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord, the mighty man shall cry bitterly there. 15 That day is a day of anger, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, 16 A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. 17 And I will bring distress upon men, so they'll walk like blind men, because they've sinned against the Lord, and their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. 18 Nor shall their silver nor their gold be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's anger, but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy, for he shall make a speedy riddance of all of those who live in the land." ___Zephaniah chapter 2 1 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O nation not desired, 2 Bring forth before the decree, before the day passes like the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord comes upon you, before the day of the Lord's anger comes upon you. 3 Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, who have kept his judgment, seek righteousness, seek meekness, perhaps you'll be hidden in the day of the Lord's anger. 4 For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation, they shall drive out Ashdod at the noonday, and Ekron shall be uprooted. 5 Woe to the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! The word of the Lord is against you, O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will destroy you, so that there'll be no inhabitant. 6 And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks. 7 And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah, they shall feed on it, in the houses of Ashkelon they'll lie down in the evening, for the Lord their God shall visit them, and undo their captivity. 8 I've heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, by which they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border. 9 Therefore as I live, says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, surely Moab shall be like Sodom, and the children of Ammon like Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and salt pits, and a perpetual desolation, the remainder of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them. 10 They'll have this for their pride, because they've reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the Lord of hosts. 11 The Lord will be terrible to them, for he will famish all the gods of the earth, and men shall worship him, everyone from his place, all the islands of the heathen. 12 You Ethiopians also, you shall be killed by my sword. 13 And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria, and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness. 14 And flocks shall lie down in the middle of her, all the beasts of the nations, both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it, their voice shall sing in the windows, desolation shall be in the thresholds, for he shall uncover the cedar work. 15 This is the rejoicing city that lived carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is no one beside me, how has she become a desolation, a place for animals to lie down in! Everyone that passes by her shall hiss, and wag his hand. ___Zephaniah chapter 3 1 Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! 2 She didn't obey the voice, she didn't receive correction, she didn't trust in the Lord, she didn't draw near to her God. 3 Her princes inside her are roaring lions, her judges are evening wolves, they don't gnaw the bones until the next day. 4 Her prophets are light and treacherous persons, her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they've done violence to the law. 5 The just Lord is in the middle of it, he won't do sin, every morning he brings his judgment to light, he doesn't fail, but the unjust knows no shame. 6 I have cut off the nations, their towers are desolate, I made their streets waste, so that no one passes by, their cities are destroyed, so that there's no man, so that there is no inhabitant. 7 I said, surely you'll fear me, you will receive instruction, so that their dwelling wouldn't be cut off, however I punished them, but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings. 8 Therefore wait on me, says the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey, for my determination is to gather the nations, so that I can assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them my indignation, all my fierce anger, for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. 9 For then I'll turn to the people a pure language, so that they'll all call on the name of the Lord, to serve him unanimously. 10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring my offering. 11 On that day you won't be ashamed for all your doings, in which you've transgressed against me, for then I'll take away from among you those who rejoice in your pride, and you'll no more be full of pride because of my holy mountain. 12 I'll also leave in the middle of you an afflicted and poor people, and they'll trust in the name of the Lord. 13 The remnant of Israel shall not sin, nor speak lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth, for they shall feed and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid. 14 Sing, O daughter of Zion, shout, O Israel, be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. 15 The Lord has taken away your judgments, he has thrown out your enemy, the king of Israel, even the Lord, is in the middle of you, you shall not see evil anymore. 16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, “Don't be afraid,” and to Zion, “Don't let your hands be slack.” 17 The Lord your God who's among you is mighty, he will save, he will rejoice over you with joy, he will rest in his love, he will joy over you with singing. 18 I will gather those who are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of you, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. 19 See, at that time, I will undo all that afflict you, and I will save her that halts, and gather her that was driven out, and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they've been put to shame. 20 At that time I'll bring you again, at the time that I gather you, for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I undo your captivity before your eyes, says the Lord. ___Haggai chapter 1 1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, 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 Josedech, the high priest, saying, 2 Thus says the Lord of hosts, "These people say, the time has not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built." 3 Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 "Is it time for you, to dwell in your ceiled houses, while this house lies waste? 5 Now therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, consider your ways. 6 You've planted much, and bring in little, you eat, but you don't have enough, you drink, but you're not filled with drink, you clothe yourselves, but no one's warm, and he that earns wages earns wages to put it into a bag with holes in it. 7 Thus says the Lord of hosts, consider your ways. 8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house, and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, says the Lord. 9 You looked for much, and see, it came to little, and when you brought it home, I blew on it. Why?, says the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies waste, and you run every man to his own house. 10 Therefore the heaven over you has been stopped from sending dew, and the earth has been stopped from bearing her fruit. 11 And I called for a drought on the land, and on the mountains, and on the corn, and on the new wine, and on the oil, and on that which the ground produces, and on men, and on cattle, and on all the labor of the hands." 12 Then Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him, and the people feared before the Lord. 13 Then Haggai the Lord's messenger spoke in the Lord's message to the people, saying, "I am with you, says the Lord." 14 And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua, the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people, and they came and worked in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God, 15 In the twenty fourth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king. ___Haggai chapter 2 1 In the seventh month, on the twenty first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai, saying, 2 "Speak now to Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the remainder of the people, saying, 3 Who is left among you that saw this house in its first glory? And how do you see it now? Isn't it in your eyes like nothing by comparison? 4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord, and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest, and be strong, all you people of the land, says the Lord, and work, for I am with you, says the Lord of hosts, 5 According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so my spirit remains among you, don't be afraid. 6 For thus says the Lord of hosts, yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land, 7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of hosts. 9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, says the Lord of hosts, and in this place I'll give peace, says the Lord of hosts." 10 On the twenty fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 11 "Thus says the Lord of hosts, ask now the priests concerning the law, saying, 12 If someone carries holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt touches bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any food, shall it be holy?" And the priests answered, "No." 13 Then Haggai said, "If someone that is unclean by a dead body touches any of these, shall it be unclean?" And the priests answered, "It shall be unclean." 14 Then Haggai answered, "So are these people, and so is this nation before me, says the Lord, and so is every work of their hands, and that which they offer there is unclean. 15 And now, please, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon another stone in the temple of the Lord, 16 Since those days were, when someone came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten, when someone came to the press vat to draw out fifty containers out of the press, there were only twenty. 17 I struck you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labors of your hands, yet you didn't turn to me, says the Lord. 18 Consider now from this day and upward, from the twenty fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of the Lord's temple was laid, consider it. 19 Is the seed still in the barn? Yes, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hasn't brought forth, from this day I will bless you." 20 And again the word of the Lord came to Haggai on the twenty fourth day of the month, saying, 21 "Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth, 22 And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen, and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them, and the horses and their riders shall come down, everyone by the sword of his brother. 23 On that day, says the Lord of hosts, I'll take you, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, says the Lord, and will make you like a signet, for I have chosen you, says the Lord of hosts." ___Zechariah chapter 1 1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, 2 "The Lord has been very displeased with your fathers. 3 Therefore tell them, thus says the Lord of hosts, turn to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will turn to you, says the Lord of hosts. 4 Don't be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets have cried, saying, thus says the Lord of hosts, turn now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings, but they didn't hear, nor listen to me, says the Lord. 5 Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? 6 But my words and my statutes, that I commanded my servants the prophets, didn't they take hold of your fathers? And they returned and said, like the Lord of hosts thought to do to us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so has he dealt with us." 7 On the twenty fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, 8 "I saw by night, and see a man riding on a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom, and behind him there were red horses, speckled, and white." 9 Then I said, "O my lord, what are these?" And the angel that talked with me said to me, "I will show you what these are." 10 And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered, "These are those whom the Lord has sent to walk back and forth through the earth." 11 And they answered the angel of the Lord that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, "We've walked back and forth through the earth, and see, all the earth sits still, and is at rest." 12 Then the angel of the Lord answered, "O Lord of hosts, how long will you not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which you've had indignation these seventy years?" 13 And the Lord answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words. 14 So the angel that communed with me said to me, "Shout, saying, thus says the Lord of hosts, I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. 15 And I am very severly displeased with the heathen that are at ease, for I was but a little displeased, and they helped increase the affliction. 16 Therefore thus says the Lord, I've returned to Jerusalem with mercies, my house shall be built in it, says the Lord of hosts, and a line shall be stretched out on Jerusalem. 17 Shout again, saying, thus says the Lord of hosts, my cities through prosperity shall yet be spread around, and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem." 18 Then I lifted up my eyes, and looked, and see, four horns. 19 And I said to the angel that talked with me, "What are these?" And he answered me, "These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem." 20 And the Lord showed me four carpenters. 21 Then I said, "What do these come to do?" And he said, "These are the horns that have scattered Judah, so that no man lifted up his head, but these have come to fray them, to throw out the horns of the Gentiles, that lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it." ___Zechariah chapter 2 1 I lifted up my eyes again, and looked, and see a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 Then I said, "Where are you going?" And he said to me, to measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth of it, and what is the length of it." 3 And see, the angel that talked with me went out, and another angel went out to meet him, 4 And said to him, "Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited like towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle in it, 5 For I, says the Lord, will be to her a wall of fire all around, and will be the glory in the middle of her. 6 Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, says the Lord, for I've spread you around like the four winds of the sky, says the Lord. 7 Deliver yourself, O Zion, that lives with the daughter of Babylon. 8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, after the glory he has sent me to the nations that spoiled you, for he that touches you touches the apple of his eye. 9 For see, I'll shake my hand on them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants, and you'll know that the Lord of hosts has sent me. 10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for see, I come, and I'll live among you, says the Lord. 11 And many nations shall be joined to the Lord on that day, and shall be my people, and I will live among you, and you'll know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. 12 And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. 13 Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord, for he has gotten up out of his holy habitation. ___Zechariah chapter 3 1 And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, "The Lord reprimand you, O Satan, even the Lord that has chosen Jerusalem reprimand you, is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" 3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. 4 And he answered and spoke to those that stood before him, saying, "Take away the filthy garments from him." And to him he said, "See, I've caused your sin to go away from you, and I'll clothe you with change of clothing. 5 And I said, "Let them set an attractive priest's hat on his head." So they set an attractive priest's hat on his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord stood by. 6 And the angel of the Lord protested to Joshua, saying, 7 "Thus says the Lord of hosts, if you'll walk in my ways, and if you'll do what I say, then you'll also judge my house, and shall also keep my courts, and I will give you places to walk among these that stand by. 8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you, and your fellows that sit before you, for they are men wondered at, for see, I will bring forth my servant the Branch. 9 For see the stone that I've laid before Joshua, on one stone shall be seven eyes, see, I'll engrave the engraving of it, says the Lord of hosts, and I'll remove the sin of that land on one day. 10 On that day, says the Lord of hosts, you'll call every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree." ___Zechariah chapter 4 1 And the angel that talked with me came again, and awoke me, like a man that is awakened out of his sleep, 2 And said to me, "What do you see?" And I said, "I've looked, and see a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl on top of it, and its seven lamps on it, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, that are on top of it, 3 And two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl, and the other on the left side of it." 4 So I answered the angel that talked with me, "What are these, my lord?" 5 Then the angel that talked with me answered, "Don't you know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord." 6 Then he answered, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, saying, not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts. 7 Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you'll become a plain, and he'll bring forth the headstone of it with shoutings, crying, grace, grace to it." 8 Also the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9 "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, his hands shall also finish it, and you'll know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. 10 For who has despised the day of small things? For they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven, they are the eyes of the Lord, that run back and forth through the whole earth." 11 Then I answered him, "What are these two olive trees on the right side of the candlestick and on the left side of it?" 12 And I said also to him, "What are these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?" 13 And he answered me, "Don't you know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord." 14 Then he said, "These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth." ___Zechariah chapter 5 1 Then I turned, and lifted up my eyes and looked, and see, a flying roll. 2 And he said, "What do you see?" And I answered, "I see a flying roll, the length of which is twenty cubits, and the breadth of which ten cubits." 3 Then he said, "This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole earth, for everyone that steals shall be cut off like on this side according to it, and everyone that swears shall be cut off like on that side according to it. 4 I will bring it out, says the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter into the houses of the thieves, and into the houses of those who swear falsely by my name, and it shall remain in the middle of their houses, and shall consume them with the timber of them and the stones of them." 5 Then the angel that talked with me went out, and said to me, "Lift up now your eyes, and see what this is that goes out." 6 And I said, "What is it?" And he said, "This is an ephah that goes out." He also said, "This is their resemblance through all the earth." 7 And see, a talent of lead was lifted up, and this is a woman that sits in the middle of the ephah. 8 And he said, "This is wickedness." And he threw it into the middle of the ephah, and he threw the weight of lead on the mouth of it. 9 Then lifted I up my eyes and looked, and see, two women came out, and the wind was in their wings, for they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. 10 Then I said to the angel that talked with me, "Where do these carry the ephah?" 11 And he said to me, "To build a house for it in the land of Shinar, and it shall be established, and set there on its own base." ___Zechariah chapter 6 1 And I turned, and lifted up my eyes, and looked, and see, four chariots came out from between two mountains, and the mountains were mountains of brass. 2 In the first chariot there were red horses, and in the second chariot black horses, 3 And in the third chariot white horses, and in the fourth chariot grizzled and bay horses. 4 Then I said to the angel that talked with me, "What are these, my lord?" 5 And the angel answered me, "These are the four spirits of the heavens, that go out from standing before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The black horses that are in it go out into the north country, and the white go out after them, and the grizzled go out toward the south country." 7 And the bay went out, and tried to go so they could walk back and forth through the earth, and he said, "Go from here, walk back and forth through the earth." So they walked back and forth through the earth. 8 Then he spoke loudly to me, saying, "See, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country." 9 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 10 "Take from those of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, who've come from Babylon, and you come the same day, and go into the house of Josiah, the son of Zephaniah, 11 Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them on the head of Joshua, the son of Josedech, the high priest, 12 And speak to him, saying, Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying, See the man whose name is the Branch, and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord, 13 Even he shall build the temple of the Lord, and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on his throne, and he shall be a priest on his throne, and the advice of peace shall be between them both. 14 And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen, the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the Lord. 15 And those who are far off shall come and build in the temple of the Lord, and you'll know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. And this shall occur, if you'll diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God." ___Zechariah chapter 7 1 And it happened in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of the Lord came to Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chisleu, 2 When they had sent Sherezer and Regemmelech and their men to the house of God, to pray before the Lord, 3 And to speak to the priests who were in the house of the Lord of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, "Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these many years?" 4 Then the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, 5 "Speak to all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did you at all fast to me, even to me? 6 And when you ate, and when you drank, didn't you eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves? 7 Shouldn't you listen to the words that the Lord has shouted by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities of it around her, when men inhabited the south and the plain?" 8 And the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, 9 "Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassion every man to his brother, 10 And don't oppress the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor, and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. 11 But they refused to listen, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, so that they wouldn't hear. 12 Yes, they made their hearts like an adamant stone, so that they wouldn't hear the law, and the words that the Lord of hosts has sent in his spirit by the former prophets, therefore a great anger came from the Lord of hosts. 13 Therefore it has happened, that like he shouted, and they wouldn't listen, so they shouted, and I wouldn't listen, says the Lord of hosts, 14 But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they didn't know. Thus the land was desolate after them, so that no man passed through nor returned, for they laid the pleasant land desolate." ___Zechariah chapter 8 1 Again, the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, 2 "Thus says the Lord of hosts, I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. 3 Thus says the Lord, I've returned to Zion, and will live among Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts the holy mountain." 4 Thus says the Lord of hosts, "Old men and old women shall still live in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand because of old age. 5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets of it." 6 Thus says the Lord of hosts, "If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of these people in these days, should it also be marvelous in my eyes?" Says the Lord of hosts. 7 Thus says the Lord of hosts, "See, I'll save my people from the east country, and from the west country, 8 And I'll bring them, and they'll live in Jerusalem, and they'll be my people, and I'll be their God, in truth and in righteousness. 9 Thus says the Lord of hosts, let your hands be strong, you that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, that were on the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, so that the temple could be built. 10 For before these days there were no wages for man, nor any wages for animal, nor was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction, for I set all men every one against his neighbor. 11 But now I won't be to the remainder of these people like in the previous days, says the Lord of hosts. 12 For the seed shall be prosperous, the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew, and I'll cause the remnant of these people to possess all these things. 13 And it shall happen, that like you were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel, so I'll save you, and you'll be a blessing, don't be afraid, but let your hands be strong. 14 For thus says the Lord of hosts, like I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to anger, says the Lord of hosts, and I didn't change my mind, 15 So again I've thought in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah, don't be afraid. 16 These are the things that you shall do, speak every man the truth to his neighbor, execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates, 17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor, and don't love any false oath, for all these are things that I hate, says the Lord." 18 And the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, 19 "Thus says the Lord of hosts, the fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be joy and gladness to the house of Judah, and cheerful feasts, therefore love the truth and peace. 20 Thus says the Lord of hosts, "It shall yet occur, that people shall come, and the inhabitants of many cities, 21 And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, let's go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts, I will go also. 22 Yes, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord." 23 Thus says the Lord of hosts, "In those days it shall occur, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, shall take hold of the coat of him that is a Jew, saying, we'll go with you, for we've heard that God is with you." ___Zechariah chapter 9 1 The burden of the word of the Lord in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest of it, when the eyes of man, like of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the Lord. 2 And Hamath also shall border by that, Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise. 3 And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver like the dust, and fine gold like the mire in the streets. 4 See, the Lord will throw her out, and he'll strike her power in the sea, and she shall be devoured with fire. 5 Ashkelon shall see it, and fear, Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron, for her expectation shall be ashamed, and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. 6 And a bastard shall live in Ashdod, and I'll cut off the pride of the Philistines. 7 And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his detestable things from between his teeth, but he that remains, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be like a governor in Judah, and Ekron like a Jebusite. 8 And I will camp around my house because of the army, because of him that passes by, and because of him that returns, and no oppressor shall pass through them anymore, for now I've seen with my eyes. 9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion, shout, O daughter of Jerusalem, see, your King comes to you, he is just, and having salvation, lowly, and riding on an ass, and on a colt the foal of an ass. 10 And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the heathen, and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth. 11 As for you also, by the blood of your covenant I've sent out your prisoners out of the pit in which there's no water. 12 Turn to the strong hold, you prisoners of hope, even today I declare that I'll render double to you, 13 When I've bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and made you like the sword of a mighty man. 14 And the Lord shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go out like the lightning, and the Lord God shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south. 15 The Lord of hosts shall defend them, and they'll devour, and subdue with sling stones, and they'll drink, and make a noise as through wine, and they shall be filled like bowls, and like the corners of the altar. 16 And the Lord their God shall save them on that day like the flock of his people, for they'll be like the stones of a crown, lifted up like an ensign on his land. 17 For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! Corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids. ___Zechariah chapter 10 1 Ask the Lord for rain in the time of the latter rain, so that the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to everyone grass in the field. 2 For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams, they try to comfort with no effect, therefore they went their way like a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd. 3 My anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats, for the Lord of hosts has visited his flock the house of Judah, and has made them like his good horse in the battle. 4 Out of him came the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together. 5 And they shall be like mighty men, who tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle, and they shall fight, because the Lord is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confused. 6 And I'll strengthen the house of Judah, and I'll save the house of Joseph, and I'll bring them back to place them, for I have mercy on them, and they shall be as though I had not thrown them away, for I am the Lord their God, and will hear them. 7 And those of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice like by wine, yes, their children shall see it, and be glad, their heart shall rejoice in the Lord. 8 I will hiss for them, and gather them, for I've redeemed them, and they'll increase like they have increased. 9 And I'll plant them among the people, and they'll remember me in far countries, and they'll live with their children, and turn again. 10 I'll bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria, and I'll bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon, and there won't be enough room for them. 11 And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall strike the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up, and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the scepter of Egypt shall go away. 12 And I will strengthen them in the Lord, and they'll walk up and down in his name, says the Lord. ___Zechariah chapter 11 1 Open your doors, O Lebanon, so that the fire can devour your cedars. 2 Howl, fir tree, for the cedar has fallen, because the mighty are spoiled, howl, O you oaks of Bashan, for the forest of the vintage has come down. 3 There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds, for their glory has been spoiled, a voice of the roaring of young lions, for the pride of Jordan has been spoiled. 4 Thus says the Lord my God, "Feed the flock of the slaughter, 5 Whose possessors kill them, and consider themselves to be not guilty, and those who sell them say, blessed be the Lord, for I am rich, and their own shepherds don't pity them. 6 For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, says the Lord, but see, I'll deliver every one of the men into his neighbor's hand, and into the hand of his king, and they shall strike the land, and out of their hand I won't give them deliverance. 7 And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took to me two staves, the one I called beauty, and the other I called bands, and I fed the flock. 8 Also, I cut off three shepherds in one month, and my soul hated them, and their soul also hated me. 9 Then I said, I won't feed you, whatever dies, let it die, and whatever is to be cut off, let it be cut off, and let every one of the rest eat the flesh of someone else. 10 And I took my staff, even beauty, and cut it in pieces, so I could break my covenant that I had made with all the people. 11 And it was broken on that day, and so the poor of the flock that waited on me knew that it was the word of the Lord. 12 And I said to them, if you think good, give me my price, and if not, don't. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. 13 And the Lord said to me, throw it to the potter, a goodly price that I was prized at by them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and threw them to the potter in the house of the Lord. 14 Then I cut in pieces my other staff, bands, so that I could break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. 15 And the Lord said to me, take to yourself yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd. 16 For see, I'll raise up a shepherd in the land, that won't visit those who are cut off, nor shall seek the young one, nor heal what is broken, nor feed whatever stands still, but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces. 17 Woe to the idol shepherd that leaves the flock! The sword shall be on his arm, and on his right eye, his arm shall be completely dried up, and his right eye shall be completely darkened." ___Zechariah chapter 12 1 The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, says the Lord, who stretches out the heavens, and lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him. 2 "See, I'll make Jerusalem a cup of trembling to all the people all around, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. 3 And on that day I'll make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people, all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth are gathered together against it. 4 On that day, says the Lord, I'll strike every horse with astonishment, and his rider with insanity, and I'll open my eyes on the house of Judah, and will strike every horse of the people with blindness. 5 And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the Lord of hosts their God. 6 On that day I'll make the governors of Judah like a hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf, and they shall devour all the people all around, on the right hand and on the left, and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. 7 The Lord also shall save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem don't magnify themselves against Judah. 8 On that day, the Lord shall defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the Lord before them. 9 And it shall happen on that day, that I'll seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 10 And I'll pour on the house of David, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications, and they shall look at me whom they've pierced, and they'll mourn for him, like someone mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, like someone that is in bitterness for his firstborn. 11 On that day there'll be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. 12 And the land shall mourn, every family apart, the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart, the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart, 13 The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart, the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart, 14 All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart." ___Zechariah chapter 13 1 On that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. 2 "And it shall occur on that day," says the Lord of hosts, "that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they won't be remembered anymore, and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. 3 And it shall happen that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that parented him shall say to him, you shall not live, for you speak lies in the name of the Lord, and his father and his mother that parented him shall thrust a weapon through him when he prophesies. 4 And it shall occur on that day, that every one of the prophets shall be ashamed of his vision, when he has prophesied, nor shall they wear a rough garment to deceive, 5 But he shall say, I'm not a prophet, I'm a rancher, for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth. 6 And someone shall say to him, what are these wounds in your hands? Then he shall answer, those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. 7 Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, says the Lord of hosts, strike the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered, and I will turn my hand upon the little ones. 8 And it shall occur, that in all the land, says the Lord, two thirds of it shall be cut off and die, but one third of it shall be left. 9 And I'll bring the one third of it through the fire, and will refine them like silver is refined, and will test them like gold is tested, they shall call on my name, and I'll hear them, I'll say, they are my people, and they'll say, the Lord is my God." ___Zechariah chapter 14 1 See, the day of the Lord comes, and your spoil shall be divided among you. 2 For I'll gather all nations against Jerusalem for battle, and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women raped, and half of the city shall go out into captivity, and the remainder of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3 Then the Lord shall go out, and fight against those nations, like when he fought in the day of battle. 4 And his feet shall stand, on that day, on the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall split in the middle of it toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley, and half of the mountain shall move toward the north, and half of it toward the south. 5 And you'll flee to the valley of the mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal, yes, you'll flee, like you fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah, king of Judah, and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with you. 6 And it shall happen on that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark, 7 But it shall be a day that shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night, but it shall happen, that at evening it shall be light. 8 And it shall be on that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem, half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea, in summer and in winter it shall be. 9 And the Lord shall be king over all the earth, on that day there shall be one Lord, and his name one. 10 All the land shall be turned like a plain from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem, and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in its place, from Benjamin's gate to the place of the first gate, to the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel to the king's winepresses. 11 And men shall live in it, and there won't be any more complete destruction, but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. 12 And this shall be the plague with which the Lord will strike all the people that have fought against Jerusalem, their flesh shall consume away while they stand on their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their sockets, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. 13 And it shall happen on that day, that a great tumult from the Lord shall be among them, and everyone shall lay hold on the hand of his neighbor, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbor. 14 And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem, and the wealth of all the heathen all around shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and clothing, in great abundance. 15 And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the animals that shall be in these tents, like this plague. 16 And it shall occur, that everyone that is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. 17 And it shall be, that whoever won't come up of all the families of the earth to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, on them it won't rain. 18 And if the family of Egypt doesn't go up, and doesn’t come, that have no rain, there shall be the plague, with which the Lord will strike the heathen that don't come up to keep the feast of tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that don't come up to keep the feast of tabernacles. 20 On that day there'll be on the bells of the horses, "Holiness To The Lord," and the pots in the Lord's house shall be like the bowls before the altar. 21 Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness to the Lord of hosts, and all of those who sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe in it, and on that day, there won't be any more Canaanites in the house of the Lord of hosts. ___Malachi chapter 1 1 The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi. 2 "I have loved you, says the Lord." Yet you say, "How have you loved us?" "Wasn't Esau Jacob's brother?" Says the Lord, "Yet I loved Jacob, 3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. 4 But Edom says, we are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places, thus says the Lord of hosts, they shall build, but I will throw down, and they shall call them, the border of wickedness, and, the people against whom the Lord has indignation forever. 5 And your eyes shall see, and you shall say, the Lord will be magnified from the border of Israel. 6 A son honors his father, and a servant his master, if then I'm a father, where is my honor? And if I'm a master, where is my fear? Says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, that despise my name. And you say, how have we despised your name? 7 You offer polluted bread on my altar, and you say, how have we polluted you? In that you say, the table of the Lord is contemptible. 8 And if you offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And if you offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? Offer it now to your governor. Will he be pleased with you, or accept your person? Says the Lord of hosts. 9 And now, please, beg of God that he will be gracious to us, this has been by your means, will he regard your persons? Says the Lord of hosts. 10 Who is there among you that would shut the doors for nothing? Nor do you kindle fire on my altar for nothing. I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, nor will I accept an offering from your hand. 11 For from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles, and in every place, incense shall be offered to my name, and a pure offering, for my name shall be great among the heathen, says the Lord of hosts. 12 But you have profaned it, in that you say, the table of the Lord is polluted, and the fruit of it, his food is contemptible. 13 You also said, see, what a weariness it is! And you have snuffed at it, says the Lord of hosts, and you brought what was torn, and the lame, and the sick, this is how you brought an offering, should I accept this from your hand, says the Lord? 14 But cursed be the deceiver, who has in his flock a male, and vows, and sacrifices to the Lord a corrupt thing, for I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen." ___Malachi chapter 2 1 "And now, O you priests, this commandment is for you. 2 If you won't hear, and if you won't lay it to heart, to give glory to my name, says the Lord of hosts, I will send a curse on you, and I will curse your blessings, yes, I have cursed them already, because you don't lay it to heart. 3 See, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your solemn feasts, and someone shall take you away with it. 4 And you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you, so that my covenant would be with Levi, says the Lord of hosts. 5 My covenant was with him of life and peace, and I gave them to him for the fear with which he feared me, and was afraid before my name. 6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and sin was not found in his lips, he walked with me in peace and equity, and turned many away from sin. 7 For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. 8 But you've departed out of the way, you have caused many to stumble at the law, you have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts. 9 Therefore I've also made you contemptible and base before all the people, since you haven't kept my ways, but have been partial in the law. 10 Don't we all have one father? Hasn't one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers? 11 Judah has dealt treacherously, and a detestable thing is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem, for Judah has profaned the holiness of the Lord that he loved, and has married the daughter of a strange god. 12 The Lord will cut off the man that does this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offers an offering to the Lord of hosts. 13 And this you've done again, covering the altar of the Lord with tears, with crying, and with shouting out, since he doesn't regard the offering anymore, nor receives it with good will from your hand. 14 Yet you say, why? Because the Lord has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you've dealt treacherously, yet she is your companion, and the wife of your covenant. 15 And didn't he make one? Yet he had the remainder of the spirit. And why one? So that he could seek godly descendants. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. 16 For the Lord, the God of Israel, says that he hates divorce, for one covers violence with his garment, says the Lord of hosts, therefore take heed to your spirit, so that you don't deal treacherously. 17 You have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet you say, how have we wearied him? When you say, everyone that does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them, or, where is the God of justice?" ___Malachi chapter 3 1 "See, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me, and the Lord, whom you seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, the messenger of the covenant, whom you delight in, see, he shall come, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can survive the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like the soap of the person who does bleaching, 3 And he shall sit like a refiner and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them like gold and silver, so that they can offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem shall be pleasant to the Lord, like in the old days, and like in years past. 5 And I will come near to you for judgment, and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those who oppress the worker regarding his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his rights, and don't fear me, says the Lord of hosts. 6 For I am the Lord, I don't change, therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed. 7 Even from the days of your fathers you've gone away from my ordinances, and haven't kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you said, how shall we return? 8 Will a man rob God? Yet you've robbed me. But you say, how have we robbed you? In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, because you've robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, so there'll be food in my house, and test me now with this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open to you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, such that there won't be room enough to receive it. 11 And I will reprimand the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, nor shall your vine throw its fruit in the field prematurely, says the Lord of hosts. 12 And all nations shall call you blessed, for you shall be a delightsome land, says the Lord of hosts. 13 Your words have been stout against me, says the Lord. Yet you say, what have we spoken so much against you? 14 You've said, it's useless to serve God, and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts? 15 And now we call the proud happy, yes, those who do wickedness are set up, yes, those who tempt God get deliverance. 16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke often to each other, and the Lord listened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for those who feared the Lord, and that thought on his name. 17 And they shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels, and I will spare them, like a man spares his own son that serves him. 18 Then you shall return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and him that doesn't serve him." ___Malachi chapter 4 1 "For, see, the day comes that shall burn like an oven, and all the proud, yes, and all who do wickedly, shall be kindling wood, and the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But to you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings, and you shall go out, and grow up like calves of the stall. 3 And you shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I shall do this, says the Lord of hosts. 4 Remember the law of Moses my servant, that I commanded to him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. 5 See, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord, 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, so that I don't come and strike the earth with a curse. THE NEW TESTAMENT ___Matthew chapter 1 1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham fathered Isaac, and Isaac fathered Jacob, and Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers, 3 And Judah fathered Pharez and Zarah from Tamar, and Pharez fathered Hezron, and Hezron fathered Ram, 4 And Ram fathered Amminadab, and Amminadab fathered Nahshon, and Nahshon fathered Salmon, 5 And Salmon fathered Boaz from Rahab, and Boaz fathered Obed from Ruth, and Obed fathered Jesse, 6 And Jesse fathered David the king, and David the king fathered Solomon from her that had been the wife of Uriah, 7 And Solomon fathered Rehoboam, and Rehoboam fathered Abijam, and Abijam fathered Asa, 8 And Asa fathered Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat fathered Jehoram, and Jehoram fathered Ahaziah, 9 And Ahaziah fathered Joash, and Joash fathered Amaziah, and Amaziah fathered Azariah, and Azariah fathered Jotham, and Jotham fathered Ahaz, and Ahaz fathered Hezekiah, 10 And Hezekiah fathered Manasseh, and Manasseh fathered Amon, and Amon fathered Josiah, 11 And Josiah fathered Jehoiakim, and Jehoiakim fathered Jechoniah and his brothers, about the time they were carried away to Babylon, 12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechoniah fathered Salathiel, and Salathiel fathered Zorobabel, 13 And Zorobabel fathered Abiud, and Abiud fathered Eliakim, and Eliakim fathered Azor, 14 And Azor fathered Sadoc, and Sadoc fathered Achim, and Achim fathered Eliud, 15 And Eliud fathered Eleazar, and Eleazar fathered Matthan, and Matthan fathered Jacob, 16 And Jacob fathered Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are about fourteen generations, and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are about fourteen generations, and from the carrying away into Babylon to Christ are about fourteen generations. 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: when his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she became pregnant by the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and who didn't want to make her a public example, was thinking about putting her away privately. 20 But while he thought about these things, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, you son of David, don't be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall give birth to a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins." 22 Now all this was done, so that what was spoken regarding the Lord by the prophet would be fulfilled, 23 "See, a virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel," which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did what the angel of the Lord had told him, and took Mary to be his wife, 25 And didn't have sex with her until she had given birth to her firstborn son, and he called his name Jesus. ___Matthew chapter 2 1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 And said, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and have come to worship him." 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded they tell him where Christ would be born. 5 And they told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And you Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the princes of Judah, for out of you shall come a governor, that shall rule my people Israel." 7 Then Herod, when he had privately called the wise men, diligently inquired of them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, "Go and search diligently for the young child, and when you've found him, bring me word, so I can come and worship him also." 9 After they had heard the king, they departed, and the star that they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stopped over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with very great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him, and when they had opened their treasures, they presented to him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And being warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed into their own country by another route. 13 And when they had departed, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Get up, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him." 14 When he got up, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed for Egypt, 15 And was there until the death of Herod, so that what was spoken about the Lord by the prophet would be fulfilled, "Out of Egypt, I have called my son." 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he wasn't taken seriously by the wise men, was very angry and sent out and killed all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts of it, from two years old and under, according to the time that he had diligently inquired of the wise men. 17 Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, 18 "In Rama there was a voice heard, lamentation and crying, and great mourning, Rachel crying for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not." 19 But when Herod was dead, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 Saying, "Get up, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who wanted to kill the young child are dead." 21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus reigned in Judea in the office of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, also, being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee, 23 And he came and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets would be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazarene." ___Matthew chapter 3 1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 And saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, who said, "The voice of someone shouting in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." 4 And the same John had clothing of camel's hair, and a leather girdle around his hips, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem went out to him, and all Judea, and all the region around Jordan, 6 And were baptized by him in Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said to them, "O generation of snakes, who has warned you to flee from the anger to come? 8 Produce therefore fruits appropriate for repentance, 9 And don't think to say inside yourselves, We have Abraham as our father, for I say to you that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10 And also, the axe is now being applied to the root of the trees, therefore every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down, and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water for repentance, but he that comes after me is mightier than I am, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry, he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire, 12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 But John said to him, "No, I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15 And Jesus answered him, "Allow it to be so now, because this is what we need to do to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed it. 16 And Jesus, after being baptized, went up directly out of the water, and the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and landing on him, 17 And there was a voice from heaven saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." ___Matthew chapter 4 1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, "If you're the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." 4 But he answered, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." 5 Then the devil took him up into the holy city, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And said to him, "If you're the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, He shall give his angels commandment concerning you, and in their hands they'll hold you up, so you won't at any time dash your foot against a stone." 7 Jesus said to him, "It is written again, You shall not tempt the Lord your God." 8 Again, the devil took him up into a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, 9 And said to him, "I will give you all these things, if you'll fall down and worship me." 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Get away from here, Satan, for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve only him." 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and ministered to him. 12 Now when Jesus had heard that John had been thrown into prison, he went into Galilee, 13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and lived in Capernaum, which is on the sea coast, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 So that what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled, 15 "The land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, 16 The people who sat in darkness saw great light, and to those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has sprung up." 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." 18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, throwing a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishermen of men." 20 And they immediately left their nets, and followed him. 21 And going on from there, he saw two more brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him. 23 And Jesus went around all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. 24 And his fame went throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all sick people that were afflicted by various diseases and torments, and those who were possessed by devils, and those who were lunatics, and those who had the palsy, and he healed them. 25 And great multitudes of people followed him from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan. ___Matthew chapter 5 1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain, and when he was set, his disciples came to him, 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they'll be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, because they'll obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, because they'll see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, because they'll be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for being righteous, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 11 Blessed are you, when men revile you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be very glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for that's what they did to the prophets who went before you. 13 You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be salted? It is then good for nothing, except to be thrown out, and to be walked on by men's feet. 14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill can't be hidden. 15 Nor do men light a candle, and put it under a basket, but on a candlestick, and it gives light to all that are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they'll see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. 17 Don't think that I've come to destroy the law, or the prophets, I haven't come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth go away, one period or one comma shall in no way pass from the law, until all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, unless you are more righteous than the scribes and Pharisees, you'll in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 21 You have heard that it was said by those of old time, You shall not kill, and whoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment, 22 But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother without a good reason shall be in danger of the judgment, and whoever shall say to his brother, You vain fellow, shall be in danger of the council, but whoever shall say, You fool, shall be in danger of hell's fire. 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, 24 Leave your gift there before the altar and go away, first make peace with your brother, and then go back and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you're on the road with him, so the adversary won't turn you over to the judge, and the judge won't turn you over to the officer, and you aren't thrown into prison. 26 Truly I say to you, you'll no way come out from there, until you've paid the very last penny. 27 You've heard that it was said by those of old time, You shall not commit adultery, 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 And if your right eye offends you, pluck it out, and throw it from you, for it is profitable for you that one of your members is destroyed, and not that your whole body should be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand offends you, cut it off, and throw it from you, for it is profitable for you that one of your members is destroyed, and not that your whole body should be thrown into hell. 31 It has been said, Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her divorce papers, 32 But I say to you that whoever shall put away his wife, except because of fornication, causes her to commit adultery, and whoever shall marry her that's divorced commits adultery. 33 Again, you've heard that it has been said by those of old time, You shall not falsely promise, but shall perform to the Lord your oaths, 34 But I say to you, don't swear at all, neither by heaven, for it is God's throne, 35 Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you can't make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yes, yes, no, no, for whatever is more than these comes from evil. 38 You have heard that it has been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, 39 But I say to you, don't resist evil, but whoever shall strike you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue you at the law, and take away your coat, let him have your overcoat also. 41 And whoever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to him that asks you, and from him that would borrow from you don't turn away. 43 You have heard that it has been said, You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy. 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you, and persecute you, 45 So that you'll be the children of your Father who is in heaven, for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don't even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brothers only, what are you doing more than others? Don't even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." ___Matthew chapter 6 1 "Be careful that you don't give charitable gifts in the sight of men to be seen by them, otherwise you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 Therefore when you give charitable gifts, don't sound a trumpet before you, like the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so they'll have honor from men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you give, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 So that your giving will be in secret, and your Father who sees in secret shall himself reward you openly. 5 And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites are, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, so they'll be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you've shut your door, pray to your Father in secret, and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly. 7 But when you pray, don't use useless repetitions, like the heathen do, because they think they'll be heard for their many words. 8 Therefore, don't be like them, because your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Therefore, pray like this, Our Father who is in heaven, your name be honored. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth, like it is in heaven. 11 Give us our daily bread today. 12 And forgive our debts, like we forgive our debtors. 13 And don't lead us into temptation, but give us deliverance from evil, for yours are the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. 14 For if you forgive men their wrong doing, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 But if you don't forgive men their wrong doing, neither will your Father forgive your wrong doing. 16 Also, when you fast, don't have a sad face like the hypocrites, for they distort their faces, so they'll appear to men to be fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, put ointment on your head and wash your face, 18 So that you don't seem to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, shall reward your openly. 19 Don't store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal, 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moths nor rust can corrupt, and where thieves don't break through nor steal, 21 Because where your treasure is, your heart will be there also. 22 The light of the body is the eye, if therefore your eye is single, your whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if your eye is evil, your whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You can't serve God and money. 25 Therefore I say to you, don't be worrying about your life, what you'll eat, or what you'll drink, nor for your body, what you'll put on. Isn't the life more important than food, and the body than clothes? 26 Look at birds of the air, for they don't plant, nor do they harvest, nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you much better than they are? 27 Which of you, by thinking, can add eighteen inches to his height? 28 And why do you take thought for clothes? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they don't work, nor do they spin, 29 And yet I say to you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30 So, if God clothes the grass of the field, that exists today, and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won't he much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore don't think, What will we eat? Or, What will we drink? Or, with what shall we be clothed? 32 (Because the Gentiles seek for all those things,) for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore, don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient to the day is its own evil." ___Matthew chapter 7 1 "Don't judge, so that you won't be judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged, and with what measure you measure out, it shall be measured back to you again. 3 And why do you look at the speck that's in your brother's eye, but don't consider the plank that's in your own eye? 4 Or how will you say to your brother, Let me pull out the speck out of your eye, and see, a plank is in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first cast out the plank out of your own eye, and then you'll see clearly to cast out the speck from your brother's eye. 6 Don't give that which is holy to the dogs, and don't throw your pearls before pigs, so they don't trample them under their feet, and turn again and tear you. 7 Ask, and it shall be given to you, seek, and you'll find. Knock, and it shall be opened to you, 8 For everyone that asks receives, and he that seeks finds, and to him that knocks it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son asks for bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a snake? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him? 12 Therefore whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the law and the prophets. 13 Enter in at the restricted gate, because wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and there are many that go in there, 14 Because the gate is restricted, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. 15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are greedy wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree produces good fruit, but a corrupt tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can't produce bad fruit, nor can a corrupt tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire. 20 So, by their fruits you'll know them. 21 Not everyone that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, haven't we prophesied in your name? And in your name have cast out devils? And in your name done many wonderful works? 23 And then I will tell them, I never knew you, go away from me, you sinners. 24 Therefore whoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock, 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house, and it didn't fall, because it was founded on a rock. 26 And everyone that hears these sayings of mine, and doesn't do them, is like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand, 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house, and it fell, and it was a big disaster." 28 And when Jesus had finished these sayings, the people were amazed at his doctrine, 29 Because he taught them like someone who had authority, and not like the scribes. ___Matthew chapter 8 1 When he had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. 2 And, a leper came and worshipped him, and said, "Lord, if you would, you can make me clean." 3 And Jesus put out his hand, and touched him and said, "I will, be clean." And immediately he was cleansed from leprosy. 4 And Jesus said to him, "Make sure you don't tell anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony to them." 5 And when Jesus had entered into Capernaum, a centurion came to him, begging him, 6 And saying, "Lord, my servant lies at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented." 7 And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him." 8 The centurion answered him, "Lord, I'm not worthy for you to come under my roof, but speak the word only, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me, and I say to this man, go, and he goes, and to another, come, and he comes, and to my servant, do this, and he does it." 10 When Jesus heard it, he was surprised, and said to those who followed, "Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel. 11 And I say to you that many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be thrown out into outer darkness, there shall be crying and gnashing of teeth." 13 And Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way, and what you've believed for shall be done to you." And his servant was healed in the same hour. 14 And when Jesus had come into Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying, and sick with a fever. 15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up, and ministered to them. 16 When evening had come, they brought to him many that were possessed by devils, and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick, 17 So that it would be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, "Himself took our infirmities, and carried our sicknesses." 18 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes around him, he gave commandment to depart for the other side. 19 And a certain scribe came, and said to him, "Master, I will follow you wherever you go." 20 And Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man doesn't have a place to lay his head." 21 And another of his disciples said to him, "Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father." 22 But Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead." 23 And when he had entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 24 And a great storm came up on the sea, so that the ship was covered with the waves, but he was asleep. 25 And his disciples came to him and awoke him, saying, "Lord, save us, we're about to die." 26 And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then he got up, and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 But the men were amazed, and said, "What kind of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!" 28 And when he had come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, two possessed by devils met him, coming out of the tombs, very fierce, so that no man could pass by that way. 29 And they called out, "What have we to do with you, Jesus, you Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?" 30 And there was a good way off from them a herd of many pigs feeding. 31 So the devils asked him, "If you cast us out, allow us to go into the herd of pigs." 32 And he said to them, "Go." And when they had come out, they went into the herd of pigs, and the whole herd of pigs ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and drowned in the waters. 33 And those who kept them fled, and went into the city, and told everything, and what had happened to those possessed by devils. 34 And the whole city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they asked him to go away out of their coasts. ___Matthew chapter 9 1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. 2 And they brought him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed, and Jesus seeing their faith said to the man sick of the palsy, "Son, be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven." 3 And certain of the scribes said inside themselves, "This man is blaspheming." 4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Get up, and walk? 6 But so that you'll know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins," (then he said to the man sick of the palsy,) "Get up, pick up your bed, and go to your house." 7 And he got up, and went to his house. 8 But when the multitudes saw it, they were amazed, and glorified God, who had given such power to men. 9 And as Jesus departed from there, he saw a man named Matthew, sitting and collecting taxes, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up, and followed him. 10 And as Jesus sat to eat in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, "Why does your master eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 12 But when Jesus heard that, he said to them, "Those who are well don't need a doctor, but those who sick. 13 But go and learn what it means, I want mercy, not sacrifice, for I haven't come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." 14 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don't fast?" 15 And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests mourn, while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then they'll fast. 16 No man sews a piece of new cloth on an old garment, because what is put in to fill it up takes from the garment, and the tear gets worse. 17 Nor do men put new wine into old wineskins, otherwise the wineskins break, and the wine runs out, and the wineskins are destroyed, but they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved." 18 While he spoke these things to them, a certain ruler came and worshipped him, saying, "My daughter is now dead, but come and lay your hand on her, and she'll live." 19 And Jesus got up, and followed him, and so did his disciples. 20 And a woman who had been diseased for twelve years with bleeding that wouldn't stop, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment, 21 For she said inside herself, "If I can just touch his garment, I'll be well." 22 But Jesus turned around, and when he saw her, he said, "Daughter, be of good comfort, your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour. 23 And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, 24 He said to them, "Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping." And they laughed at him scornfully. 25 But when the people had been put out, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. 26 And the news of this went around into all that land. 27 And when Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, "You Son of David, have mercy on us." 28 And when he had come into the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, "Have what you're believing for." 30 And their eyes were opened, and Jesus strictly commanded them, "Make sure that no man knows it." 31 But they, when they had departed, spread around his fame in all that country. 32 As they went out, they brought to him a man who couldn't speak, possessed by a devil. 33 And when the devil had been cast out, the man spoke, and the multitudes were amazed, saying, "It was never so seen in Israel." 34 But the Pharisees said, "He casts out devils through the prince of the devils." 35 And Jesus went around all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is truly plenteous, but the laborers are few, 38 Therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest, that he will send out laborers into his harvest." ___Matthew chapter 10 1 And when he had called to himself his twelve disciples, he gave them authority against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: the first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, 3 Philip, and Bartholomew, Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector, James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus Thaddaeus, 4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. 5 Jesus sent these twelve out, and commanded them, "Don't go into the way of the Gentiles, and don't enter into any city of the Samaritans, 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, and say, The kingdom of heaven is near. 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils, you have received for free, give for free. 9 Don't provide gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, 10 Nor paper money for your journey, nor two coats, nor shoes, nor yet staves, because the workman is worthy of his food. 11 And into whatever city or town you enter, ask who in it is worthy, and live there until you leave that city. 12 And when you go into a house, greet the people there. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when you depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. 15 Truly I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment, than for that city. 16 See, I send you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men, because they'll deliver you up to the councils, and they'll scourge you in their synagogues, 18 And you'll be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, don't think about how or what you'll say, for it shall be given to you in that same hour what to say. 20 For it is not you that speaks, but the Spirit of your Father that speaks in you. 21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child, and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22 And you'll be hated by all men for my name's sake, but he that endures to the end shall be saved. 23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee into another, for truly I say to you, you won't have gone over the cities of Israel, until the Son of man has come. 24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he be like his master, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they say that about those of his household? 26 Therefore don't be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed, and nothing hidden, that shall not become known. 27 What I tell you in darkness, speak in light, and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28 And don't fear those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul, but rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Aren't two sparrows sold for a quarter? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Therefore don't be afraid, you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 Whoever therefore shall confess me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever shall deny me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven. 34 Don't think that I've come to send peace on earth, I didn't come to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I've come to set a man against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's enemies shall be those of his own household. 37 He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that doesn't take his cross, and follow after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that finds his life shall lose it, and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it. 40 He that receives you receives me, and he that receives me receives him that sent me. 41 He that receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward, and he that receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 42 And whoever shall give to drink to one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he shall in no way lose his reward." ___Matthew chapter 11 1 And when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities. 2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 And said to him, "Are you he that was supposed to come, or should we be looking for someone else?" 4 Jesus answered them, "Go back and tell John the things that you hear and see, 5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whoever is not offended by me." 7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes about John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A bush shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he, about whom it is written, See, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way before you. 11 Truly I say to you, among those who've been born of women, no one has arisen that is greater than John the Baptist, but he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven endures violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you'll receive it, this is the Elijah who was to come. 15 He that has ears to hear, let him hear. 16 But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, and calling to their friends, 17 We have piped to you, and you haven't danced, we have mourned to you, and you haven't lamented. 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He has a devil. 19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, See, a glutton and a wino, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. But wisdom is justified by her children." 20 Then he began to find fault with the cities in which most of his mighty works were done, because they didn't repent, 21 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works that have been done in you had been done in Tyre and Zidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Zidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, that is lifted up to heaven, shall be brought down to hell, for if the mighty works that have been done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment, than for you." 25 At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you've hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to babies. 26 Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in your sight. 27 All things are delivered to me by my Father, and no man knows the Son, but the Father, nor does any man know the Father, except the Son, and he to whomever the Son will reveal him. 28 Come to me, all of you that labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke on you, and learn from me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you'll find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." ___Matthew chapter 12 1 At that time, Jesus went through the corn fields on the Sabbath day, and his disciples were hungry, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "See, your disciples do what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath day." 3 But he said to them, "Haven't you read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him, 4 How he entered into the house of God, and ate the showbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or haven't you read in the law, how that on the Sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath day, and are blameless? 6 But I say to you that in this place is someone greater than the temple. 7 But if you had known what this means, I want mercy, not sacrifice, you wouldn't have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day." 9 And when he had departed from there, he went into their synagogue, 10 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days?" So they could accuse him. 11 And he said to them, "What man is there among you, who if he has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath day, won't he take hold of it, and lift it out? 12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? So, it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days." 13 Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and it was restored well, like the other one. 14 Then the Pharisees went out, and plotted how they could destroy him. 15 But when Jesus knew it, he went away from there, and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all, 16 And commanded them not to make him known, 17 So that what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled, 18 "Look at my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased, I will put my spirit on him, and he'll show judgment to the gentiles. 19 He won't strive, nor shout, nor shall any man hear his voice in the streets. 20 He won't break a bruised reed, and he won't quench smoking flax, until he causes justice to be victorious. 21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust." 22 Then someone possessed by a devil was brought to him, blind, and not able to speak, and he healed him, so that the blind and speechless man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, "Isn't this the son of David?" 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This fellow doesn't cast out devils, but by Beelzebub, the prince of the devils." 25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself gets destroyed, and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand, 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself, how then shall his kingdom stand? 27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 29 Or else how can someone enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, unless he first ties up the strong man? And then he will spoil his house. 30 He that is not with me is against me, and he that doesn't gather with me scatters away. 31 So I say to you, all kinds of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men, but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven to men. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, he'll be forgiven for it, but whoever speaks against the Holy Ghost, he won't be forgiven for it, neither in this world, nor in the next world. 33 Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or else make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt, because the tree is known by its fruit. 34 O generation of snakes, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings out good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings out evil things. 36 But I say to you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account of on the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you'll be justified, and by your words you'll be condemned." 38 Then certain scribes and Pharisees answered, "Master, we want to see a sign from you." 39 But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, and no sign shall be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah, 40 For like Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and see, a greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it, because she came from the farthest parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and see, a greater than Solomon is here. 43 When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, I'll return into my house that I came out of, and when he gets there, he finds it empty, swept, and garnished. 45 Then he goes, and takes with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and live there, and the last condition of that man is worse than the first. That's how it will be also, for this wicked generation." 46 While he still talked to the people, his mother and his brothers stood outside, desiring to speak with him. 47 Then someone said to him, "See, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and want to speak with you." 48 But he answered him that told him, "Who is my mother? And who are my brothers?" 49 And he stretched out his hand toward his disciples, and said, "Look at my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." ___Matthew chapter 13 1 The same day, Jesus went out of the house, and sat by the sea side. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together to him, so that he went into a ship and sat, and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3 And he spoke many things to them in parables, and said, "See, a planter went out to plant, 4 And when he planted, some seeds fell by the way side, and the birds came and devoured them up, 5 Some fell on stony places, where they didn't have much earth, and immediately they sprang up, because they had no deepness of earth, 6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched, and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked them, 8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9 Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear." 10 And the disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" 11 He answered them, "Because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it hasn't been given. 12 For whoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance, but whoever doesn't have, from him shall be taken away even what he has. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because they seeing, don't see, and hearing, they don't hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says, By hearing, you'll hear, and not understand, and seeing, you'll see, and won't perceive, 15 For these people's hearts have become large, and their ears are dull of hearing, and they've closed their eyes, so that at no time will they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I would heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 For truly I say to you, many prophets and righteous men have desired to see the things that you see, and haven't seen them, and to hear the things that you hear, and haven't heard them. 18 Therefore hear the parable of the planter. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and doesn't understand it, then the wicked one comes, and catches away what was planted in his heart. This is he who received seed by the way side. 20 But he that received the seed into stony places, is he that hears the word, and with joy receives it, 21 Yet doesn't have roots in himself, but endures for a while, because when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, then he becomes offended. 22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the word, and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that hears the word, and understands it, who also produces fruit, and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold." 24 He spoke another parable to them, "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who planted good seed in his field, 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and planted tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade had sprung up, and produced fruit, then the tares appeared also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said to him, Sir, didn't you plant good seed in your field? So why do we have tares? 28 He said to them, An enemy has done this. The servants said to him, do you want us to go and gather them up? 29 But he said, No, because while you gather up the tares, you'll also uproot some of the wheat with the tares. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, gather together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn." 31 He gave them another parable, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took, and planted in his field, 32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds, but when it has grown up, it is the greatest among herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches of it." 33 He spoke another parable to them, "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast, that a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, until all of it was leavened." 34 Jesus spoke all these things to the multitude in parables, and he didn't speak to them without a parable, 35 So that what was spoken by the prophet would be fulfilled, "I will open my mouth in parables, I will tell things that have been kept secret from the foundation of the world." 36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house, and his disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field." 37 He answered them, "He that plants the good seed is the Son of man, 38 The field is the world, the good seed are the children of the kingdom, but the tares are the children of the wicked one, 39 The enemy that planted them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are the angels. 40 Therefore, like the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, that's how it will be at the end of this world. 41 The Son of man shall send out his angels, and they'll gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and those who sin, 42 And shall throw them into a furnace of fire, there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous shall shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear. 44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which when a man has found he hides, and rejoicing about that, goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field. 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant man, seeking good pearls, 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. 47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net, that was thrown into the sea, and gathered of every kind, 48 Which when it was full, they pulled it to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into containers, but threw the bad away. 49 It shall be like that at the end of the world, the angels shall come, and separate the wicked from among the just, 50 And shall throw them into the furnace of fire, there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." 51 Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all of these things?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." 52 Then he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been instructed regarding the kingdom of heaven is like a man that is a householder, who brings out of his treasure new things and old things." 53 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed from there. 54 And when he had come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, such that they were astonished, and said, "From where does this man get this wisdom, and these mighty works? 55 Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother called Mary? And his brothers, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 56 And his sisters, aren't they all with us? From where then does this man have all these things?" 57 And they were offended at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and in his own house." 58 And he didn't do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. ___Matthew chapter 14 1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, 2 And said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist, he has risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works are done by him." 3 Because Herod had arrested John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. 4 Because John said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." 5 And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. 6 But when Herod's birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. 7 And so he swore that he would give her whatever she would ask for. 8 And she, being before instructed by her mother said, "Give me here John Baptist's head in a container." 9 And the king was sorry, but because of the oath and those who sat with him to eat, he commanded it to be given to her. 10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. 11 And his head was brought in a container, and given to the young woman, and she brought it to her mother. 12 And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus. 13 When Jesus heard about it, he departed from there by ship into a desert place apart, and when the people had heard about it, they followed him on foot out of the cities. 14 And Jesus went out, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. 15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him and said, "This is a desert place, and the time has now passed, send the multitude away, so they can go into the villages, and buy themselves food." 16 But Jesus said to them, "They don't need to go, you give them food." 17 And they said to him, "We only have five loaves here, and two fish." 18 He said, "Bring them here to me." 19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and broke, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 20 And they all ate, and were filled, and they took up of the pieces that remained twelve full baskets. 21 And those who had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children. 22 And immediately Jesus told his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray, and when the evening had come, he was there alone. 24 But the ship was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by waves, because the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, and said, "It is a spirit," and they shouted out for fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, "Be of good cheer, it is I, don't be afraid." 28 And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water." 29 And he said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the very strong wind he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he shouted, "Lord, save me." 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 32 And when they had come into the ship, the wind stopped. 33 Then those who were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God." 34 And when they had gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place knew about him, they sent out into all that country around there, and brought to him all that were diseased, 36 And asked him to just let them touch the hem of his garment, and as many as touched were made perfectly well. ___Matthew chapter 15 1 Then scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus and said, 2 "Why do your disciples go against the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands when they eat bread." 3 But he answered them, "Why do you also go against the commandment of God by your tradition? 4 For God commanded, Honor your father and mother, and, he that curses father or mother, let him die the death. 5 But you say, Whoever shall say to his father or his mother, whatever I might have given to you, I've given to God, 6 And doesn't honor his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus, you've made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 You hypocrites, Isaiah prophesied well about you, saying, 8 These people come near me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 9 But they worship me without benefit, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." 10 And he called the multitude, and said to them, "Listen, and understand, 11 It's not what goes into the mouth that pollutes a man, but it's what comes out of the mouth that pollutes a man." 12 Then his disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended, when they heard this saying?" 13 But he answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted, shall be uprooted. 14 Let them alone, they are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." 15 Then Peter said to him, "Explain this parable to us." 16 And Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding? 17 Don't you yet understand, that whatever enters in at the mouth goes into the belly, and goes out into the toilet? 18 But the things that proceed out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies, 20 These are the things that defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands doesn't defile a man." 21 Then Jesus went from there, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Zidon. 22 And a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and called to him, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, you Son of David, my daughter is grievously tormented by a devil." 23 But he didn't answer her a word. And his disciples came and asked him to send her away, because she calls to us. 24 But he answered, "I am not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 25 Then she came and worshipped him, saying, "Lord, help me." 26 But he answered, "It's not right to take the children's bread, and to throw it to dogs." 27 And she said, "Truth Lord, yet the dogs eat from the crumbs that fall from their master's table." 28 Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith, have what you want." And her daughter was made well from that very hour. 29 And Jesus departed from there, and came near the sea of Galilee, and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. 30 And great multitudes came to him, having with them those who were lame, blind, unable to speak, maimed, and many others, and dropped them down at Jesus' feet, and he healed them, 31 So that the multitude was amazed, when they saw the dumb speak, the maimed well, the lame walking, and the blind seeing, and they glorified the God of Israel. 32 Then Jesus called his disciples to him, and said, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they've continued with me now for three days, and have nothing to eat, and I don't want to send them away fasting, or they might faint on the way." 33 And his disciples said to him, from where would we have enough bread in the wilderness, to fill so large a multitude?" 34 And Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said, "Seven, and a few little fish." 35 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. 36 And he took the seven loaves and the fish, and gave thanks, and broke them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 37 And they all ate and were filled, and they took up of the broken food that was left, seven full baskets. 38 And those who ate were four thousand men, beside women and children. 39 And he sent away the multitude, and boarded a ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala. ___Matthew chapter 16 1 The Pharisees and Sadducees also came, and tempting, wanted him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered them, "When it is evening, you say, It will be fair weather, because the sky is red. 3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather today, because the sky is red and lowering. Oh you hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky, but you can't discern the signs of the times? 4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah." And he left them, and departed. 5 And when his disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. 6 Then Jesus said to them, "Take heed, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." 7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we have brought no bread." 8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said to them, "Oh you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves, because you've brought no bread? 9 Don't you yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up? 10 Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up? 11 How is it that you don't understand that I wasn't talking about bread, when I told you to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?" 12 Then they understood that he wasn't telling them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. 13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Whom do men say that I, the Son of man, am?" 14 And they said, "Some say you're John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But whom do you say that I am?" 16 And Simon Peter answered, "You're the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood haven't revealed it to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I say also to you, that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." 20 Then he instructed his disciples not to tell anyone that he was Jesus, the Christ. 21 From then on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22 Then Peter took him, and began to scold him, "Be it far from you, Lord, this shall not be for you." 23 But he turned, and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan, you are an offense to me, because you don't prefer the things that are of God, but those that are of men." 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever will save his life shall lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For how does a man profit, if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he shall reward every man according to his doings. 28 Truly I say to you, there are some standing here, who won't taste of death, until they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom." ___Matthew chapter 17 1 And after six days, Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain apart, 2 And his appearance was changed before them, and his face shined like the sun, and his clothing was white like the light. 3 And Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him. 4 Then Peter responded, and said to Jesus, "Lord, it's good for us to be here, if you're willing, let's make three tents here, one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 5 While he yet spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and there was a voice out of the cloud that said, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, listen to him." 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were very afraid. 7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, "Get up, and don't be afraid." 8 And when they looked up, they saw no man except Jesus. 9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus told them to tell the vision to no man until the Son of man had risen again from the dead. 10 And his disciples asked him, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" 11 And Jesus answered them, "Elijah truly does come first, and restores all things. 12 But I say to you that Elijah has already come, and they didn't know him, but have done to him whatever they wanted. Likewise also shall the Son of man suffer from them." 13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist. 14 And when they had come to the multitude, a certain man came to him, kneeling down to him, and saying, 15 "Lord, have mercy on my son, because he is a lunatic, and quite vexed, because he often falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to your disciples, and they couldn't cure him." 17 Then Jesus answered, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I endure you? Bring him to me." 18 And Jesus rebuked the devil, and he went out of him, and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately, and said, "Why couldn't we cast him out?" 20 And Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief, for truly I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you'll say to this mountain, Move from here to that other place, and it shall go there, and nothing shall be impossible to you. 21 But this kind doesn't go out except by prayer and fasting." 22 And while they stayed in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 And they'll kill him, and the third day he'll be raised again." And they were very sorry. 24 And when they'd come to Capernaum, the tax collectors came to Peter, and said, "Doesn't your master pay taxes?" 25 He said, "Yes." And when he had come into the house, Jesus stopped him, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take custom or taxes? From their own children, or from strangers?" 26 Peter said to him, "From strangers." Jesus said to him, "Then the children are free. 27 But still, so that we won't offend them, go to the sea, and cast a hook, and take up the first fish that comes up, and when you've opened its mouth, you'll find a piece of money. Take that, and give it to them for me and you." ___Matthew chapter 18 1 At the same time the disciples came to Jesus, and said, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 And Jesus called a little child to him, and set him among them, 3 And said, "Truly I say to you, unless you're converted, and become like little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever therefore shall humble himself like this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever shall receive one such little child in my name receives me. 6 But whoever shall offend one of these little ones who believe in me, it would have been better for him that a millstone had been hung around his neck, and that he had been drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of offences! Because it must happen that offences come, but woe to that man by whom the offence comes! 8 So if your hand or your foot offends you, cut them off, and throw them from you, it is better for you to enter into life missing a body part, rather than having two hands or two feet to be thrown into everlasting fire. 9 And if your eye offends you, pluck it out, and throw it from you, it is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be thrown into hell's fire. 10 Be careful that you don't offend one of these little ones, for I say to you, that in heaven, their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. 11 For the Son of man has come to save those who were lost. 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, doesn't he leave the ninety nine, and go into the mountains, and seek the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices more about that sheep, than about the ninety nine that didn't go astray. 14 Even so, it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven for one of these little ones to be destroyed. 15 Also if your brother wrongs you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone, if he agrees, you've gained your brother. 16 But if he doesn't agree, then take with you one or two more, so that in the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word will be established. 17 And if he won't hear them, tell it to the church, but if he won't hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen man and a tax collector. 18 Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you that if two of you shall agree on earth concerning anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them by my Father who is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them." 21 Then Peter came to him, and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I don't say to you, until seven times, but until seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king, who would take account of his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, someone was brought to him, who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But since he had nothing to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you all that I owe. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and set him free, and forgave him the debt. 28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, who owed him a hundred pence, and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me what you owe. 29 And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and begged him, Have patience with me, and I will pay you all. 30 And he wouldn't, but went and threw him into prison, until he paid the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told their lord all that had happened. 32 Then his lord, after he had called him, said to him, O you wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you desired me to. 33 Shouldn't you also have had compassion on your fellow servant, like I had pity on you? 34 And his lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he paid all that was due. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also to you, if you don't from your hearts forgive everyone his brother's trespasses against them." ___Matthew chapter 19 1 And when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and went into the coasts of Judea beyond Jordan, 2 And great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there. 3 The Pharisees also came to him, tempting him, and saying to him, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every reason?" 4 And he answered them, "Haven't you read that he who made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this reason shall a man leave father and mother, and shall stick with his wife, and the two of them shall be one flesh? 6 So, they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let man not separate." 7 They said to him, "Why then did Moses command to give divorce papers, and to put her away?" 8 He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to put away your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you, whoever shall put away his wife, except if there was fornication, and marries someone else, commits adultery, and whoever marries her that was put away commits adultery." 10 His disciples said to him, "If the case of the man is so with his wife, it is not good to marry." 11 But he said to them, "Not everyone can receive this saying, except those to whom it has been given. 12 For there are some eunuchs, who were born that way from their mother's womb, and there are some eunuchs, who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who've made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it." 13 Then little children were brought to him, so that he would put his hands on them and pray, and his disciples scolded them. 14 But Jesus said, "Allow little children to come to me, and don't forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." 15 And he laid his hands on them, and departed from there. 16 And someone came and said to him, "Good Master, what good thing shall I do, so that I can have eternal life?" 17 And he said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except one, that is, God, but if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." 18 He said to him, "Which?" Jesus said, "You shall not commit murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not tell lies, 19 Honor your father and your mother, and you shall love your neighbor like yourself." 20 The young man said to him, "I have kept all these things from my youth up, what do I yet lack?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go and sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you'll have treasure in heaven, and come and follow me." 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I say to you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." 25 When his disciples heard it, they were quite amazed, and said, "Who then can be saved?" 26 But Jesus looked at them, and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." 27 Then Peter answered him, "See, we've forsaken all, and followed you, what shall we have therefore?" 28 And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, That you who have followed me, in the new creation, when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, you shall also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone that has forsaken houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 30 But many that are first shall be last, and the last shall be first." ___Matthew chapter 20 1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man that is a house holder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. 2 And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 And said to them, You go also into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and said to them, Why do you stand here all the day idle? 7 They said to him, Because no man has hired us. He said to them, You go also into the vineyard, and whatever is right, you'll receive. 8 So when evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his steward, Call the laborers, and give them their wages, beginning from the last to the first. 9 And when those who had been hired about the eleventh hour came, they each received a penny. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they would have received more, and they likewise each received a penny. 11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the house holder, 12 Saying, These last have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who have endured the burden and heat of the day. 13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I've done you no wrong, didn't you agree with me for a penny? 14 Take what is yours, and be on your way, I will give to this last the same as to you. 15 Isn't it legal for me to do what I choose with my own money? Is your eye evil, because I am good? 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last, for many are called, but few chosen." 17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart on the way, and said to them, 18 "See, we're going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes, and they'll sentence him to death, 19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him, and the third day he'll rise back up." 20 Then the mother of Zebedee's children came to him with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing from him. 21 And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Grant that these two sons of mine will sit, one on your right hand, and the other on the left, in your kingdom." 22 But Jesus answered, "You don't know what you're asking. Are you able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to him, "We are able." 23 And he said to them, "You shall indeed drink of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with, but to sit at my right hand, and at my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." 24 And when the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to himself, and said, "You know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise authority over them, and those who are great exercise authority on them. 26 But it shall not be so among you, but whoever will be great among you, let him be your minister. 27 And whoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant, 28 Just like the Son of man didn't come to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." 29 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 30 And two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, called out saying, "Have mercy on us, Oh Lord, you Son of David." 31 And the multitude scolded them, because they should be quiet, but they shouted the more, "Have mercy on us, Oh Lord, you Son of David." 32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, "What do you want me to do for you?" 33 They said to him, "Lord, for our eyes to be opened." 34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes, and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him. ___Matthew chapter 21 1 And when they came near Jerusalem, and had come to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 Saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you'll find an ass tied, and a colt with her, untie them, and bring them to me. 3 And if any man says anything to you, say the Lord needs them, and immediately he will send them." 4 All this was done, so that what was spoken by the prophet would be fulfilled, who said, 5 "Tell the daughter of Zion, see, your King comes to you meek, and sitting on an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass." 6 And the disciples went, and did what Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put their clothes on them, and they placed him as the rider. 8 And a very great multitude spread their garments on the path, others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. 9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed called out, "Hosanna to the Son of David, blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest." 10 And when he had come to Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, "Who is this?" 11 And the multitude said, "This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee." 12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and threw out all of those who sold and bought in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers, and the seats of those who sold doves, 13 And said to them, "It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer, but you've made it a den of thieves." 14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. 15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children calling out in the temple, and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were very displeased, 16 And said to him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes, have you never read, Out of the mouth of babies and sucklings you've perfected praise?" 17 And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany, and he lodged there. 18 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he was hungry. 19 And when he saw a fig tree on the way, he came to it, and found nothing on it except leaves, and said to it, "Let no fruit grow on you from now on, forever." And soon the fig tree withered away. 20 And when the disciples saw it, they were amazed and said, Look how soon the fig tree has withered away! 21 Jesus answered them, "Truly I say to you, If you have faith, and don't doubt, you'll not only do this that has been done to the fig tree, but also if you'll say to this mountain, Be removed, and be thrown into the sea, it shall be done. 22 And all things, whatever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you'll receive." 23 And when he had come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority do you do these things? And who gave you this authority?" 24 And Jesus answered them, "I will also ask you one thing, which if you tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven, or of men?" And they reasoned with themselves, "If we say, From heaven, he'll say to us, Then why didn't you believe him? 26 But if we say, from men, we fear the people, for all count John as a prophet." 27 And they answered Jesus, "We can't tell." And he said to them, "Nor do I tell you by what authority I do these things. 28 But what do you think? A certain man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. 29 He answered, I won't, but afterward he changed his mind, and went. 30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered, I go, sir, and didn't go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said to him, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, that the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn't believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him, and you, when you had seen it, didn't repent afterward, so that you would believe him. 33 Hear another parable, there was a certain house holder, who planted a vineyard, and put a hedge around it, and dug a winepress in it, and built a tower, and rented it to vineyard keepers, and went into a far country. 34 And when the time of fruit came near, he sent his servants to the vineyard keepers, to collect fruit from them. 35 And the vineyard keepers took his servants and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first, and they did to them likewise. 37 But last of all, he sent them his son, saying, They'll respect my son. 38 But when the vineyard keepers saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and let's take his inheritance. 39 And they caught him, and threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 Therefore, when the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vineyard keepers?" 41 They said to him, "He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will rent his vineyard to other vineyard keepers, who'll pay him the fruits in their seasons." 42 Jesus said to them, "Didn't you ever read in the scriptures, The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? 43 Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation producing the fruits of it. 44 And whoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken, but on whomever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." 45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke about them. 46 But when they wanted to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him to be a prophet. ___Matthew chapter 22 1 And Jesus spoke to them again by parables, and said, 2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king, who made a wedding for his son, 3 And sent out his servants to call those who'd been invited to the wedding, and they wouldn't come. 4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, Tell those who've been invited, See, I've prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fatlings have been killed, and all things are ready, come to the wedding. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise, 6 And the rest of them took his servants, and mistreated them, and killed them. 7 But when the king heard about it, he was angry, and he sent out his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, The wedding is ready, but those who were invited weren't worthy. 9 Go therefore into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding. 10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good, and the wedding was furnished with guests. 11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who wasn't wearing a wedding garment, 12 And he said to him, Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment? And he couldn't answer. 13 Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and throw him into outer darkness. There shall be crying and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen." 15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they could entangle him in his talk. 16 And they sent out to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Master, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God in truth, nor do you care for any man, for you don't regard the person of men. 17 Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you tempt me, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the tax money." And they brought him a penny. 20 And he said to them, "Whose is this image and writing?" 21 They said to him, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." 22 When they had heard these words, they were amazed, and left him, and went away. 23 The same day, the Sadducees came to him, who say there is no resurrection, and asked him, 24 "Master, Moses said if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up children for his brother. 25 Now there were seven brothers with us, and the first, when he had married a wife, died, and having no children, left his wife to his brother. 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, all the way to the seventh. 27 And last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore in the resurrection, whose wife shall she be of the seven? For they all had her." 29 Jesus answered them, "You err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels of God in heaven. 31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven't you read what was spoken to you by God, 32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." 33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine. 34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he'd put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35 Then one of them, who was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, 36 "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?" 37 Jesus said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it, you shall love your neighbor like yourself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." 41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 "What do you think about Christ? Whose son is he?" They said to him, "The Son of David." 43 He said to them, "How then does David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool? 45 If David then calls him Lord, how is he his son?" 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, nor dared any man from that day on ask him any more questions. ___Matthew chapter 23 1 Then Jesus spoke to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' office, 3 Therefore, whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do it, but don't do like they do, for they say, but don't do. 4 For they tie heavy burdens and grievous to be carried, and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves won't move them with one of their fingers. 5 But they do all their works to be seen by men, they make their phylacteries broad, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the main seats in the synagogues, 7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called by men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 8 But don't you be called Rabbi, because you have one master, Christ, and all of you are brothers. 9 And don't call any man your father on earth, for someone is your Father who is in heaven. 10 And don't be called masters, for someone is your master, who is Christ. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whoever shall exalt himself shall be brought low, and he that shall humble himself shall be lifted up. 13 But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men, for you don't go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayer, therefore you'll receive the greater damnation. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you travel over sea and land to make one convert, and after he's converted, you make him twice as much the child of hell as yourselves. 16 Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, Whoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing, but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! 17 You fools and blind, for which is greater, the gold, or the temple that makes the gold holy? 18 And, Whoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing, but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is guilty. 19 You fools and blind, for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that makes the gift holy? 20 Whoever therefore swears by the altar, swears by it, and by all things that are on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple, swears by it, and by Him that lives in it. 22 And he that swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by Him that sits on it. 23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith. You ought to have done these, and not to leave the other undone. 24 You blind guides, who choke on a flea, and swallow a camel. 25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you clean the outside of the cup and platter, but inside they are full of extortion and excess. 26 You blind Pharisee, clean first that which is inside the cup and platter, so that the outside of them will be clean also. 27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you are like whitened tombs, that indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so, you also appear to be righteous to men outwardly, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and sin. 29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the tombs of the righteous, 30 And say, If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. 31 So you are witnesses against yourselves, that you are the children of those who killed the prophets. 32 Fill up then the measure of your fathers. 33 You serpents, you generation of snakes, how can you escape the damnation of hell? 34 So see, I send you prophets, and wise men, and scribes, and some of them you'll kill and crucify, and some of them you'll scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city, 35 So that on you will come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah, son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the temple and the altar. 36 Truly I say to you, all these things shall come on this generation. 37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to you, how often would I have gathered your children together, like a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you weren't willing! 38 See, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I say to you, you won't see me from now on until you say, blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord." ___Matthew chapter 24 1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple, and his disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, "Don't you see all these things? Truly I say to you, there won't be left here one stone on another, that won't be thrown down." 3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, "Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the world?" 4 And Jesus answered them, "Make sure that no man deceives you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many. 6 And you'll hear of wars and rumors of wars. Make sure you're not troubled, for all these things must happen, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then they'll deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you, and you'll be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many shall be offended, and shall betray each other, and shall hate each other. 11 And many false prophets shall arise, and deceive many. 12 And because sin shall be abundant, the love of many shall grow cold. 13 But he that endures to the end, shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations, and then the end shall come. 15 Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken about by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoever reads, let him understand,) 16 Then let those who are in Judea flee into the mountains, 17 Let him that is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house, 18 Nor let him that is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19 And woe to those who are with child, and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 But pray that your flight won't be in the winter, nor on the Sabbath day, 21 For then there shall be great tribulation, such as hasn't been since the beginning of the world until that time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved, but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man says to you, see, here is Christ, or there, don't believe it. 24 For false Christs shall arise, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, so that, if it were possible, they'll deceive the very elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So if they say to you, See, he is in the desert, don't go out, See, he is in the secret rooms, don't believe it. 27 For like the lightning comes out of the east, and shines all the way to the west, so also shall the coming of the Son of man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, that's where the eagles will be gathered together. 29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give its light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. 30 And then the sign of the Son of man shall appear in heaven, and then all of the tribes of the earth shall mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 32 Now learn a parable from the fig tree, when its branch is yet tender, and puts out leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So likewise you, when you see all these things, know that it's near, even at the doors. 34 Truly I say to you, this generation shall not pass, until all these things have been fulfilled. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36 But regarding that day and hour no man knows, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also shall the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, 39 And didn't know until the flood came, and took them all away, so also shall the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then two shall be in the field. One shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill. One shall be taken, and the other left. 42 Be ready therefore, because you don't know at what hour your Lord comes. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known what time the thief would come, he would have stayed awake, and would not have allowed his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore, you be ready also, for in such an hour as you think not, the Son of man will come. 45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he comes shall find doing so. 47 Truly I say to you that he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, My lord delays his coming, 49 And begins to strike his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken, 50 The lord of that servant shall come on a day when he's not looking for him, and at an hour that he's not aware of, 51 And shall cut him in pieces, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be crying and gnashing of teeth." ___Matthew chapter 25 1 "The kingdom of heaven is like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them, 4 But the wise took oil in their containers with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom delayed, they all napped and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a shout made, See, the bridegroom's coming, go out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins got up, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, because our lamps have gone out. 9 But the wise answered, Not so, or there may not be enough for us and you, but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding, and the door was shut. 11 The other virgins also came afterward, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered, Truly I say to you, I don't know you. 13 Be ready therefore, because you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of man will come. 14 For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered to them his goods. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each man according to his particular abilities, and immediately took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained another five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained another two. 18 But he that had received one went and dug in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came, and reckoned with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, Lord, you delivered to me five talents, see, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant, you've been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things, enter into the joy of your lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered to me two talents, see, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things, enter into the joy of your lord. 24 Then he that had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you haven't planted, and gathering where you haven't strawed, 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the earth, see, there you have what is yours. 26 His lord answered him, You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I didn't plant, and gather where I haven't strawed. 27 You should therefore have put my money with the exchangers, and then when I returned, I would have received what was mine plus interest. 28 Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 29 For to everyone that has, shall be given, and he shall have abundance, but from him that doesn't have shall be taken away even what he has. 30 And throw the unprofitable servant into outer darkness, there shall be crying and gnashing of teeth. 31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he shall sit on the throne of his glory, 32 And all nations shall be gathered before him, and he shall separate them from each other, like a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats. 33 And he shall set the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. 34 Then the King shall say to those at his right hand, Come, you blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, 35 For I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, I was a stranger, and you took me in, 36 Naked, and you clothed me, I was sick, and you visited me, I was in prison, and you came to me. 37 Then the righteous shall answer him, Lord, when did we see we you hungry, and feed you? Or thirsty, and gave you drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger, and took you in? Or naked, and clothed you? 39 Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and came to you? 40 And the King shall answer them, Truly I say to you, since you have done it to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it to me. 41 Then he shall say also to those on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels, 42 For I was hungry, and you gave me no food. I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger, and you didn't take me in, naked, and you didn't clothe me, sick and in prison, and you didn't visit me. 44 Then they shall also answer him, Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn't minister to you? 45 Then he shall answer them, Truly I say to you, since you didn't do it to one of the least of these, you didn't do it to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous to life eternal." ___Matthew chapter 26 1 And when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, 2 "You know that the Feast of the Passover comes in two days, and the Son of man will be betrayed to be crucified." 3 Then the chief priests assembled together, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, to the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4 And consulted how they could arrest Jesus on some technicality, and kill him. 5 But they said, "Not on the feast day, or there might be a riot among the people." 6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, 7 A woman came to him having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat to eat. 8 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation and said, "For what purpose is this waste? 9 Because this ointment could have been sold for much, and given to the poor." 10 When Jesus understood it, he said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? She has done a good work on me. 11 For you have the poor with you always, but me you don't have always. 12 For in that she has poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. 13 Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, what this woman has done shall also be told for a memorial of her." 14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, 15 And said to them, "What will you give me, and I will deliver him to you?" And they agreed with him for thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that time he looked for opportunity to betray him. 17 Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?" 18 And he said, "Go into the city to such a man, and say to him, The Master says, my time is at hand, I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples." 19 And the disciples did what Jesus had told them, and they prepared the Passover. 20 Now when the evening had come, he sat down with the twelve. 21 And as they ate, he said, "Truly I say to you, that one of you shall betray me." 22 And they were very sorrowful, and all of them began to say to him, "Lord, is it I?" 23 And he answered, "He that dips his hand with me in the dish, shall betray me. 24 The Son of man goes as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man gets betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born." 25 Then Judas, who betrayed him, answered, "Master, is it I?" He said to him, "You are right." 26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat. This is my body." 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "All of you drink it, 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is spilled for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I tell you, from now on, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." 30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you shall be offended because of me this night, because it is written, I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered. 32 But after I've risen again, I will go before you into Galilee." 33 Peter answered him, "Though all men shall be offended because of you, yet I will never be offended." 34 Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, this night, before the rooster crows, you'll deny me three times." 35 Peter said to him, "Even if I die with you, I won't deny you." Likewise also said all the disciples. 36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here, while I go and pray over there." 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death, wait here, and stay awake with me." 39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, "O my Father, if possible, let this cup pass from me, however not as I will, but as you will." 40 And he came to the disciples, and found them asleep, and said to Peter, "What, couldn't you stay awake with me one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray, so that you don't enter into temptation, the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 42 He went away again the second time and prayed, "O my Father, if this cup can't pass away from me unless I drink it, your will be done." 43 And he came and found them asleep again, because their eyes were heavy. 44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then he came to his disciples and said to them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest, see, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man has been betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up, let's be going, see, he is at hand that betrays me." 47 And while he yet spoke, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, that's the one, hold him tightly." 49 And immediately he came to Jesus, and said, "Hail, master," and kissed him. 50 And Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have you come?" Then they came, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. 51 And one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, "Put up your sword into its place, for all of those who take the sword shall die by the sword. 53 Do you think that I can't now pray to my Father, and he shall soon give me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled that it must be like this?" 55 In that same hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out like against a thief with swords and clubs to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and you didn't arrest me. 56 But all this was done so that the scriptures of the prophets would be fulfilled." Then all the disciples left him, and fled. 57 And those who had taken hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. 58 But Peter followed him at a distance to the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants to see the end. 59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, looked for false witnesses against Jesus, to put him to death, 60 But found none, yes, though many false witnesses came, yet they found none. At last, two false witnesses came, 61 And said, "This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days." 62 And the high priest got up, and said to him, "Do you answer nothing? What is it that these witness against you?" 63 But Jesus said nothing. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, to tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God." 64 Jesus said to him, "You are right, anyway I say to you, hereafter you'll see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy. Why would we need any more witnesses? See, now you've heard his blasphemy. 66 What do you think?" They answered, "He deserves to die." 67 Then they spat in his face, and punched him, and others struck him with the palms of their hands, 68 Saying, "Prophesy to us, you Christ, which one of us struck you?" 69 Now Peter sat outside in the palace, and a young woman came to him, and said, "You were also with Jesus of Galilee." 70 But he denied before them all, saying, "I don't know what you're talking about." 71 And when he had gone out into the porch, another young woman saw him, and said to those who were there, "This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth." 72 And again he denied with an oath, "I don't know the man." 73 And after a while those who stood by came to him and said to Peter, "Surely you're also one of them, because the way you talk betrays you." 74 Then he began to curse and to swear, saying, "I don't know the man." And immediately the rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, who said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you'll deny me three times." And he went out, and cried bitterly. ___Matthew chapter 27 1 When the morning had come, all the chief priests and elders of the people consulted together against Jesus to put him to death. 2 And when they had tied him, they led him away, and brought him to Pontius Pilate, the governor. 3 Then Judas, who had betrayed him, when he saw that he had been condemned, regretted what he'd done, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? You take care of that." 5 And he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hung himself. 6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, "It's not lawful to put them into the treasury, because it's the price of blood." 7 And they took advice, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. 8 So that field was called, "The Field of Blood," until this day. 9 And that fulfilled what had been spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom those of the children of Israel set a price on, 10 And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me." 11 And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And Jesus said to him, "You're right." 12 And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then Pilate said to him, "Don't you hear how many things they testify against you?" 14 And he answered not a word, so that the governor was very much amazed. 15 Now at that feast the governor usually released to the people a prisoner of their choice. 16 And at that time they had a notable prisoner called Barabbas. 17 Therefore when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" 18 Because he knew that for envy they had brought him. 19 When he sat down on the judgment seat, his wife sent a message to him, "Have nothing to do with that honest man, because I've suffered many things today in a dream because of him." 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude to ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas." 22 Pilate said, "What shall I do then with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let him be crucified." 23 And the governor said, "Why, what wrong has he done?" But they shouted the more, "Let him be crucified." 24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a riot was starting, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this honest person, you take care of it." 25 Then all the people answered, "His blood be on us, and on our children." 26 Then he released Barabbas to them, and after he had scourged Jesus, he gave the order for him to be crucified. 27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered the whole band of soldiers. 28 And they stripped him, and put a red robe on him. 29 And when they had woven a crown of thorns, they put it on his head, and a pole in his right hand, and they bowed the knee before him, and made fun of him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" 30 And they spat on him, and took the pole, and struck him on the head. 31 And after they had mocked him, they took the robe off of him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him. 32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon. They made him carry the cross. 33 And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, "a place of a skull," 34 They gave him vinegar to drink mixed with gall, and when he had tasted it, he wouldn't drink. 35 And they crucified him, and divided his garments, drawing straws, so that what was spoken by the prophet would be fulfilled, "They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they drew straws." 36 And sitting down, they watched him there, 37 And set up over his head his written accusation, "This Is Jesus, The King of the Jews." 38 Then there were two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 39 And those who passed by made fun of him, shaking their heads, 40 And saying, "You who destroys the temple, and builds it in three days, save yourself. If you're the Son of God, come down from the cross." 41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders said, 42 "He saved others, he can't save himself. If he's the King of Israel, let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe him. 43 He trusted in God. Let him deliver him now, if he will have him, because he said, I am the Son of God." 44 The thieves also, who were crucified with him, threw the same in his teeth. 45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus shouted with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" That is to say, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" 47 Some of those who stood there, when they heard that said, "This man is calling for Elijah." 48 And immediately one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a pole, and offered it to him to drink. 49 The rest said, "Leave it be, let's see whether Elijah will come to save him." 50 Jesus, when he had shouted again with a loud voice, yielded up the spirit. 51 And the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom, and there was an earthquake, and the rocks split, 52 And the graves were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had been dead got up, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared to many. 54 Now when the centurion and those who were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and the things that happened, they were very afraid, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God." 55 And many women were there watching from a distance, who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, 56 Among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children. 57 When the evening had come, a rich man of Arimathaea came, named Joseph, who was also was Jesus' disciple, 58 He went to Pilate, and begged for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. 59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 And laid it in his own new tomb that he had cut out in the rock, and he rolled a huge stone to the door of the tomb, and went away. 61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb. 62 Now the next day that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together to Pilate, 63 And said, "Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was still alive, After three days I will rise again. 64 Command therefore that the tomb be secured until the third day, or his disciples might come at night, and steal him away, and say to the people, He has risen from the dead, so the last error shall be worse than the first." 65 Pilate said to them, "You have a watch, go your way, make it as secure as you can." 66 So they went, and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. ___Matthew chapter 28 1 At the end of the Sabbath day, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came, and the other Mary, to see the tomb. 2 And there was a great earthquake, for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His facial appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow, 4 And for fear of him the keepers shook, and became like dead men. 5 And the angel said to the women, "Don't be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He's not here, for he has risen like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was laying. 7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and see, he goes before you into Galilee, you'll see him there, see, I've told you." 8 And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell his disciples, Jesus met them, saying, "All hail." And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Don't be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go into Galilee, and they'll see me there." 11 Now when they were going, some of the watch came into the city, and told the chief priests all the things that had happened. 12 And when they were assembled with the elders and had taken advice, they gave a lot of money to the soldiers, 13 Saying, "Say that his disciples came at night, and stole him away while we slept. 14 And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you." 15 So they took the money, and did like they were taught. And this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. 16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, "All power has been given to me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, 20 Teaching them to observe all things that I've commanded you, and see, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen." ___Mark chapter 1 1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, 2 As it is written in the prophets, "See, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way before you. 3 The voice of someone crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." 4 John baptized in the wilderness, and preached the baptism of repentance for the getting rid of sins. 5 And all the land of Judea went out to him, and those of Jerusalem, and were all baptized by him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of leather around his middle, and he ate locusts and wild honey, 7 And preached, "Someone mightier than I is coming after me, whose shoelaces I'm not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I indeed have baptized you with water, but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." 9 And in those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan River. 10 And immediately, coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending on him, 11 And a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 12 And immediately the Spirit drove him into the wilderness. 13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered to him. 14 Now after John had been put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, "The time has been fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe the gospel." 16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother throwing a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will teach you to fish for men." 18 And immediately they left their nets, and followed him. 19 And when he had gone a little further there, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the ship mending their nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired hands, and followed him. 21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. 22 And they were astonished at his doctrine, because he taught them like someone with authority, and not like the scribes. 23 And there was a man with an unclean spirit in their synagogue, and he shouted, 24 "Let us alone. What have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." 25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Don't speak, and come out of him." 26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and shouted with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so much that they questioned among themselves, "What thing is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." 28 And immediately his fame spread around throughout all the region around Galilee. 29 And immediately, when they had come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simon's wife's mother was lying sick with a fever, and so they told him about her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her, and she waited on them. 32 And in the evening, they brought to him all that were diseased, and those who were possessed by devils. 33 And all the people of the city were gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many that were sick of various diseases, and cast out many devils, and didn't allow the devils to speak, because they knew him. 35 And in the morning, rising up a long time before daybreak, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and prayed there. 36 And Simon and those who were with him followed him. 37 And when they had found him, they said to him, "All men are looking for you." 38 And he said to them, "Let's go into the next towns, so I can preach there also, because that's why I came out." 39 And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils. 40 And a leper came to him, begging him, and kneeling down to him, and saying to him, "If you would, you can make me clean." 41 And Jesus, moved by compassion, put out his hand, and touched him, and said to him, "I will, be clean." 42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was healed. 43 And he strictly commanded him, and immediately sent him away, 44 Saying to him, "Make sure that you say nothing to any man, but be on your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing the things that Moses commanded, for a testimony to them." 45 But he went out, and began to tell everyone, and to blaze around the matter, so much that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was outside in desert places, and they came to him from every quarter. ___Mark chapter 2 1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days, and people heard that he was in the house. 2 And immediately many were gathered together, so much that there was no room to receive them, no, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 And they came to him bringing someone sick of the palsy, who was carried by four people. 4 And when they could not come near him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where he was, and after they had broken it up, they let down the bed on which the man sick of the palsy was lying. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man with palsy, "Son, your sins are forgiven." 6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7 "Why does this man thus speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins except God?" 8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they reasoned like that inside themselves, he said to them, "Why do you reason these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the sick of the palsy, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Get up, and take up your bed, and walk? 10 But so that you'll know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, (he said to the man sick of palsy,) 11 I say to you, get up, and pick up your bed, and go to your house." 12 And immediately he got up, picked up the bed, and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, “We never saw it like this.” 13 And he went out again by the sea side, and all the multitude resorted to him, and he taught them. 14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting and collecting taxes, and said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. 15 And as Jesus sat to eat in his house, many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many, and they followed him. 16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with tax collectors and sinners, they said to his disciples, "Why does he eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" 17 When Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well don't need a doctor, but those who are sick. I didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." 18 And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast, and they came and said to him, "Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don't fast?" 19 And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests fast, while the bridegroom is with them? While they have the bridegroom with them, they can't fast. 20 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they'll fast in those days. 21 Also, no man sews a piece of new cloth on an old garment, otherwise the new piece that filled it up takes away from the old, and the tear gets worse. 22 And no man puts new wine into old wineskins, otherwise the new wine bursts the wineskins, and the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined, but new wine must be put into new wineskins." 23 And when he went through the corn fields on the Sabbath day, and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. 24 And the Pharisees said to him, "See, why are they doing on the Sabbath day what is not lawful?" 25 And he said to them, "Haven't you ever read what David did, when he had need, and was hungry, he, and those who were with him? 26 How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which it's not lawful to eat except for the priests, and gave also to those who were with him?" 27 And he said to them, "The Sabbath day was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath day, 28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath day." ___Mark chapter 3 1 And he entered again into the synagogue, and there was a man there who had a withered hand. 2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day, so that they could accuse him. 3 And he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Step forward." 4 And he said to them, "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days, or to do evil? To save life, or to kill?" But they said nothing. 5 And when he had looked around at them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored normal like the other one. 6 And the Pharisees went out, and immediately consulted with the Herodians against him, how they could destroy him. 7 But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judea, 8 And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan, and those around Tyre and Zidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came to him. 9 And he spoke to his disciples that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, so that they wouldn't mob him. 10 For he had healed many, so that they pressed on him to touch him, as many as had diseases. 11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and called out, "You are the Son of God." 12 And he strictly charged them to not make him known. 13 And he went up into a mountain, and called to him the ones he chose, and they came to him. 14 And he ordained twelve, to be with him, and so he could send them out to preach, 15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils. 16 And Simon he surnamed Peter, 17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, the sons of thunder, 18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, 19 And Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him, and they went into a house. 20 And the multitude came together again, so that they couldn't even eat bread. 21 And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him, for they said, "He is beside himself." 22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils he casts out devils." 23 And he called them to him, and said to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 And if a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom can't stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house can't stand. 26 And if Satan rises up against himself, and is divided, he can't stand, but has an end. 27 No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, unless he first ties up the strong man, and then he will spoil his house. 28 Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven to the sons of men, and blasphemies with which they blaspheme, 29 But he that blasphemes against the Holy Ghost won't be forgiven, but is in danger of eternal damnation," 30 Because they said, "He has an unclean spirit." 31 Then his brothers and his mother came, and standing outside, sent to him, calling him. 32 And the multitude sat around him, and they said to him, "See, your mother and your brothers outside are looking for you." 33 And he answered them, "Who is my mother, or my brothers?" 34 And he looked around at those sitting around him, and said, "Look at my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever shall do the will of God is my brother, and my sister, and mother." ___Mark chapter 4 1 And he began again to teach by the sea side, and a great multitude gathered to him, so that he entered into a ship, and sat on the sea, and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. 2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said to them in his doctrine, 3 "Listen, a planter went out to plant. 4 And as he planted, some fell by the way side, and the birds of the air came and devoured it. 5 And some fell on stony ground, where it didn't have much earth, and immediately it sprang up, because it was in shallow earth. 6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched, and because it had no root, it withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. 8 And other fell on good ground, and yielded fruit that sprang up and increased, and produced, some thirtyfold, and some sixtyfold, and some a hundredfold. 9 And he said to them, he that has ears to hear, let him hear." 10 And when he was alone, those who were around him with the twelve asked him about the parable. 11 And he said to them, "To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside, all these things are done in parables, 12 So that seeing they will see, but not perceive, and hearing they will hear, and not understand, so they won't be converted, and have their sins forgiven." 13 And he said to them, "Don't you know this parable? And how then will you know all parables? 14 The planter plants the word. 15 And these are the ones by the way side, where the word is planted, but when they've heard, Satan comes immediately, and takes away the word that was planted in their hearts. 16 And these are the ones also who are planted on stony ground, who, when they've heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness, 17 But have no root in themselves, and so endure briefly. Afterward, when affliction or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. 18 And these are the ones that are planted among thorns, such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 And these are the ones who are planted on good ground, such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixtyfold, and some a hundredfold." 21 And he said to them, "Is a candle brought to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not to be set on a candlestick? 22 For nothing is hidden, that won't be revealed, nor was anything kept secret, that won't come out. 23 If any man has ears to hear, let him hear." 24 And he said to them, "Be careful what you hear, with what measure you measure out, it shall be measured back to you, and to you that hear more shall be given. 25 For he that has, to him it shall be given, and he that doesn't have, from him shall be taken even what he has." 26 And he said, "So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should throw seed into the ground, 27 And sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he doesn't know how. 28 For the earth produces fruit by itself, first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. 29 But when the fruit has been produced, immediately he uses the cutting tool, because the harvest has come." 30 And he said, "To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what comparison shall we compare it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it has been planted in the earth, is less than all the seeds that are in the earth, 32 But after it's been planted, it grows up, and becomes greater than all plants, and shoots out large branches, so that the fowls of the air can lodge under the shadow of it." 33 And with many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. 34 But without a parable he didn't speak to them, and when they were alone, he explained all things to his disciples. 35 And the same day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let's go over to the other side." 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. 37 And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the rear of the ship, asleep on a pillow, and they awoke him, and said to him, "Master, don't you care that we're going to die?" 39 And he got up, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still." And the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said to them, "Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?" 41 And they were quite afraid, and said to each other, "What kind of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" ___Mark chapter 5 1 And they went over to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when he had come out of the ship, immediately a man with an unclean spirit came out of the tombs and met him, 3 Who lived among the tombs. And no man could tie him, no, not with chains, 4 Because he had often been bound with fetters and chains, and he had pulled the chains and fetters in pieces, nor could any man tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. 6 But when he saw Jesus far off, he ran and worshipped him, 7 And shouted with a loud voice, "What do I have to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the most high God? I ask you in the name of God not to torment me." 8 For he said to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit." 9 And he asked him, "What is your name?" And he answered, "My name is Legion, for we are many." 10 And he begged him much not to send them away out of the country. 11 Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there near the mountains. 12 And all the devils asked him, "Send us to enter into the pigs." 13 And immediately Jesus gave them permission. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the pigs, and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (there were about two thousand,) and were drowned in the sea. 14 And those who fed the pigs fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what had happened. 15 And they came to Jesus, and saw him that had been possessed by the devil, and had had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 16 And those who saw it told them what happened to the man that had been possessed by the devil, and also about the pigs. 17 And they began to ask him to depart out of their borders. 18 And when he had come into the ship, he that had been possessed by the devil asked him if he could be with him. 19 But Jesus wouldn't allow it, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and has had compassion on you." 20 And he departed, and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him, and all men were amazed. 21 And when Jesus had passed over again by ship to the other side, many people gathered to him, and he was near the sea. 22 And Jairus, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, 23 And begged him greatly, "My little daughter lies at the point of death, please, come and lay your hands on her so that she'll be healed, and she'll live." 24 And Jesus went with him, and many people followed him, and crowded around him. 25 And a certain woman, who had been bleeding for twelve years, 26 And had endured many things from many doctors, and had spent all that she had, and didn't get any better, but rather grew worse, 27 When she had heard about Jesus, came in the crowd behind, and touched his garment. 28 For she said, "If I can just touch his clothes, I'll be healed." 29 And immediately she stopped bleeding, and she felt in her body that she was healed from that disease. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that power had gone out of him, turned around in the crowd, and said, "Who touched my clothes?" 31 And his disciples said to him, "You see the multitude crowding you, and you say, Who touched me?" 32 And he looked around to see the woman that had touched him. 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well, go in peace, and be well from your disease." 35 While he yet spoke, some came from the ruler of the synagogue's house who said, "Your daughter is dead, why trouble the Master any further?" 36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that had been spoken, he said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Don't be afraid, only believe." 37 And he allowed no man to follow him, except Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. 38 And he came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw the commotion, and those who cried and wailed a lot. 39 And when he had come in, he said to them, "Why do you make this fuss, and cry? The girl isn't dead, but sleeping." 40 And they laughed at him scornfully. But when he had put them all out, he took the father and the mother of the girl, and those who were with him, and entered in where the girl was lying. 41 And he took the girl by the hand, and said to her, "Talitha cumi," which is, by interpretation, "Girl, I say to you, get up." 42 And immediately the girl got up, and walked, for she was twelve years old. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. 43 And he strictly ordered them that no man should know it, and commanded to give her some food. ___Mark chapter 6 1 And he went out from there, and went into his own country, and his disciples followed him. 2 And when the Sabbath day had come, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing him were astonished, saying, "From where does this man get these things? And what wisdom is this that has been given him, that such mighty works are done by his hands? 3 Isn't this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? And aren't his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him." 4 But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house." 5 And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick folk, and healed them. 6 And he was amazed at their unbelief. And he went around the villages, teaching. 7 And he called to himself the twelve, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, 8 And commanded them to take nothing for their journey except only a staff, no paper money, no bread, no money in their wallet, 9 But have sandals on their feet, and not put on two coats. 10 And he said to them, "In whatever place you enter into a house, stay at the same house until you depart from that place." 11 And whoever won't receive you, nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Truly I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment than for that city." 12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent. 13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them. 14 And King Herod heard about him, (for his name was spread around,) and he said that John the Baptist had risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works are being done by him. 15 Others said that it's Elijah. And others said that it's a prophet, or like one of the prophets. 16 But when Herod heard about him, he said, "It's John, whom I beheaded, he has risen from the dead." 17 For Herod himself had sent out and taken hold on John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife, for he had married her. 18 For John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." 19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him, but she couldn't, 20 For Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a just man and holy, and observed him, and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. 21 And when a convenient day had come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper for his lords, high captains, and main men of Galilee, 22 And when the daughter of the same Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you." 23 And he promised her, "Whatever you ask me for, I will give it to you, up to half of my kingdom." 24 And she went out, and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist." 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king and said, "I want you to give me soon in a container, the head of John the Baptist." 26 And the king was very sorry, yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes who sat with him, he would not reject her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought, and he went and beheaded him in the prison, 28 And brought his head in a container, and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 And when his disciples heard about it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb. 30 And the apostles gathered themselves together to Jesus, and told him everything they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, "Come apart into a desert place, and rest a while," for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they departed into a desert place by ship privately. 33 And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran on foot there out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together to him. 34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw many people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things. 35 And when the day was far spent, his disciples came to him and said, "This is a desert place, and now it's getting late, 36 Send them away, so they can go into the country around here, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread, for they have nothing to eat." 37 He answered them, "You give them food." And they said to him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred penny's worth of bread, and give it to them?" 38 He said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." And when they knew, they said, "Five, and two fish." 39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by groups on the green grass. 40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. 41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them, and the two fish he divided among them all. 42 And they all ate, and were full. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of the pieces, and of the fish. 44 And those who ate of the loaves were about five thousand men. 45 And immediately he sent his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before to Bethsaida, while he sent the people away. 46 And when he had sent them away, he went into a mountain to pray. 47 And when evening had come, the ship was in the middle of the sea, and he alone on the land. 48 And he saw them working hard at rowing, for the wind was contrary to them, and about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed by them. 49 But when they saw him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a spirit, and shouted out, 50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and said to them, "Be of good cheer, it is I, don't be afraid." 51 And he went up to them into the ship, and the wind stopped, and they were extremely amazed in themselves, and wondered. 52 For they didn't consider the miracle of the loaves, for their heart was hardened. 53 And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and came near the shore. 54 And when they had come out of the ship, immediately they knew him, 55 And ran through that whole region around there, and began to carry around in beds those who were sick, where they heard he was. 56 And wherever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and asked him if they could touch even the border of his garment, and as many as touched him were healed. ___Mark chapter 7 1 Then the Pharisees came together to him, and some of the scribes, who came from Jerusalem. 2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashed, hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, don't eat unless they wash their hands often, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 And when they come from the market, unless they wash, they don't eat. And many other things there are that they have received to keep, like the washing of cups, and pots, brass pots, and of tables. 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, "Why don't your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?" 6 He answered them, "Well has Isaiah prophesied about you hypocrites, as it is written, These people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 But they worship me without benefit, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, like the washing of pots and cups, and you do many other such similar things." 9 And he said to them, "Full well you reject the commandment of God, so you can keep your own tradition. 10 For Moses said, Honor your father and mother, and whoever curses father or mother, let him die the death, 11 But you say, If a man says to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, What I would have given to you, I’ve given to God, he shall be free. 12 And you allow him to do nothing more for his father or his mother, 13 Making the word of God of no effect through your tradition that you've delivered, and you do many other things like that." 14 And when he had called all the people to him, he said to them, "Listen to me every one of you, and understand, 15 There is nothing from outside a man, that entering into him can defile him, but the things that come out of him are what defiles the man. 16 If any man has ears to hear, let him hear." 17 And when he had entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 And he said to them, "Are you so much lacking understanding also? Don't you see that whatever thing from outside enters into the man, it can't defile him, 19 Because it doesn't enter into his heart, but into the belly, and goes out into the toilet, purging all foods?" 20 And he said, "That which comes out of the man is what defiles the man. 21 For from inside, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lust, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness, 23 All these evil things come from inside, and defile the man." 24 And from there he got up, and went into the borders of Tyre and Zidon, and entered into a house, and didn't want people to know it, but he couldn't be hidden. 25 For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard about him, and came and fell at his feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation, and she asked him to cast the devil out of her daughter. 27 But Jesus said to her, "Let the children be filled first, for it's not right to take the children's bread, and to throw it to the dogs." 28 And she answered him, "Yes Lord, yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs." 29 And he said to her, "For this saying go your way, the devil has gone out of your daughter." 30 And when she arrived at her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed. 31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Zidon, he came to the sea of Galilee, through the middle of the coasts of Decapolis. 32 And they brought to him a deaf person, who had an impediment in his speech, and they asked him to put his hand on him. 33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue, 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." 35 And immediately his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly. 36 And he ordered them to tell no man, but the more he ordered them, so much the more, a great deal, they told it, 37 And were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well, he makes the deaf to hear, and the speechless to speak." ___Mark chapter 8 1 In those days the multitude being very numerous, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him, and said to them, 2 "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have been with me now for three days, and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away fasting to their houses, they'll faint on the way, for some of them came from far." 4 And his disciples answered him, "How can we satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?" 5 And he asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said, "Seven." 6 And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground, and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and broke, and gave to his disciples to set before them, and they set them before the people. 7 And they had a few small fish, and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them. 8 So they ate, and were filled, and they took up of the broken food that was left seven baskets. 9 And those who had eaten were about four thousand, and he sent them away. 10 And immediately he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha. 11 And the Pharisees came out, and began to question him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, tempting him. 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, "Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation." 13 And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side. 14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, nor did they have in the ship with them more than one loaf. 15 And he commanded them, "Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod." 16 And they reasoned among themselves, "It is because we have no bread." 17 And when Jesus knew it, he said to them, "Why do you reason because you have no bread? Don't you yet perceive, nor understand? Do you still have your heart hardened? 18 Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And don't you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?" They said, "Twelve." 20 "And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?" And they said, "Seven." 21 And he said to them, "How is it that you don't understand?" 22 And he came to Bethsaida, and they brought a blind man to him, and asked him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town, and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands on him, he asked him if he saw anything. 24 And he looked up and said, "I see men like trees, walking." 25 After that he put his hands again on his eyes, and made him look up, and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. 26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, "Don't go into the town, nor tell it to anyone from the town." 27 And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi, and by the way he asked his disciples, "Whom do men say that I am?" 28 And they answered, "John the Baptist, but some say Elijah, and others, one of the prophets." 29 And he said to them, "But whom do you say that I am?" And Peter answered, "You are the Christ." 30 And he commanded them to tell no man about him. 31 And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and by the chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he spoke that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to scold him. 33 But when he had turned around and looked at his disciples, he scolded Peter, saying, "Get behind me, Satan, for you don't prefer the things that are of God, but the things that are of men." 34 And when he had called the people to him with his disciples also, he said to them, "Whoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whoever will save his life shall lose it, but whoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Whoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." ___Mark chapter 9 1 And he said to them, "Truly I say to you, that there are some of those who stand here, that won't taste of death, until they've seen the kingdom of God come with power." 2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter, and James, and John, and led them up into a high mountain apart by themselves, and his appearance was changed before them. 3 And his clothes became shining, very white like snow, such as no bleach on earth could whiten them. 4 And Elijah and Moses appeared to them, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here, and let's make three tents, one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 6 For he didn't know what to say, for they were very afraid. 7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son, listen to him." 8 And suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no man anymore, except Jesus and themselves. 9 And as they came down from the mountain, he commanded them to tell no man the things they had seen, until the Son of man had risen from the dead. 10 And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning with each other what the rising from the dead meant. 11 And they asked him, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" 12 And he answered, "Elijah truly does come first, and restores all things, and how it is written about the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be rejected. 13 But I say to you, that Elijah has indeed come, and they have done to him whatever they wanted, as it is written about him." 14 And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude around them, and the scribes questioning with them. 15 And immediately all the people, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and running to him, greeted him. 16 And he asked the scribes, "What are you asking them about?" 17 And one of the multitude answered, "Master, I have brought you my son, who has a spirit that prevents him from speaking, 18 And wherever he takes him, he tears him, and he foams at the mouth, and gnashes with his teeth, and pines away, and I spoke to your disciples to cast him out, and they couldn't." 19 He answered him, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I endure you? Bring him to me." 20 And they brought him to him, and when he saw him, immediately the spirit tore him, and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. 21 And he asked his father, "How long ago did this come to him?" And he said, "Since he was a child. 22 And it has often thrown him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him, but if you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us." 23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes." 24 And immediately the father of the child shouted, and said with tears, "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief." 25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying to him, "You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and don't enter into him anymore." 26 And the spirit shouted, and tore him severely, and came out of him, and he was like a dead person, and many said, "He is dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up, and he got up. 28 And when he had come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we cast him out?" 29 And he said to them, "This kind comes out only by prayer and fasting." 30 And they departed from there, and passed through Galilee, and he didn't want anyone to know it. 31 For he taught his disciples, and said to them, "The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they'll kill him, and after he's been killed, he'll rise the third day." 32 But they didn't understand that saying, and were afraid to ask him. 33 And he came to Capernaum, and being in the house he asked them, "What was it that you disputed among yourselves on the way?" 34 But they didn't answer, for on the way they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. 35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and said to them, "If any man desires to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all." 36 And he took a child, and set him in the middle of them, and when he had taken him in his arms, he said to them, 37 "Whoever receives one of such children in my name, receives me, and whoever receives me, doesn't receive me, but him that sent me." 38 And John answered him, "Master, we saw someone casting out devils in your name, and he didn't follow us, and we told him to stop, because he's not following us." 39 But Jesus said, "Don't tell him to stop, for there is no man who shall do a miracle in my name, that can casually speak evil about me. 40 For he that is not against us is on our side. 41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ, truly I say to you, he won't lose his reward. 42 And whoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it's better for him that a millstone were hung around his neck, and that he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand offends you, cut it off, it's better for you to enter into life with one hand, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched, 44 Where their worms don't die, and the fire is not quenched. 45 And if your foot offends you, cut it off, it's better for you to enter with one foot into life, than having two feet to be thrown into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched, 46 Where their worms don't die, and the fire is not quenched. 47 And if your eye offends you, pluck it out, it's better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be thrown into hell's fire, 48 Where their worms don't die, and the fire is not quenched. 49 For everyone shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will you flavor it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with each other." ___Mark chapter 10 1 And he got up from there, and went into the coasts of Judea by the far side of Jordan, and the people resorted to him again, and as he usually did, he taught them again. 2 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife?," tempting him. 3 And he answered them, "What did Moses command you?" 4 And they said, "Moses allowed to write divorce papers, and to put her away." 5 And Jesus answered them, "For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this principle. 6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. 7 For this reason shall a man leave his father and mother, and stick with his wife, 8 And the two of them shall be one flesh, so then they are no more two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore, what God has joined together, let man not separate." 10 And in the house his disciples asked him again about the same matter. 11 And he said to them, "Whoever puts away his wife, and marries someone else, commits adultery against her. 12 And if a woman puts away her husband, and marries someone else, she commits adultery." 13 And they brought young children to him, so he would touch them, and his disciples found fault with those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was quite displeased, and said to them, "Allow the little children to come to me, and don't forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Truly I say to you, whoever doesn't receive the kingdom of God like a little child, he shall not enter into it." 16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands on them, and blessed them. 17 And when he had gone out into the road, someone came running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, "Good Master, what shall I do so I can inherit eternal life?" 18 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except one, and that's God. 19 You know the commandments, Don't commit adultery, Don't kill, Don't steal, Don't lie, Don't covet, Honor your father and mother." 20 And he answered, "Master, I've observed all these since my youth." 21 Then Jesus looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack, go your way, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you'll have treasure in heaven, and come, take up the cross, and follow me." 22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved, for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus looked around, and said to his disciples, "How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter into the kingdom of God!" 24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answered, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." 26 And they were extremely astonished, saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?" 27 And Jesus looking at them said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God, for with God all things are possible." 28 Then Peter began to say to him, "See, we've left all, and have followed you." 29 And Jesus answered, "Truly I say to you, there is no man that has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, 30 But he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions, and in the world to come, eternal life. 31 But many that are first shall be last, and the last first." 32 And they were on the way going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went before them, and they were amazed, and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took the twelve again, and began to tell them the things that would happen to him, 33 And said, "See, we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be delivered to the chief priests, and to the scribes, and they'll condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles, 34 And they'll make fun of him, and scourge him, and shall spit on him, and shall kill him, and the third day he'll rise again." 35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him, saying, "Master, we want you to do for us whatever we want." 36 And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" 37 They said to him, "Grant that we may sit, one at your right hand, and the other at your left hand, in your glory." 38 But Jesus said to them, "You don't know what you're asking, can you drink of the cup that I drink of? And be baptized with the baptism that I'm baptized with?" 39 And they said to him, "We can." And Jesus said to them, "You shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of, and with the baptism that I am baptized with, you shall be baptized, 40 But to sit at my right hand and at my left hand is not mine to give, but it shall be given to those for whom it has been prepared." 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be quite displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to him, and said to them, "You know that those who are assigned to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them. And their great ones exercise authority on them. 43 But it won't be like that among you, but whoever wants to be great among you, shall be your minister, 44 And whoever of you wants be the chief, shall be servant of all. 45 For even the Son of man didn't come to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." 46 And they came to Jericho, and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, you Son of David, have mercy on me." 48 And many told him to be quiet, but he shouted the more a great deal, "You Son of David, have mercy on me." 49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Be of good comfort, get up, he's calling you." 50 And he, throwing away his garment, got up, and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus answered him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said to him, "Lord, I want to receive my sight." 52 And Jesus said to him, "Go your way, your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus on the way. ___Mark chapter 11 1 And when they came near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, 2 And said to them, "Go your way into the village opposite you, and as soon as you've entered into it, you'll find a colt tied, on which man has never sat, untie him, and bring him. 3 And if any man says to you, Why are you doing this?, say that the Lord needs him, and immediately he will send him here." 4 And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside in a place where two roads met, and they untied him. 5 And certain of those who stood there said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?" 6 And they told them what Jesus had commanded, and they let them go. 7 And they brought the colt to Jesus, and threw their garments on him, and he sat on him. 8 And many spread their garments in the road, and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them on the road. 9 And those who went before, and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord. 10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest." 11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple, and when he had looked around at everything, and now the evening had come, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. 12 And on the next day, when they had come from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 And seeing a fig tree far off having leaves, he came, if perhaps he might find something on it, and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not yet the time for figs. 14 And Jesus responded and said to it, "No man eat fruit of you from now on, forever." And his disciples heard it. 15 And they came to Jerusalem, and Jesus went into the temple, and began to throw out those who sold and bought in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers, and the seats of those who sold doves, 16 And would not allow any man to carry any container through the temple. 17 And he taught them, "Is it not written, my house shall be called by all nations the house of prayer? But you have made it a den of thieves." 18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and tried to find a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the people were astonished at his doctrine. 19 And when evening had come, he went out of the city. 20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to him, "Master, see, the fig tree that you cursed has withered away." 22 And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God. 23 For truly I say to you, that whoever shall say to this mountain, be removed, and be thrown into the sea, and doesn't doubt in his heart, but believes that the things that he says shall happen, he shall have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them. 25 And when you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive your trespasses. 26 But if you don't forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses." 27 And they came again to Jerusalem, and as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders came to him, 28 And said to him, "By what authority do you do these things? And who gave you this authority to do these things?" 29 And Jesus answered them, "I will also ask you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? Answer me." 31 And they reasoned with themselves, "If we say, From heaven, he will say, Then why didn't you believe him? 32 But if we say, Of men," they feared the people, for all men counted John, that he was certainly a prophet. 33 And they answered Jesus, "We can't tell." And Jesus answered them, "Nor do I tell you by what authority I do these things." ___Mark chapter 12 1 And he began to speak to them by parables. "A certain man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a place for the wine vat, and built a tower, and rented it to vineyard keepers, and went into a far country. 2 And at the season he sent an employee to the vineyard keepers, to collect from the husbandmen some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. 4 And again he sent them another employee, and at him they threw stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. 5 And again he sent another, and him they killed, and many others, beating some, and killing some. 6 Therefore, having yet one son, his well beloved, he sent him also last to them, saying, They will respect my son. 7 But those vineyard keepers said among themselves, this is the heir, come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. 8 And they took him, and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. 9 What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vineyard keepers, and will give the vineyard to others. 10 And haven't you read this scripture, The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, 11 This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?" 12 And they wanted to arrest him, but feared the people, for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them, and they left him, and went their way. 13 And they sent him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words. 14 And when they had come, they said to him, "Master, we know that you are true, and care for no man, for you don't regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we give, or shall we not give?" But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, "Why do you tempt me? Bring me a penny, so I can see it." 16 And they brought it. And he said to them, "Whose is this image and writing?" And they said to him, "Caesar's." 17 And Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were amazed at him. 18 Then the Sadducees came to him, who say there is no resurrection, and they asked him, 19 "Master, Moses wrote to us, If a man's brother dies, and leaves his wife behind him, and leaves no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up children to his brother. 20 Now there were seven brothers, and the first took a wife, and dying, left no children. 21 And the second took her, and died, nor did he leave any children, and the third likewise. 22 And the seven had her, and left no children, last of all the woman died also. 23 In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, which of them will have her as wife? For all seven had her as wife." 24 And Jesus answered them, "Aren't you therefore making a mistake, because you don't know the scriptures, nor the power of God? 25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels who are in heaven. 26 And concerning the dead, that they rise, haven't you read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spoke to him, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living, therefore you've made a big mistake." 28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, "Which is the first commandment of all?" 29 And Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord, 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength, this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like it, namely this, You shall love your neighbor like yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." 32 And the scribe said to him, "Well, Master, you've said the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but he. 33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor like himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And no man after that dared ask him any question. 35 And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, "How can the scribes say that Christ is the Son of David? 36 For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool. 37 David therefore himself calls him Lord, and how is he then his son?" And the common people heard him gladly. 38 And he said to them in his doctrine, "Beware of the scribes, who love to go in long clothes, and love greetings in the marketplaces, 39 And the most important seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts, 40 Who devour widows' houses, and for a show make long prayers, these shall receive greater damnation." 41 And Jesus sat opposite the treasury, and watched how the people threw money into the treasury, and many that were rich threw in much. 42 And a certain poor widow came, and she threw in two mites, which make a quarter. 43 And he called to him his disciples, and said to them, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has thrown in more than all of those who have thrown into the treasury, 44 For all of them threw in from their abundance, but she in her poverty has thrown in all that she had, all her living. ___Mark chapter 13 1 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Master, look at what kind of stones and what buildings are here!" 2 And Jesus said to him, "Do you see these large buildings? Not one stone will be left on another that won't be thrown down." 3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4 "Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?" 5 And Jesus answering them began to say, "Be careful that no man deceives you, 6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don't be troubled, for such things must happen, but the end won't be yet. 8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be earthquakes in various places, and there shall be famines and troubles, these are the beginnings of sorrows. 9 But be careful about yourselves, for they'll deliver you up to councils, and in the synagogues you'll be beaten, and you'll be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. 10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations. 11 But when they lead you, and deliver you up, don't think about what you'll say beforehand, but whatever is given you in that hour, say that, for it is not you that speaks, but the Holy Ghost. 12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son, and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. 13 And you'll hated by all men for my name's sake, but he that endures to the end, shall be saved. 14 But when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken about by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that reads understand,) then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, 15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter into it to take anything out of his house, 16 And let him that is in the field not turn back again to get his garment. 17 But woe to those who are with child, and to those who are breast feeding babies in those days! 18 And pray that your escape is not in the winter. 19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation that God created up until now, nor shall be. 20 And unless the Lord shortens those days, no flesh would be saved, but for the elect's sake, whom he has chosen, he has shortened the days. 21 And then if any man says to you, See, here is Christ, or, See, he is there, don't believe him, 22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce if possible even the elect. 23 But be careful, see, I have foretold you everything. 24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give its light, 25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. 26 And then they'll see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he'll send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of the earth to the farthest part of heaven. 28 Now learn a parable from the fig tree, when its branch is yet tender, and puts out leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 Likewise, when you see these things happen, know that it's near, even at the door. 30 Truly I say to you, that this generation shall not pass, until all these things have happened. 31 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 32 But no man knows about that day and that hour, no, not the angels that are in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father. 33 Be careful, stay awake and pray, for you don't know when the time is. 34 For the Son of man is like a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Stay awake therefore, for you don't know when the master of the house is coming, at evening, or at midnight, or at the rooster's crowing, or in the morning, 36 So that coming suddenly, he doesn't find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you I say to all, Stay awake." ___Mark chapter 14 1 After two days was the feast of the Passover, and of unleavened bread, and the chief priests and the scribes looked for some carfty way to arrest him, and put him to death. 2 But they said, "Not on the feast day, so there won't be a riot by the people." 3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat to eat, a woman came, having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard, very precious, and she broke the box, and poured it on his head. 4 And there were some who disapproved, and said, "Why was this ointment wasted? 5 For it could have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor." And they murmured against her. 6 And Jesus said, "Let her alone, why do you trouble her? She's done a good thing to me. 7 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you want you can do them good, but me you don't have always. 8 She has done what she could, she has come beforehand to anoint my body for burying. 9 Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she has done shall be spoken about for a memorial of her." 10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests, to help them arrest him. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he looked for a convenient way to betray him. 12 And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the Passover, his disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to prepare so you can eat the Passover?" 13 And he sent out two of his disciples, and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water, follow him. 14 And wherever he goes in, say to the householder, The Master says, where is the guest room, where I'll eat the Passover with my disciples? 15 And he will show you a large upper room furnished and prepared, there make ready for us." 16 And his disciples went out, and came into the city, and found as he had said to them, and they prepared the Passover. 17 And in the evening he went with the twelve. 18 And as they sat and ate, Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, one of you that eats with me shall betray me." 19 And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to him one by one, "Is it I?" And another said, "Is it I?" 20 And he answered them, "It is one of the twelve, that dips with me in the dish. 21 The Son of man indeed goes, as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man gets betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had never been born." 22 And as they ate, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave to them, and said, "Take, eat, this is my body." 23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, "This is my blood of the new testament, that is shed for many. 25 Truly I say to you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God." 26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives. 27 And Jesus said to them, "All of you shall be offended because of me tonight, for it is written, I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. 28 But after I've risen, I will go before you into Galilee." 29 But Peter said to him, "Although everyone else shall be offended, I won't." 30 And Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, this day, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you'll deny me three times." 31 But he spoke more strongly, "If I would die with you, I won't deny you in any way." And they all said likewise. 32 And they came to a place that was named Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." 33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be very amazed, and to be very heavy, 34 And said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful like close to death, wait here, and stay awake." 35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if possible, the hour would go away from him. 36 And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible to you, take away this cup from me, however, not what I want, but what you want." 37 And he came, and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn't you stay awake for one hour? 38 Stay awake and pray, so you don't enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak." 39 And again he went away, and prayed, and spoke the same words. 40 And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) and they didn't know what to answer him. 41 And he came the third time, and said to them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest, it is enough, the hour has come. See, the Son of man has been betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise up, let us go, he that's betraying me is here." 43 And immediately, while he yet spoke, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 And he that betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, that's the one, take him, and lead him away securely." 45 And as soon as he had come, he went directly to him, and said, "Master, master, and kissed him." 46 And they laid their hands on him, and took him. 47 And one of those who stood by pulled out a sword, and struck a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 48 And Jesus answered them, "Have you come out, like against a thief, with swords and with clubs to take me? 49 I was with you daily in the temple teaching, and you didn't arrest me, but the scriptures must be fulfilled." 50 And they all left him, and ran away. 51 And a certain young man followed him, having a linen cloth thrown around his otherwise naked body, and the young men took hold of him, 52 And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked. 53 And they led Jesus away to the high priest, and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes. 54 And Peter followed him at a distance, into the palace of the high priest, and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire. 55 And the chief priests and all the council looked for a witness against Jesus to put him to death, and found none. 56 For many gave false testimony against him, but their testimonies didn't agree with each other's. 57 And some arose, and gave false testimony against him, saying, 58 "We heard him say, I'll destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I'll build another made without hands." 59 But still their testimonies didn't agree. 60 And the high priest stood up among them, and asked Jesus, "Don't you answer? What is it that these witness against you?" 61 But he remained silent, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" 62 And Jesus said, "I am, and you'll see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." 63 Then the high priest tore his clothes, and said, "Why would we need any more witnesses? 64 You've heard the blasphemy, what do you think?" And they all condemned him to be deserving to die. 65 And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to punch him, and to say to him, "Prophesy," and the servants struck him with the palms of their hands. 66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, one of the maids of the high priest came, 67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him, and said, "And you also were with Jesus of Nazareth." 68 But he denied, and said, "I don't know, nor do I understand what you're saying." And he went out into the porch, and the rooster crowed. 69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, "This is one of them." 70 And he denied it again. And a little afterward, those who stood by also said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean, and you talk like one." 71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, "I don't know this man about whom you're speaking." 72 And the second time the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word that Jesus said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you'll deny me three times." And when he thought about it, he cried. ___Mark chapter 15 1 And immediately in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and handcuffed Jesus, and carried him away, and turned him over to Pilate. 2 And Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And he answered him, "You say it." 3 And the chief priests accused him of many things, but he answered nothing. 4 And Pilate asked him again, "Don't you answer? Look at how many things they testify against you." 5 But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate was amazed. 6 Now at that feast he released to them one prisoner, of their choice. 7 And there was one named Barabbas, who lay tied up with those who had made rebellion with him, who had committed murder in the rebellion. 8 And the multitude shouting out, began to desire him to do like he had always done with them. 9 But Pilate answered them, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" 10 For he knew that the chief priests had arrested him for envy. 11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should release Barabbas to them, instead of Jesus. 12 And Pilate answered them, "What do you want me to do with him whom you call the King of the Jews?" 13 And they shouted out again, "Crucify him." 14 Then Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has he done?" And they shouted even stronger, "Crucify him." 15 And so Pilate, wanting to satisfy the people, released Barabbas to them, and delivered Jesus, after he had scourged him, to be crucified. 16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium, and they called together the whole band of soldiers. 17 And they dressed him in purple, and wove a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, 18 And began to salute him, "Hail, King of the Jews!" 19 And they struck him on the head with a pole, and spat on him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. 20 And after they'd made fun of him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. 21 And they forced Simon, a Cyrenian who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. 22 And they brought him to the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, the place of a skull. 23 And they gave him wine to drink mixed with myrrh, but he wouldn't drink it. 24 And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments, drawing straws for them, what every man would get. 25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. 26 And the writing of his accusation was written over him, "The King of the Jews." 27 And with him they crucified two thieves, one at his right hand, and the other at his left. 28 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "And he was counted with the criminals." 29 And those who passed by made fun of him, shaking their heads, and saying, "Ah, you who destroys the temple, and builds it in three days, 30 Save yourself, and come down from the cross." 31 Likewise also the chief priests made fun of him, and said among themselves with the scribes, "He saved others, he can't save himself. 32 Let Christ the King of Israel come down now from the cross, so we can see and believe." And those who were crucified with him said nasty things to him. 33 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" Which is, by interpretation, "My God, my God, why have you gone from me?" 35 And some of those who stood by, when they heard it, said, "See, he's calling Elijah." 36 And someone ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a pole, and offered him drink, saying, "Leave it be, let's see whether Elijah will come to take him down." 37 And Jesus shouted with a loud voice, and yielded up the spirit. 38 And the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood opposite him, saw that he shouted like that, and yielded up the spirit, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God." 40 There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome, 41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered to him,) and many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem. 42 And now when the evening had come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honorable counselor, who also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly to Pilate, and desired the body of Jesus. 44 And Pilate was amazed if he were already dead, and calling to himself the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. 45 And when he knew it from the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of a rock, and rolled a stone to the door of the tomb. 47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where they laid his body. ___Mark chapter 16 1 And when the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, so they could come and apply them to his body. 2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came to the tomb at sunrise. 3 And they said to each other, "Who will roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb for us?" 4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was already rolled away, for it was very large. 5 And entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right side, clothed in a long white garment, and they were afraid. 6 And he said to them, "Don't be afraid, you're looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here, look at the place where they laid him. 7 But be on your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he's going before you into Galilee, you'll see him there, as he said to you." 8 And they went out quickly, and ran from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed, nor did they say anything to any man, for they were afraid. 9 Now when Jesus had risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. 10 And she went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and cried. 11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen by her, didn't believe it. 12 After that he appeared in another form to two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it to the others, and they didn't believe them. 14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven as they sat to eat, and chided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they didn't believe those who had seen him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, "Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he that doesn't believe shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow those who believe, in my name they'll cast out devils, they'll speak with new languages, 18 They shall pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it won't hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick, and they'll recover." 19 So then after the Lord had spoken to them, he was received up into heaven, and sat at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. ___Luke chapter 1 1 Since many have written in order, a declaration of the things that are most surely believed among us, 2 Just as they delivered them to us, who from the beginning were eye witnesses, and ministers of the word, 3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very beginning, to write to you in order, most excellent lover of God, 4 So that you would know the certainty of the things about which you've been instructed. 5 In the days of Herod the king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia, and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord without fault. 7 And they had no child, because Elisabeth was barren, and they were both senior citizens by then. 8 And while he performed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, 9 According to the custom of the priest's office, he happened to be assigned to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the time of incense. 11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled and became afraid. 13 But the angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elisabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you'll have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he shall turn many of the children of Israel toward the Lord their God. 17 And he'll go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." 18 And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is an old woman." 19 And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and am sent to speak to you, and to bring you this happy news. 20 And see, you'll be unable to speak, until the day that these things are performed, because you don't believe my words, which shall be fulfilled at the proper time." 21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and were surprised that he remained in the temple for so long. 22 And when he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them, and remained speechless. 23 And as soon as the days of his ministering had ended, he went to his own house. 24 And after those days, his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, 25 "Thus has the Lord dealt with me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men." 26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And the angel came to her, and said, "Hail, you who are highly favored, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women." 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and wondered in her mind what kind of greeting that was. 30 And the angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Mary, for you've found favor with God. 31 And see, you'll conceive in your womb, and give birth to a son, and shall call his name Jesus. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest, and the Lord God shall give him the throne of his father David. 33 And he shall rule over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end." 34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How will that happen, since I'm not married?" 35 And the angel answered her, "The Holy Ghost shall come on you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you, therefore also the holy thing that shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God. 36 And see, your cousin Elisabeth, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her, who had been called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible." 38 And Mary said, "I'm the handmaid of the Lord, let it be as you have said." And the angel departed from her. 39 And Mary got up in those days, and hurried into the hill country, into a city of Judah, 40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and greeted Elisabeth. 41 And when Elisabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby jumped in her womb, and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost, 42 And she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For see, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby jumped for joy in my womb. 45 And blessed is she that believed, for there shall be a performance of the things that she was told from the Lord." 46 And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 For he has seen the low estate of his handmaiden, for see, from now on, all generations shall call me blessed. 49 For he that is mighty has done to me great things, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He has put down the mighty from their seats, and lifted up those of low degree. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things, and he has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his children forever." 56 And Mary stayed with her about three months, and returned to her own house. 57 Now Elisabeth's full time came for her to receive deliverance, and she gave birth to a son. 58 And her neighbors and her cousins heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child, and they called him Zacharias, like his father. 60 And his mother answered, "Not so, but he shall be called John." 61 And they said to her, "There is none of your kindred that is called by this name." 62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they were all amazed. 64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, and praised God. 65 And fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were told around throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66 And all of those who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What kind of child shall this be!" And the hand of the Lord was with him. 67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, 68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people, 69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 As he said by the mouth of his holy prophets, who have been since the world began, 71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us, 72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant, 73 The oath that he swore to our father Abraham, 74 That he would grant to us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, can serve him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. 76 And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest, for you'll go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 To give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins, 78 Through the tender mercy of our God, by which the day spring from on high has visited us, 79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." 80 And the child grew, and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts until the day of his showing to Israel. ___Luke chapter 2 1 And in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, (because he was of the house and genealogy of David,) 5 To be taxed with Mary his wife, who was large with child. 6 And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished for her to receive deliverance. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son, and wrapped him in cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough for animals, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were shepherds in the same country, staying in the field, keeping watch over their flock at night. 9 And see, the angel of the Lord came to them, and the glory of the Lord shined around them, and they were very afraid. 10 And the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for see, I bring you good news of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign to you, you'll find the baby wrapped in cloth, lying in a feeding trough for animals." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." 15 And after the angels had gone away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let's go now to Bethlehem, and see this thing that has happened, that the Lord has made known to us." 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the baby lying in a feeding trough for animals. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known all around what they'd been told about this child. 18 And all of those who heard it wondered at the things that had been told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 21 And when eight days had gone by for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, who was so named by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses had been accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord, 23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord,) 24 And to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." 25 And see, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Ghost was on him. 26 And it was revealed to him by the Holy Ghost, that he wouldn't see death until he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, 28 Then he took him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 "Lord, now you're letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word, 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 That you've prepared before the face of all people, 32 A light to illuminate the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel." 33 And Joseph and his mother were amazed at the things that were spoken by him. 34 And Simeon blessed them, and said to his mother Mary, "See, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign that shall be spoken against, 35 (Yes, a sword shall pierce through your own soul also,) so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed." 36 And there was a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, 37 And she was a widow of about eighty four years, who didn't depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And she, coming in that moment, gave thanks likewise to the Lord, and spoke about him to all of those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. 39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40 And the child grew, and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him. 41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, and Joseph and his mother didn't know about it. 44 But they, supposing him to have been in the group of people, went a day's journey, and they looked for him among their family and friends. 45 And when they didn't find him, they turned back again to Jerusalem, looking for him. 46 And after three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions. 47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 48 And when they saw him, they were amazed, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us this way? See, your father and I have been looking for you with sorrow." 49 And he said to them, "How is it that you looked for me? Didn't you know that I must be doing my Father's business?" 50 And they didn't understand what he said to them. 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. ___Luke chapter 3 1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, 2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he came into all the country around Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "The voice of someone shouting in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth, 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God." 7 Then he said to the multitude that came out to be baptized by him, "O generation of snakes, who has warned you to flee from the anger to come? 8 Therefore produce fruits consistent with repentance, and don't begin to say inside yourselves, We have Abraham as our father, for I say to you that God is able from these stones to raise up children of Abraham. 9 And now also the axe is laid to the root of the trees, every tree therefore that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down, and thrown into the fire." 10 And the people asked him, "What shall we do then?" 11 He answered them, "He that has two coats, let him give to him that has none, and he that has food, let him do likewise." 12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Master, what shall we do?" 13 And he said to them, "Collect no more than that which has been appointed." 14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, "And what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do violence to no man, nor accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages." 15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men pondered in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ, or not, 16 John answered them all, "I indeed baptize you with water, but someone mightier than I is coming, whose shoelaces I am not worthy to untie, he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire, 17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." 18 And in his exhortation, he preached many other things to the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, being reprimanded by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils that Herod had done, 20 Added yet this above all, that he put John in prison. 21 Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove on him, and a voice came from heaven that said, "You are my beloved Son, in you I am well pleased." 23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years old, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, who was the son of Heli, 24 Who was the son of Matthat, who was the son of Levi, who was the son of Melchi, who was the son of Janna, who was the son of Joseph, 25 Who was the son of Mattathias, who was the son of Amos, who was the son of Naum, who was the son of Esli, who was the son of Nagge, 26 Who was the son of Maath, who was the son of Mattathias, who was the son of Semei, who was the son of Joseph, who was the son of Juda, 27 Who was the son of Joanna, who was the son of Rhesa, who was the son of Zorobabel, who was the son of Salathiel, who was the son of Neri, 28 Who was the son of Melchi, who was the son of Addi, who was the son of Cosam, who was the son of Elmodam, who was the son of Er, 29 Who was the son of Jose, who was the son of Eliezer, who was the son of Jorim, who was the son of Matthat, who was the son of Levi, 30 Who was the son of Simeon, who was the son of Juda, who was the son of Joseph, who was the son of Jonan, who was the son of Eliakim, 31 Who was the son of Melea, who was the son of Menan, who was the son of Mattatha, who was the son of Nathan, who was the son of David, 32 Who was the son of Jesse, who was the son of Obed, who was the son of Boaz, who was the son of Salmon, who was the son of Nahshon, 33 Who was the son of Amminadab, who was the son of Ram, who was the son of Hezron, who was the son of Pharez, who was the son of Judah, 34 Who was the son of Jacob, who was the son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham, who was the son of Terah, who was the son of Nahor, 35 Who was the son of Serug, who was the son of Reu, who was the son of Peleg, who was the son of Eber, who was the son of Salah, 36 Who was the son of Arphaxad, who was the son of Shem, who was the son of Noah, who was the son of Lamech, 37 Who was the son of Methuselah, who was the son of Enoch, who was the son of Jared, who was the son of Mahalaleel, who was the son of Cainan, 38 Who was the son of Enos, who was the son of Seth, who was the son of Adam, who was the son of God. ___Luke chapter 4 1 And Jesus, being full of the Holy Ghost, returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 Being forty days tempted by the devil. And in those days he ate nothing. And when they had ended, afterward he was hungry. 3 And the devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to be made bread." 4 And Jesus answered him, "It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." 5 And the devil, taking him up into a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to him, "I will give you all this power, and the glory of them, for that has been given to me, and to whomever I choose I give it. 7 If you therefore will worship me, all shall be yours." 8 And Jesus answered him, "Get behind me, Satan, for it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve." 9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, "If you're the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 For it is written, He'll give his angels charge over you, to keep you, 11 And in their hands they'll lift you up, so you won't at any time dash your foot against a stone." 12 And Jesus answered him, "It is said, You shall not tempt the Lord your God." 13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a while. 14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and his fame went throughout all the region around there. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And the book of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, he has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set free those who are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord." 20 And he closed the book, and he gave it back to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all of those who were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say to them, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." 22 And all were his witnesses, and wondered at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, "Isn't this Joseph's son?" 23 And he said to them, "You will surely say to me this proverb, physician, heal yourself, whatever we've heard done in Capernaum, do also here in your country." 24 And he said, "Truly I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. 25 But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land, 26 But Elijah was sent to none of them, except to Sarepta, a city of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed, except Naaman the Syrian." 28 And all of those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with anger, 29 And got up, and pushed him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, so they could throw him down head first. 30 But he, passing through the middle of them, went his way, 31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the Sabbath days. 32 And they were astonished at his doctrine, for his word was with power. 33 And in the synagogue there was a man, who had a spirit of an unclean devil, and shouted with a loud voice, 34 "Let us alone, what have we to do with you, you Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One from God." 35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him." And when the devil had thrown him among them, he came out of him, and didn't hurt him. 36 And they were all amazed, and spoke among themselves, "What a word is this! For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out." 37 And his fame went out into every place of the country around there. 38 And he went out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother had a bad fever, and they asked him to help her. 39 And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she got up and waited on them. 40 Now when the sun was setting, all of those who had any sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. 41 And devils also came out of many, shouting out, "You are Christ the Son of God." And he, rebuking them, wouldn't allow them to speak, for they knew that he was Christ. 42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place, and the people looked for him, and came to him, and asked him to stay longer. 43 And he said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also, for that's why I've been sent." 44 And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee. ___Luke chapter 5 1 And as the people pressed on him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 And saw two ships standing by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and asked him to move out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. 4 Now when he had stopped speaking, he said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draw." 5 And Simon answered him, "Master, we have worked hard all night, and have taken nothing, however, at your word I will let down the net." 6 And when they had done that, they enclosed a great multitude of fish, and their net broke. 7 And they waved at their partners, who were in the other ship, so they would come and help them. And they came and filled both ships, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Go away from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." 9 For he was amazed, and all who were with him, at the draw of the fish they had taken, 10 And so were also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid, from now on, you'll catch men." 11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they gave up everything and followed him. 12 And when he was in a certain city, there was a man full of leprosy, who seeing Jesus, fell on his face, and asked him, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." 13 And he put out his hand, and touched him, and said, "I will, be clean." And immediately the leprosy went out of him. 14 And he commanded him to tell no man, but, "Go, and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing, what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them." 15 But so much the more, his fame went around, and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him from their sicknesses. 16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. 17 And on a certain day, as he was teaching, there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem, and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18 And men brought in a bed a man who had palsy, and they looked for a way to bring him in, and to lay him before him. 19 And when they couldn't find a way to bring him in because of the multitude, they went up on the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the area before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven." 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, "Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, except only God?" 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, "What do you reason in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Get up and walk? 24 But so that you'll know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins," (he said to the man sick with palsy,) "I say to you, get up, and take up your bed, and go to your house." 25 And immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went to his own house, glorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today." 27 And after these things, he went out, and saw a tax collector, named Levi, sitting and collecting taxes, and he said to him, "Follow me." 28 And he left all, got up, and followed him. 29 And Levi made him a great feast in his own house, and there was a large group of tax collectors and of others that sat down with them. 30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" 31 And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well don't need a doctor, but those who are sick. 32 I didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." 33 And they said to him, "Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink?" 34 And he said to them, "Can you make the children of the bride's room fast, while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they'll fast in those days." 36 And he also spoke a parable to them, "No man puts a piece of a new garment on an old, otherwise the new piece causes a tear, and the piece that was taken out of the new doesn't agree with the old. 37 And no man puts new wine into old wineskins, otherwise the new wine will burst the wineskins, and be spilled, and the wineskins shall be destroyed. 38 But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. 39 Also, no man having drunk old wine immediately desires new, for he says, The old is better." ___Luke chapter 6 1 And on the second Sabbath after the first, he went through the corn fields, and his disciples plucked the ears of corn and ate, rubbing them in their hands. 2 And some of the Pharisees said to them, "Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath days?" 3 And Jesus answered them, "Haven't you read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him, 4 How he went into the house of God, and took and ate the showbread, and gave also to those who were with him, which it's not lawful to eat except only for the priests?" 5 And he said to them, "The Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath." 6 And on another Sabbath, he entered into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man whose right hand was withered. 7 And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the Sabbath day, so they could find an accusation against him. 8 But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, "Get up, and stand up in the middle." And he got up and stood. 9 Then Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one thing, is it lawful on the Sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? To save life, or to destroy it?" 10 And looking around on them all, he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he did so, and his hand was restored well, like the other one. 11 And they were filled with insanity, and consulted with each other what they could do to Jesus. 12 And in those days, he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, he called to him his disciples, and from them he chose twelve, whom he also named apostles, 14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter), and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, 15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, 16 And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who also was the traitor. 17 And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Zidon, who came to hear him, and to be healed from their diseases, 18 And those who were vexed with unclean spirits, and they were healed. 19 And the whole multitude tried to touch him, for power went out of him, and healed them all. 20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, "Blessed are you that are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you that hunger now, for you'll be filled. Blessed are you that cry now, for you shall laugh. 22 Blessed are you, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and throw out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. 23 Rejoice in that day, and jump for joy, for see, your reward is great in heaven, for their fathers did like that to the prophets. 24 But woe to you that are rich! For you've received your good things. 25 Woe to you that are full! For you'll be hungry. Woe to you that laugh now! For you'll mourn and cry. 26 Woe to you, when all men speak well about you! Because that's what their fathers did to the false prophets. 27 But I say to you that hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. 29 And to him that slaps you on one cheek offer also the other cheek, and to him that takes away your overcoat don't forbid to take your coat also. 30 Give to every man that asks of you, and of him that takes away your goods don't ask for them back. 31 And as you want men to do to you, do to them likewise. 32 For if you love those who love you, what thanks do you have? For sinners also love those that love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks do you have? For sinners also do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks do you have? For sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again, and your reward shall be great, and you'll be the children of the Highest, for he is kind to the unthankful and to the evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, like your Father also is merciful. 37 Don't judge, and you won't be judged, don't condemn, and you won't be condemned, forgive, and you'll be forgiven. 38 Give, and it shall be given to you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measuring tool that you measure out with, it shall be measured back to you. 39 And he spoke a parable to them, can the blind lead the blind? Won't they both fall into the ditch? 40 The disciple is not above his master, but everyone that is perfect shall be like his master. 41 And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but don't notice the plank that is in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your brother, Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye, when you yourself don't see the plank that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first remove the plank out of your own eye, and then you'll see clearly to remove the speck that's in your brother's eye. 43 For a good tree doesn't produce corrupt fruit, nor does a corrupt tree produce good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For from thorns men don't gather figs, nor from a bramble bush do they gather grapes. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces that which is good, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart produces that which is evil, for from the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. 46 And why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and don't do the things that I say? 47 Whoever comes to me, and hears my sayings, and does them, I will show you to whom he is like, 48 He is like a man who built a house, and dug deep, and laid the foundation on a rock, and when the flood came, the stream beat forcefully on that house, and couldn't shake it, for it had a rock for its foundation. 49 But he that hears, and doesn't do my sayings, is like a man that built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat forcefully, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great." ___Luke chapter 7 1 Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. 2 And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. 3 And when he heard about Jesus, he sent to him the elders of the Jews, asking him to please come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they asked him immediately, saying that he was worthy for whom he should do this, 5 "For he loves our nation, and he has built us a synagogue." 6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I am not worthy for you to enter under my roof, 7 So I also didn't think myself worthy to come to you, but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. 8 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me, and I say to one, Go, and he goes, and to another, Come, and he comes, and to my servant, Do this, and he does it." 9 When Jesus heard these things, he was surprised at him, and turned around, and said to the people that followed him, "I say to you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel." 10 And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well that had been sick. 11 And the next day, he went into a city called Nain, and many of his disciples went with him, and many people. 12 Now when he came near the gate of the city, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and many people of the city were with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he took pity on her, and said to her, "Don't cry." 14 And he came and touched the bier, and those who carried him stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, get up." 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to talk. And he gave him to his mother. 16 And fear came on all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen up among us," and, "God has visited his people." 17 And this rumor of him went throughout all Judea, and throughout all the region around there. 18 And the disciples of John showed him all these things. 19 And John calling to himself two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, "Are you he that was supposed to come? Or should we look for someone else?" 20 When the men had come to him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, Are you he that was supposed to come? Or should we look for someone else?" 21 And in that same hour he cured many from their sicknesses and diseases, and from evil spirits, and to many that were blind he gave sight. 22 Then Jesus answered them, "Go back and tell John the things that you've seen and heard, how the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. 23 And blessed is he, whoever is not offended in me." 24 And when the messengers of John had departed, he began to speak to the people concerning John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? Some bamboo shaken by the wind? 25 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? See, those who are gorgeously appareled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and much more than a prophet. 27 This is he, about whom it is written, See, I send my messenger before your face, who'll prepare your way before you. 28 For I say to you, among those that have been born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist, but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." 29 And all the people that heard him, and the tax collectors justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the advice of God against themselves, not being baptized by him. 31 And the Lord said, "To what then shall I liken the men of this generation? And to what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the market place, and calling to each other, and saying, We have piped to you, and you haven't danced, we have mourned to you, and you haven't cried. 33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, He has a devil. 34 The Son of man has come eating and drinking, and you say, See, a glutton, and a wino, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! 35 But wisdom is justified by all her children." 36 And one of the Pharisees desired him to eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to eat. 37 And see, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat to eat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him crying, and began to wash his feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said inside himself, "This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what kind of woman this is that touches him, for she is a sinner." 40 And Jesus, answering, said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he said, "Master, go ahead." 41 "There was a certain creditor who had two debtors, the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?" 43 Simon answered and said, "I suppose he to whom he forgave most." And he said to him, "You've rightly judged." 44 And he turned to the woman, and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, you didn't give me any water for my feet, but she has washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45 You gave me no kiss, but this woman since the time I came in hasn't stopped kissing my feet. 46 You didn't anoint my head with oil, but this woman has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 So I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much, but to whom little has been forgiven, the same loves little." 48 And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49 And those who sat to eat with him began to say inside themselves, "Who is this that forgives sins also?" 50 And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you, go in peace." ___Luke chapter 8 1 Afterward, he went through every city and village, preaching and showing the good news of the kingdom of God, and the twelve were with him, 2 And a certain woman, who had been healed from evil spirits and illnesses, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had gone seven devils, 3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who gave to him out of their possessions. 4 And when many people had gathered together, and had come to him out of every city, he spoke by a parable, 5 "A planter went out to plant his seed, and as he planted, some fell by the way side, and it was walked on, and the birds of the air ate it. 6 And some fell on a rock, and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. 8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and produced fruit a hundredfold." And when he had said these things, he shouted, "He that has ears to hear, let him hear." 9 And his disciples asked him, "What is this parable?" 10 And he said, "To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to others in parables, so that seeing, they won't see, and hearing, they won't understand. 11 Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the way side are those who hear, then comes the devil, and takes away the word out of their hearts, so they won't believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy, and these have no root, who for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. 14 And that which fell among thorns are those who, when they've heard, go on, and are choked by cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. 15 But that on the good ground are those who, in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and produce fruit with patience. 16 No man, when he has lit a candle, covers it with a container, or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a candlestick, so those who enter in can see the light. 17 For nothing is secret, that won't be made clear, nor anything hidden, that won't be known and come out. 18 Be careful therefore how you hear, for whoever has, to him shall be given, and whoever doesn't have, from him shall be taken even what he seems to have." 19 Then his mother and his brothers came to him, and couldn't get close to him because of the crowd. 20 And some people told him, "Your mother and your brothers stand outside, desiring to see you." 21 And he answered them, "My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God, and do it." 22 Now on a certain day, he went into a ship with his disciples, and he said to them, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." And they launched out. 23 But as they sailed, he fell asleep, and a storm of wind came down on the lake, and they were filled with water, and were in danger. 24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, "Master, master, we're going to die." Then he got up, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water, and they stopped, and there was a calm. 25 And he said to them, "Where is your faith?" And being afraid, they wondered, saying to each other, "What kind of man is this! For he commands even the winds and water, and they obey him." 26 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 And when he went out to land, a certain man met him out of the city who had devils for a long time, and didn't wear any clothes, nor live in any house, but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he shouted, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, "What do I have to do with you, Jesus, you Son of God most high? I beg you, don't torment me." 29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For often it had caught him, and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters, and he broke the bands, and was driven by the devil into the wilderness.) 30 And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion," because many devils had entered into him. 31 And they asked him to not command them to go out into the deep. 32 And there was a herd of many pigs there, feeding on the mountain, and they asked him to let them enter into them. And he gave them permission to do so. 33 Then the devils went out of the man, and entered into the pigs, and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were drowned. 34 When those who fed them saw what had happened, they ran off, and went and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man out of whom the devils had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 36 Those also who saw it, told them how the man that had been possessed by the devils was healed. 37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes around there asked him to go away from them, for they were taken by great fear, and he went up into the ship, and returned back again. 38 Now the man out of whom the devils had departed asked him if he could be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 "Return to your own house, and show how God has done great things to you." And he went his way, and proclaimed throughout the whole city how Jesus had done great things to him. 40 And when Jesus had returned, the people gladly received him, for they were all waiting for him. 41 And a man named Jairus came, and he was a ruler of the synagogue, and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and asked him to come into his house, 42 For he had only one daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay dying. But as he went, the people crowded him. 43 And a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years, who had spent all her living on doctors, and couldn't be cured by any of them, 44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment, and immediately her bleeding stopped. 45 And Jesus said, "Who touched me?" When all denied, Peter and those who were with him said, "Master, the multitude crowd you and press you, and do you say, Who touched me?" 46 And Jesus said, "Someone has touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out of me." 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared to him before all the people why she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. 48 And he said to her, "Daughter, be of good comfort, your faith has made you well, go in peace." 49 While he yet spoke, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, "Your daughter is dead, don't trouble the Master." 50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, "Don't be afraid, only believe, and she shall be made well." 51 And when he came into the house, he allowed no man to go in, except Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the girl. 52 And all wept, and bewailed her, but he said, "Don't cry, she's not dead, but sleeping." 53 And they laughed at him scornfully, knowing that she was dead. 54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, "Girl, get up." 55 And her spirit came again, and she got up immediately, and he commanded to give her some food. 56 And her parents were amazed, but he commanded them not to tell any man what had happened. ___Luke chapter 9 1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. 2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. 3 And he said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, don't take a walking stick, nor paper money, nor bread, nor coins, and don't have two coats each. 4 And whatever house you enter into, stay there until you leave that city. 5 And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them." 6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere. 7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, 8 And by some, that Elijah had appeared, and by others, that one of the old prophets had risen again. 9 And Herod said, "I've beheaded John, but who is this, about whom I hear such things?" And he desired to see him. 10 And the apostles, when they'd returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 And the people, when they knew it, followed him, and he received them, and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. 12 And when the day began to wear away, then the twelve came and said to him, "Send the multitude away, so they can go into the towns and country around here, and lodge, and get food, for we are here in a desert place." 13 But he said to them, "You give them food." And they said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people." 14 For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, "Make them sit down in groups of fifty." 15 And they did so, and made them all sit down. 16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and broke, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. 17 And they ate, and were all filled, and they took up twelve baskets of remaining pieces. 18 And as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him, and he asked them, "Whom do the people say I am?" 19 They answered, "John the Baptist, but some say Elijah, and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again." 20 He said to them, "But whom do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God." 21 And he strictly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing, 22 Saying, "The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day." 23 And he said to them all, "If any man wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life shall lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, shall save it. 25 For what advantage does a man have, if he gains the whole world, and loses himself, or is thrown away? 26 For whoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he comes in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here that shall not taste of death until they see the kingdom of God." 28 And about eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. 29 And as he prayed, the shape of his face was changed, and his clothing was white and shining. 30 And see, two men talked with him, who were Moses and Elijah, 31 Who appeared in glory, and spoke about his dying that he would accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 But Peter and those who were with him were deep in sleep, and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. 33 And as they departed from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here, and let us make three tents, one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah," not knowing what he said. 34 While he thus spoke, a cloud came, and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud. 35 And a voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son, listen to him." 36 And after the voice, Jesus was seen alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of the things that they had seen. 37 And on the next day, when they had come down from the hill, many people met him. 38 And a man of the company called out, "Master, please, look at my son, for he is my only child. 39 And see, a spirit takes him, and he suddenly shouts out, and it tears him so that he foams again, and bruising him hardly departs from him. 40 And I asked your disciples to cast him out, and they couldn't." 41 And Jesus answered, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and endure you? Bring your son here." 42 And as he was still coming, the devil threw him down, and tore him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and gave him back to his father. 43 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they all wondered at all the things that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, 44 "Let these sayings sink down in your ears, for the Son of man shall be given into the hands of men." 45 But they didn't understand this saying, and it was hidden from them, so that they didn't perceive it, and they were afraid to ask him about that saying. 46 Then a reasoning arose among them which of them would be greatest. 47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, 48 And said to them, "Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him that sent me, for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great." 49 And John answered, "Master, we saw someone casting out devils in your name, and we told him to stop, because he doesn't follow with us." 50 And Jesus said to him, "Don't stop him, for he that is not against us is for us." 51 And when the time had come for him to be received up, he steadily set his face to go to Jerusalem, 52 And sent messengers before his face, and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. 53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, like Elijah did?" 55 But he turned, and scolded them, and said, "You don't know what kind of spirit you are of. 56 For the Son of man hasn't come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." And they went to another village. 57 And as they went, on the way, a certain man said to him, "Lord, I will follow you wherever you go." 58 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man doesn't have a place to lay his head." 59 And he said to another, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father." 60 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God." 61 And another also said, "Lord, I will follow you, but first let me go say goodbye to those at home at my house." 62 And Jesus said to him, "No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." ___Luke chapter 10 1 After these things, the Lord chose seventy others also, and sent them two by two before his face into every city and place, where he himself would go. 2 Therefore he said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few, pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he would send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your ways, see, I send you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Don't carry purse, nor paper money, nor shoes, and greet no man on the way. 5 And into whatever house you enter, first say, Peace be to this house. 6 And if the son of peace is there, your peace shall rest on it, if not, it shall return to you. 7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Don't go from house to house. 8 And into whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat the things that are set before you, 9 And heal the sick that are there, and say to them, The kingdom of God has come near you. 10 But into whatever city you enter, and they don't receive you, go your ways out into the streets of it and say, 11 Even the very dust of your city, that sticks to us, we wipe off against you, anyway, be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near you. 12 But I say to you, it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. 13 Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Zidon that have been done in you, they would have repented a long time ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Zidon at the judgment, than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, that is lifted up to heaven, shall be thrown down to hell. 16 He that hears you hears me, and he that despises you despises me, and he that despises me despises him that sent me." 17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, "Lord, even the devils are subject to us through your name." 18 And he said to them, "I saw Satan like lightning fall from heaven. 19 See, I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall in any way hurt you. 20 However, don't rejoice that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." 21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, "I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you've hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to babies, even so, Father, for so it seemed good in your sight. 22 All things have been delivered to me by my Father, and no man knows who the Son is, but the Father, and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him." 23 And he turned to his disciples, and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see the things that you see, 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see the things that you see, and haven't seen them, and to hear the things that you hear, and haven't heard them." 25 And a certain lawyer stood up and tempted him, saying, "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read?" 27 And he answered, "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 like yourself." 28 And he said to him, "You've answered right, do that and you'll live." 29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 And Jesus answered, "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothes, and wounded him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance, a certain priest came down that way, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked at him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bandaged his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own animal, and brought him to a hotel, and took care of him. 35 And on the next day when he left, he took out two pence, and gave them to the hotel keeper, and said to him, Take care of him, and whatever you spend more, when I come back, I'll repay you. 36 Now which of these three, do you think, was neighbor to him that fell among the thieves?" 37 And he said, "He that showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go, and do likewise." 38 Now as they went, he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was burdened with much serving, and came to him, and said, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her therefore to help me." 41 And Jesus answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are careful and troubled about many things, 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, that won't be taken away from her." ___Luke chapter 11 1 And as he was praying in a certain place, when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, like John also taught his disciples." 2 And he said to them, "When you pray, say, Our Father who is in heaven, honored be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone that is indebted to us. And don't lead us into temptation, but give us deliverance from evil." 5 And he said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight, and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 For a friend of mine in his journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? 7 And he from inside shall answer, Don't trouble me, the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed, I can't get up and give to you. 8 I say to you, though he will not get up and give him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he'll rise and give him as many as he needs." 9 And I say to you, "Ask, and it shall be given to you, seek, and you'll find, knock, and it shall be opened to you. 10 For everyone that asks receives, and he that seeks finds, and to him that knocks it shall be opened. 11 If a son asks bread from any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he instead of a fish give him a snake? 12 Or if he shall ask for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?" 14 And he was casting out a devil, and it was the kind that prevents the host person from talking. And when the devil had gone out, the formerly mute person spoke, and the people wondered. 15 But some of them said, "He casts out devils through Beelzebub the head of the devils." 16 And others, tempting him, sought from him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be brought to desolation, and a house divided against itself falls. 18 If Satan also is divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? Because you say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. 19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they'll be your judges. 20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God has come to you. 21 When a strong, armed man keeps his palace, his goods are in peace, 22 But when a stronger than he shall come to him and overcome him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. 23 He that is not with me is against me, and he that doesn't gather with me scatters. 24 When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest, and finding none, he says, I will return to my house that I came out of. 25 And when he comes, he finds it swept and garnished. 26 Then he goes, and takes to himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in, and live there, and the last condition of that man is worse than the first." 27 And as he spoke these things, a certain woman of the crowd lifted up her voice, and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that gave you birth, and the breasts that you've sucked." 28 But he said, "Yes, rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it." 29 And when the people were gathered thickly together, he began to say, "This is an evil generation, they look for a sign, and no sign shall be given to it, except for the sign of Jonah the Prophet. 30 For like Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so shall the Son of man also be a sign to this generation. 31 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them, for she came from the farthest parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and see, a greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and see, a greater than Jonah is here. 33 No man, when he has lighted a candle, puts it in a secret place, nor under a basket, but on a candlestick, so those who come in will see the light. 34 The light of the body is the eye, therefore when your eye is single, your whole body also is full of light, but when your eye is evil, your body also is full of darkness. 35 Therefore, be careful that the light that is in you isn't darkness. 36 If your whole body therefore is full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, like when the bright shining of a candle gives you light." 37 And as he spoke, a certain Pharisee asked him to eat with him, and he went in, and sat down to eat. 38 And when the Pharisee saw it, he was surprised that he hadn't first washed before dinner. 39 And the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and the plate clean, but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. 40 You fools, didn't he that made that which is outside make that which is inside also? 41 But rather give alms of such things as you have, and see, all things are clean to you. 42 But woe to you, Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all kinds of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God. These ought you to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 43 Woe to you, Pharisees! For you love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets. 44 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you're like graves that are hidden, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them. 45 Then one of the lawyers answered him, "Master, when you talk like that, you reproach us also." 46 And he said, "Woe to you also, you lawyers! For you load men with burdens, the carrying of which causes grief, and you yourselves won't touch he burdens with one of your fingers. 47 Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. 48 Truly you testify that you allow the deeds of your fathers, for they indeed killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore the wisdom of God also said, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall kill and persecute, 50 So that the blood of all the prophets, that was spilled from the foundation of the world, will be required of this generation, 51 From the blood of Abel to the blood of Zacharias, who perished between the altar and the temple, truly I say to you, it shall be required of this generation. 52 Woe to you, lawyers! For you've taken away the key of knowledge, you didn't enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered." 53 And as he said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him forcefully, and to provoke him to speak about many things, 54 Lying in ambush for him, (figuratively, not literally), and looking to catch something out of his mouth, so they could accuse him. ___Luke chapter 12 1 In the meantime, when an uncountable multitude of people was gathered together, so much that they stepped on each other, he began to say to his disciples first of all, "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered that won't be revealed, nor hidden that won't be known. 3 Therefore whatever you've spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light, and what you've spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed on the house tops. 4 And I say to you my friends, don't be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear, fear him, who after he has killed has the power to throw you into hell, yes I say to you, fear him. 6 Aren't five sparrows sold for two quarters? And not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore, don't be afraid, you are of more value than many sparrows. 8 Also I say to you, whoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God, 9 But he that denies me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. 10 And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him, but to him that blasphemes against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you to the synagogues, and to magistrates, and powers, don't think about how or what you'll answer, or what you'll say, 12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what to say." 13 And one of the crowd said to him, "Master, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." 14 And he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?" 15 And he said to them, "Be careful, beware of covetousness, for a man's life doesn't consist in the abundance of the things that he possesses." 16 And he spoke a parable to them, "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully, 17 And he thought within himself, What shall I do, because I don't have enough space to put my produce? 18 And he said, Here's what I'll do, I'll pull down my barns, and build larger, and I'll put all my fruits and my goods there. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have a lot of goods laid up for many years, take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said to him, You fool, tonight your soul shall be required from you, then whose shall those things be that you've provided? 21 So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." 22 And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I say to you, don't worry about your life, what you'll eat, nor for the body, what to wear. 23 The life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens, for they neither plant nor reap, which neither have storehouse nor barn, and God feeds them, how much more are you better than the birds? 25 And which of you can, by thinking, make himself eighteen inches taller? 26 So if you're not able to do the thing that's least, why think about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies how they grow, they don't work, they don't spin, and yet I say to you, that Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 28 So then if God dresses up the grass that way, which is today in the field, and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith? 29 And don't worry about what you'll eat, or what you'll drink, and don't be of doubtful mind. 30 Because the nations of the world seek for all these things, and your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But rather, seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. 32 Don't be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell what you have, and give to the poor, provide for yourselves wallets that don't grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn't fail, where no thief approaches, nor moth corrupts. 34 For where your treasure is, that's where your heart will be also. 35 Have your pants on, and your lights on, 36 And you yourselves like men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding, so that when he comes and knocks, they'll open to him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he comes shall find awake, truly I say to you, that he'll dress himself, and make them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. 38 And if he comes in the second shift of the guard, or comes in the third shift of the guard, and finds them so, blessed are those servants. 39 And know this, that if the householder had known what hour the thief would come, he would have stayed awake, and not have let his house be broken into. 40 Therefore, you be ready also, for the Son of man will come at an hour when you think not." 41 Then Peter said to him, "Lord, do you speak this parable to us, or to all?" 42 And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he comes shall find so doing. 44 Of a truth I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. 45 But if that servant says in his heart, My lord delays his coming, and shall begin to beat the men servants and young women, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken, 46 The lord of that servant will come on a day when he doesn't look for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in pieces, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47 And that servant, who knew his lord's will, and didn't prepare himself, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many strokes of the whip. 48 But he that didn't know, and committed things worthy of strokes, shall be beaten with few strokes of the whip. For to whom much has been given, from him shall much be required, and to whom men have committed much, from him they will ask the more. 49 I've come to send fire on the earth, and what do I need, if the fire's already started? 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how much I'm restricted until it has been accomplished! 51 Do you suppose that I've come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division, 52 For from now on there'll be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father, the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother, the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law." 54 And he said also to the people, "When you see a cloud rise out of the west, immediately you say, A shower is coming, and that's right. 55 And when you see the south wind blow, you say, There will be heat, and it happens. 56 You hypocrites, you can figure out the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it that you don't figure out this time? 57 Yes, and why even of yourselves don't you judge what is right? 58 When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, while you're in the street, give diligence so that you'll obtain deliverance out of his hand, so he doesn't turn you over to the judge, and the judge turns you over to the officer, and the officer throws you into prison. 59 I tell you, you won't get out of there, until you've paid the very last penny." ___Luke chapter 13 1 There were present at that season some that told him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered them, "Do you suppose that those Galileans were sinners more than all the Galileans, because such things happened to them? 3 I tell you no, but unless you repent, you'll all likewise be destroyed. 4 Or those eighteen, on whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them, do you think that they were sinners more than all men that lived in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you no, but unless you repent, you'll all likewise be destroyed." 6 He spoke also this parable: "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came and looked for fruit on it, and found none. 7 Then he said to the worker in his vineyard, See, these three years I've come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none, cut it down, why should it be a burden to the ground? 8 And he answered him, Lord, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it, and fertilize it, 9 And if it bears fruit, well, and if not, then after that we'll cut it down." 10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And there was a woman who had a spirit of sickness eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no way lift up herself. 12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said to her, "Woman, you're loosed from your sickness." 13 And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. 14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath day, and said to the people, "There are six days in which men ought to work, in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day." 15 The Lord then answered him, "You hypocrite, doesn't each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? 16 And shouldn't this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?" 17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed, and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him. 18 Then he said, "To what is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I liken it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, that a man took, and threw into his garden, and it grew, and became a large tree, and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it." 20 And again he said, "To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21 It is like yeast, that a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, until all of it was leavened." 22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 Then someone said to him, "Lord, are there few that get saved?" And he said to them, 24 "Try hard to enter in at the restricted gate, because many, I say to you, will seek to enter in, and won't be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen up, and has locked the door, and you begin to stand outside, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us, and he shall answer you, I don't know where you're from. 26 Then you'll begin to say, We've eaten and drunk in your presence, and you've taught in our streets. 27 But he'll say, I tell you, I don't know where you're from, go away from me, all of you who commit sin. 28 There shall be crying and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves pushed out. 29 And they'll come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And there are last that shall be first, and there are first that shall be last." 31 The same day certain of the Pharisees came and said to him, "Get out, and go from here, for Herod will kill you." 32 And he said to them, "Go and tell that fox, See, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. 33 However, I must walk today, and tomorrow, and the day following, for it can't be that a prophet dies outside of Jerusalem. 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to you, how often would I have gathered your children together, like a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you weren't willing! 35 See, your house is left to you desolate, and truly I say to you, you won't see me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord." ___Luke chapter 14 1 And as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath day, they watched him. 2 And there was a certain man before him who had the dropsy. 3 And Jesus answered the lawyers and Pharisees, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?" 4 And they kept quiet. And he took him and healed him, and let him go, 5 And answered them, "Which of you shall have an ass or an ox that's fallen into a pit, and will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?" 6 And they couldn't answer him back about these things. 7 And he put out a parable to those who had been invited, when he saw how they chose out the best rooms, saying to them, 8 "When you are invited by any man to a wedding, don't sit down in the highest room, because a more honorable man than you might have been invited by him, 9 And he that invited you and him come and say to you, give this man the room, and you begin with shame to take the lowest room. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest room, so that when he that invited you comes, he will say to you, Friend, go up higher, then you'll have admiration in the presence of those who sit to eat with you. 11 For whoever lifts himself up shall be brought low, and he that humbles himself shall be lifted up." 12 Then he said also to him that invited him, "When you make a dinner or a supper, don't invite your friends, nor your brothers, nor your kinsmen, nor your rich neighbors, or they'll also invite you back, and you'll be repaid. 13 But when you make a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, 14 And you'll be blessed, for they can't repay you, for you'll be repaid at the rising of the just from the dead." 15 And when one of those who sat to eat with him heard these things, he said to him, "Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God." 16 Then he said to him, "A certain man made a great supper, and invited many, 17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to those who'd been invited, Come, for everything's now ready. 18 And they all began to make excuses. The first said to him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it, please have me excused. 19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to test them, please have me excused. 20 And another said, I have married a wife, and that's why I can't come. 21 So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor, and the maimed, and those who walk with difficulty, and the blind. 22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as you've commanded, and yet there is room. 23 And the lord said to the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, so my house will be filled. 24 For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste of my supper." 25 And great multitudes went with him, and he turned, and said to them, 26 "If any man comes to me, and doesn't hate his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can't be my disciple. 27 And whoever doesn't carry his cross, and come after me, can't be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, doesn't sit down first, and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it? 29 Otherwise, perhaps after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that see it begin to make fun of him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, doesn't sit down first, and consult whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an ambassador, and desires conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever he is of you that doesn't forsake all that he has, he can't be my disciple. 34 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the manure pile, but men throw it out. He that has ears to hear, let him hear." ___Luke chapter 15 1 Then all the tax collectors and sinners came near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes grumbled, "This man receives sinners, and eats with them." 3 And he spoke this parable to them: 4 "What man of you, who has a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, doesn't leave the ninety nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that's lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he's found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost. 7 I say to you that likewise, there'll be joy in heaven over one sinner that repents, more than over ninety nine righteous people, who don't need repentance. 8 Or what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she loses one piece, doesn't light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she's found it, she calls her friends and her neighbors together, and says, Rejoice with me, for I've found the piece that I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents." 11 And he said, "A certain man had two sons, 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that will be mine. And he divided to them his living. 13 And not many days later the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and wasted his substance there with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, a mighty famine arose in that land, and he began to lack the things he needed. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he would preferably have filled his belly with the husks that the pigs ate, and no man gave to him. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I'm dying of hunger! 18 I'll get up and go to my father, and will say to him, father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you, 19 And am no more worthy to be called your son, make me like one of your hired servants. 20 And he got up, and went to his father. But when he was yet a long way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight, and am no more worthy to be called your son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring out the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet, 23 And bring here the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and be merry, 24 For this son of mine was dead, and is alive again, he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. 25 Now his elder son was in the field, and as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, Your brother has returned, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound. 28 And he was angry, and wouldn't go in, so his father came out, and reasoned with him. 29 And he answered his father, See, these many years I've served you. I never disobeyed your orders, and yet you never gave me a young goat so I could party with my friends, 30 But as soon as this son of yours has come, who has consumed your living with prostitutes, you've killed for him the fatted calf. 31 And he said to him, Son, you're always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry, and be glad, for this brother of yours was dead, but is alive again, and was lost, and is found." ___Luke chapter 16 1 And he said also to his disciples, "There was a certain rich man, who had an employee who had been accused to him that he had wasted his goods. 2 And he called him, and said to him, How is it that I hear this about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you'll no longer be steward. 3 Then the steward said inside himself, What shall I do?, for my lord is taking away from me the stewardship, I can't dig, to beg I am ashamed. 4 Here's what I'll do, so that when I've been put out of the stewardship, they'll receive me into their houses. 5 So he called every one of his lord's debtors to him, and said to the first, How much do you owe my lord? 6 And he said, A hundred measures of oil. And he said to him, Take your bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. 7 Then he said to another, And how much do you owe? And he said, A hundred measures of wheat. And he said to him, Take your bill, and write eighty. 8 And the lord complimented the sloppy steward, because he had done wisely, for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. 9 And I say to you, make for yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, so that when you fail, they'll receive you into everlasting houses. 10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much, and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11 If therefore you haven't been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who'll commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if you haven't been faithful in what is another man's, who'll give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You can't serve God and money." 14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things, and they made fun of him. 15 And he said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts, for that which is highly esteemed among men is hated in the sight of God. 16 The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presses into it. 17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to go away, than for one period or comma of the law to fail. 18 Whoever puts away his wife and marries someone else, commits adultery, and whoever marries her that has been put away from her husband commits adultery. 19 There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and feasted every day. 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, who laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table, also the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom, the rich man also died, and was buried. 23 And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being tormented, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he shouted, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, so he can dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in these flames. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that in your lifetime, you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things, but now he is comforted, and you're tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a large gulf fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you can't, nor can they pass to us that want to come from there. 27 Then he said, Please, therefore, father, send him to my father's house, 28 For I have five brothers, so that he'll testify to them, so they won't also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham said to him, They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them. 30 And he said, No, father Abraham. But if someone went back to them from the dead, they'll repent. 31 And he said to him, If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't be persuaded, even if someone rose from the dead." ___Luke chapter 17 1 Then he said to the disciples, "It is impossible that offences won't come, but woe to him through whom they come! 2 It would have been better for him that a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. 3 Be careful about yourselves, if your brother wrongs you, tell him what he did wrong, and if he's sorry, forgive him. 4 And if he wrongs you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turns again to you, and says, I'm sorry, you shall forgive him." 5 And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." 6 And the Lord said, "If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this sycamore tree, Be plucked up roots and all, and be planted in the sea, and it will obey you. 7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say to him by and by, when he has come from the field, Go and sit down to eat? 8 And won't rather say to him, Make ready so I can eat, and gird yourself, and serve me, until I've eaten and drunk, and afterward you'll eat and drink? 9 Does he thank that servant because he did the things that had been commanded him? Certainly not. 10 So likewise you, when you've done all the things that you've been commanded, say, We are not exceptional achievers, we've done what was our duty to do." 11 And as he went to Jerusalem, he passed through the middle of Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered into a certain village, ten men that were lepers met him, who stood far off. 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." 14 And when he saw them, he said to them, "Go show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were healed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks, and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answered, "Weren't there ten who got healed? But where are the other nine? 18 There are not found who returned to give glory to God, except this stranger." 19 And he said to him, "Get up, go your way, your faith has made you well." 20 And when the Pharisees demanded to know when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The kingdom of God doesn't come with observation, 21 Nor shall they say, See here! Or, see there! For, the kingdom of God is inside you." 22 And he said to the disciples, "The days will come, when you'll desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and you won't see it. 23 And they'll say to you, See here, or, See there, don't go after them, nor follow them. 24 For like the lightning, that shines out of the one part under heaven, shines to the other part under heaven, so shall also the Son of man be in his day. 25 But first, he must suffer many things, and be rejected by this generation. 26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot, they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built, 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 That's how it shall be on the day when the Son of man is revealed. 31 In that day, he that's on the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away, and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. 32 Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whoever shall try to save his life shall lose it, and whoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. 34 I tell you, in that night there'll be two men in one bed, the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. 35 Two women shall be grinding together, the one shall be taken, and the other left. 36 Two men shall be in the field, the one shall be taken, and the other left." 37 And they answered him, "Where, Lord?" And he said to them, "Wherever the body is, that's where the eagles will be gathered together." ___Luke chapter 18 1 And he spoke a parable to them for this purpose, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint, 2 Saying, "There was a judge in a city, who didn't fear God, nor regarded man. 3 And there was a widow in that city, and she came to him, saying, Avenge me of my adversary. 4 And he wouldn't for a while, but afterward he said inside himself, Though I don't fear God, nor regard man, 5 Yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, so that by her continual coming, she doesn't tire me." 6 And the Lord said, "Listen to what the dishonest judge says. 7 And won't God avenge his own elect, who cry day and night to him, though he bears long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. However, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" 9 And he spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others, 10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed like this with himself, God, I thank you that I'm not like other men are, extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I have. 13 And the tax collector, standing far off, wouldn't lift up as much as his eyes to heaven, but struck his chest, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other, for everyone that lifts himself up shall be brought low, and he that humbles himself shall be lifted up." 15 And they also brought to him infants, so he would touch them, but when his disciples saw it, they scolded them. 16 But Jesus called them to him, and said, "Allow little children to come to me, and don't forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of God. 17 Truly I say to you, whoever won't receive the kingdom of God like a little child shall in no case enter into it." 18 And a certain ruler asked him, "Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 19 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except one, that is God. 20 You know the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and your mother." 21 And he said, "I have kept all these since my youth." 22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said to him, "You still lack one thing, sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you'll have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me." 23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful, for he was very rich. 24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, "How hardly shall those who have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." 26 And those who heard it said, "Who then can be saved?" 27 And he said, "The things that are impossible with men are possible with God." 28 Then Peter said, "See, we've left all and followed you." 29 And he said to them, "Truly I say to you, there is no man that has left house, or parents, or brothers, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, 30 Who won't receive many times as much in this present time, and in the world to come everlasting life." 31 Then he took to himself the twelve, and said to them, "See, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that have been written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 32 For he shall be delivered to the Gentiles, and shall be made fun of, and mistreated and spat on, 33 And they shall whip him, and put him to death, and the third day he shall rise again." 34 And they didn't understand any of these things, and this saying was hidden from them, nor did they know the things that were spoken. 35 And as he came near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging, 36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. 37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he shouted, "Jesus, you Son of David, have mercy on me." 39 And those who went before scolded him, so he would be quiet, but he shouted so much the more, "You Son of David, have mercy on me." 40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought to him, and when he had come near, he asked him, 41 "What do you want me to do to you?" And he said, "Lord, I want to receive my sight." 42 And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight, your faith has saved you." 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God, and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God. ___Luke chapter 19 1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 And there was a man named Zacchaeus, who was the head of the tax collectors, and he was rich. 3 And he tried to see Jesus who he was, but couldn't because of the crowd, because he was a short man. 4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry up and come down, for today I must stay at your house." 6 And he hurried, and came down, and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying that he was going to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said to the Lord, "See Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I've taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore to him four times as much." 9 And Jesus said to him, "This day has salvation come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." 11 And as they heard these things, he added and spoke a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God would immediately appear. 12 He said therefore, "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered to them ten pounds, and said to them, Occupy until I return. 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We won't have this man to rule over us. 15 And when he had returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded those servants to be called to him to whom he had given the money, so he would know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then the first came and said, Lord, your pound has gained ten pounds. 17 And he said to him, Well, you good servant, because you have been faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities. 18 And the second came, saying, Lord, your pound has gained five pounds. 19 And he said likewise to him, You are also over five cities. 20 And another came, saying, Lord, see, here is your pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin, 21 For I feared you, because you are a rough man, you take up what you didn't lay down, and reap what you didn't plant. 22 And he said to him, Out of your own mouth I'll judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was a rough man, taking up what I didn't lay down, and reaping what I didn't plant, 23 Why then didn't you put my money in the bank, so that at my return I could have required my own plus interest? 24 And he said to those who stood by, take the pound from him, and give it to him that has ten pounds. 25 (And they said to him, Lord, he has ten pounds.) 26 For I say to you, that to everyone who has shall be given, and from him that doesn't have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 27 But those enemies of mine, who didn't want me to rule over them, bring here, and kill them before me." 28 And when he had said that, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem. 29 And when he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, 30 And said, "Go into the village opposite you, in which at your entering you'll find a colt tied, on which man has never sat, untie him, and bring him here. 31 And if any man asks you, Why do you untie him? You say, Because the Lord needs him." 32 And those who'd been sent went their way, and found like he had said to them. 33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?" 34 And they said, "The Lord has need of him." 35 And they brought him to Jesus, and they threw their garments on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. 36 And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. 37 And when he had come near, even now at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 Saying, "Blessed be the King that comes in the name of the Lord, peace in heaven, and glory in the highest." 39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said to him, "Master, scold your disciples." 40 And he answered them, "I tell you that if these would be quiet, the stones would immediately cry out." 41 And when he had come near, he saw the city, and cried tears over it, 42 Saying, "If you had known, even you, at least in this your day, the things that belong to your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days shall come on you, that your enemies shall dig a trench around you, and surround you, and keep you in on every side, 44 And shall lay you level with the ground, and your children within you, and they won't leave in you one stone on another, because you didn't know the time of your visitation." 45 And he went into the temple, and began to throw out those who sold there, and those who bought, 46 Saying to them, "It is written, My house is the house of prayer, but you've made it a den of thieves." 47 And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people tried to destroy him, 48 And couldn't find anything they could do, for all the people listened closely to him. ___Luke chapter 20 1 And on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came to him with the elders, 2 And said to him, "Tell us by what authority you do these things? Or who is he that gave you this authority?" 3 And he answered them, "I will also ask you one thing, and answer me, 4 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?" 5 And they reasoned with themselves, "If we say, From heaven, he will say, Why then didn't you believe him? 6 But if we say, Of men, all the people will stone us, for they're persuaded that John was a prophet." 7 And they answered, that they couldn't tell where it was from. 8 And Jesus said to them, "Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things." 9 Then he began to speak to the people this parable, "A certain man planted a vineyard, and rented it to vineyard keepers, and went into a far country for a long time. 10 And at the season he sent a servant to the vineyard keepers, so they would pay him of the fruit of the vineyard, but the vineyard keepers beat him, and sent him away empty. 11 And again he sent another servant, and they beat him also, and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. 12 And again he sent a third, and they wounded him also, and threw him out. 13 Then the lord of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I'll send my beloved son, perhaps they'll respect him when they see him. 14 But when the vineyard keepers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, This is the heir, come, let's kill him, so the inheritance will be ours. 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Therefore what shall the lord of the vineyard do to them? 16 He shall come and destroy those vineyard keepers, and shall give the vineyard to others." And when they heard it, they said, "God forbid." 17 And he looked at them and said, "What is this then that is written, The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone? 18 Whoever shall fall on that stone shall be broken, but on whomever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." 19 And the same hour, the chief priests and the scribes tried to arrest him, and they feared the people, for they understood that he had spoken this parable against them. 20 And they watched him, and sent out spies, who would pretend to be righteous men, so they could take hold of his words, so they could deliver him to the power and authority of the governor. 21 And they asked him, "Master, we know that you say and teach rightly, nor do you accept the person of any, but teach the way of God truly, 22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" 23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, "Why do you tempt me? 24 Show me a penny. Whose image and writing does it have?" They answered, "Caesar's." 25 And he said to them, "Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." 26 And they couldn't take hold of his words before the people, and they were amazed at his answer, and kept quiet. 27 Then certain of the Sadducees came to him, who deny that there is any rising from the dead, and they asked him, 28 "Master, Moses wrote to us, If any man's brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed to his brother. 29 There were therefore seven brothers, and the first took a wife, and died without children. 30 And the second took her as wife, and he died childless. 31 And the third took her, and similarly the seven also, and they left no children, and died. 32 Last of all the woman died also. 33 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? For seven had her as wife." 34 And Jesus answered them, "The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage, 35 But those who'll be counted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage, 36 Nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels, and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. 37 Now that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he called the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him." 39 Then certain of the scribes answered, "Master, you've well said." 40 And after that they didn't dare ask him any question at all. 41 And he said to them, "How can they say that Christ is David's son? 42 And David himself said in the book of Psalms, The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand, 43 Until I make your enemies your footstool. 44 David therefore calls him Lord, how is he then his son?" 45 Then in the audience of all the people he said to his disciples, 46 "Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the main rooms at feasts, 47 Who devour widows' houses, and for a show make long prayers, they'll receive greater damnation." ___Luke chapter 21 1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men throwing their gifts into the treasury. 2 And he saw also a certain poor widow throwing two mites in there. 3 And he said, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has thrown in more than all of them, 4 For all these have of their abundance thrown into the offerings of God, but she in her poverty has thrown in all the living that she had." 5 And as some spoke about the temple, how it was adorned with good stones and gifts, he said, 6 "As for these things that you see, the days will come in which there shall not be left one stone on another, that won't be thrown down." 7 And they asked him, "Master, but when shall these things be? And what sign will there be when these things shall happen?" 8 And he said, "Be careful that you're not deceived, for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and the time draws near, therefore don't follow them. 9 But when you hear of wars and commotions, don't be terrified, for these things must first happen, but the end is not yet." 10 Then he said to them, "Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, 11 And there shall be great earthquakes in various places, and famines, and pestilences, and fearful sights and there shall be great signs from heaven. 12 But before all these, they'll lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. 13 And it will be a testimony for you. 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts not to think ahead of time what you'll answer, 15 For I'll give you a mouth and wisdom, that all your adversaries won't be able to contradict nor resist. 16 And you'll be betrayed both by parents, and brothers, and kinsfolk, and friends, and some of you they'll cause to be put to death. 17 And you'll be hated by all men for my name's sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will be destroyed. 19 In your patience possess your souls. 20 And when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that the desolation of it is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside of it go out, and let those who are in the countries not enter into it. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, so that all things that are written will be fulfilled. 23 But woe to those who are with child and to those who breast feed in those days! For there shall be great distress in the land, and anger at these people. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations, and Jerusalem shall be walked on by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars, and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring, 26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking at the things that are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then they'll see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to happen, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption gets close." 29 And he spoke to them a parable, "See the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 When they now shoot out branches, you see and know of your own selves that summer is now near. 31 So likewise you, when you see these things happen, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I say to you, this generation shall not pass away, until all has been fulfilled. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 34 And watch yourselves, so that your hearts won't become overloaded by excessive indulgence, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day takes you by surprise. 35 For like a trap it shall come on all of those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Stay awake therefore, and pray always, so that you'll be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall happen, and to stand before the Son of man." 37 And in the day time he was teaching in the temple, and at night he went out, and stayed in the mount that is called the Mount of Olives. 38 And early in the morning, all the people came to him in the temple, to hear him. ___Luke chapter 22 1 Now the feast of unleavened bread came near, which is called the Passover. 2 And the chief priests and scribes tried to find a way to kill him, for they feared the people. 3 Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, being one of the twelve. 4 And he went, and consulted with the chief priests and captains, how he could betray him to them. 5 And they were glad, and promised to give him money. 6 And he promised, and looked for opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of the multitude. 7 Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the Passover must be killed. 8 And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare us the Passover, so we can eat." 9 And they said to him, "Where do you want us to prepare?" 10 And he said to them, "See, when you've entered into the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water, follow him into the house that he goes into. 11 And say to the householder, The Master says to you, where is the guest room, where I'll eat the Passover with my disciples? 12 And he shall show you a large upper room furnished, make ready there." 13 And they went, and found like he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. 14 And when the hour had come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, "With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, 16 For I say to you, I will not eat of it anymore, until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." 17 And he took the cup and gave thanks, and said, "Take this, and divide it among yourselves, 18 For I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God has come." 19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave to them, saying, "This is my body that is given for you, do this in remembrance of me." 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new testament in my blood, that will be shed for you. 21 But see, the hand of him that betrays me is with me on the table. 22 And truly the Son of man goes, as it was determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!" 23 And they began to inquire among themselves, which of them it would be that would do this thing. 24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them would be counted the greatest. 25 And he said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority on them are called benefactors. 26 But it won't be like that with you, but he that is greatest among you, let him be like the younger, and he that is chief, like he that serves. 27 For which is greater, he that sits to eat, or he that serves? Isn't he that sits to eat? But I am among you as he that serves. 28 You are those who've continued with me in my temptations. 29 And I appoint to you a kingdom, like my Father has appointed to me, 30 So that you'll eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." 31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon, see, Satan has desired to have you, so he can sift you like wheat, 32 But I have prayed for you, so that your faith doesn't fail, and when you've been converted, strengthen your brothers." 33 And he said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you, both into prison, and to death." 34 And he said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster won't crow this day, before you'll three times deny that you know me." 35 And he said to them, "When I sent you without purse, and paper money, and shoes, did you lack anything?" And they said, "Nothing." 36 Then he said to them, "But now, he that has a purse, let him take it, and likewise his paper money, and he that doesn't have a sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 37 For I say to you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, AND HE WAS RECKONED AMONG THE CRIMINALS, for the things concerning me have an end." 38 And they said, "Lord, see, here are two swords." And he said to them, "It is enough." 39 And he came out, and went, as he usually did, to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples also followed him. 40 And when he was at the place, he said to them, "Pray so that you don't enter into temptation." 41 And he was removed from them about a stone's throw, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me, however, not my will, but yours, be done." 43 And an angel appeared to him from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was, as it were, large drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he got up from prayer, and had come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 And said to them, "Why do you sleep? Get up and pray, so you won't enter into temptation." 47 And while he yet spoke, see, a lot of people, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and came near Jesus to kiss him. 48 But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of man with a kiss?" 49 When those who were around him saw what was going to happen, they said to him, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. 51 And Jesus answered, "That's far enough." And he touched his ear, and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests and captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to him, "Have you come out like against a thief, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was daily with you in the temple, you didn't stretch out hands against me, but this is your hour, and the power of darkness." 54 Then they took him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed far off. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the hall, and had sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 But a certain maid saw him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked at him and said, "This man was also with him." 57 And he denied him, saying, "Woman, I don't know him." 58 And after a little while another saw him and said, "You are also of them." And Peter said, "Man, I am not." 59 And about the space of one hour afterward someone else confidently affirmed, "Truly this fellow also was with him, for he is a Galilean." 60 And Peter said, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about." And immediately, while he yet spoke, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned, and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you'll deny me three times." 62 And Peter went out, and cried bitterly. 63 And the men that held Jesus made fun of him, and struck him. 64 And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, "Prophesy, who is it that struck you?" 65 And they blasphemously spoke against him many other things. 66 And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, and said, 67 "Are you the Christ? Tell us." And he said to them, "If I tell you, you won't believe, 68 And also if I ask you, you won't answer me, nor let me go. 69 After this, the Son of man shall sit at the right hand of the power of God." 70 Then they all said, "Then are you the Son of God?" And he said to them, "You say that I am." 71 And they said, "Why do we need any further witnesses? For we ourselves have heard from his own mouth." ___Luke chapter 23 1 And the whole multitude of them got up, and led him to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, "We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ, a King." 3 And Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And he answered him, "You say it." 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and to the people, "I find no fault in this man." 5 And they were the more fierce, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place." 6 When Pilate heard about Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilean. 7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself was also at Jerusalem at that time. 8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had desired to see him for a long time, because he had heard many things about him, and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. 9 Then he questioned him in many words, but He answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and strongly accused him. 11 And Herod with his men of war treated him as though he were dirt, and made fun of him, and clothed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him back to Pilate. 12 And the same day Pilate and Herod became friends together, for before there was friction between them. 13 And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 Said to them, "You've brought this man to me, as someone who perverts the people, and see, having examined him before you, I have found no fault in this man concerning the things about which you accuse him, 15 No, nor yet Herod, for I sent you to him, and see, nothing worthy of death is done by him. 16 I will therefore whip him, and release him." 17 (For of necessity he must release someone to them at the feast.) 18 And they all shouted, "Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas," 19 (Who for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder, was thrown into prison.) 20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spoke again to them. 21 But they shouted, "Crucify him, crucify him." 22 And he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found no cause of death in him, I will therefore whip him, and let him go." 23 And instantly they demanded with loud voices that he be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. 24 And Pilate gave sentence that it would be as they required. 25 And he released to them him that for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison, whom they had desired, but he delivered Jesus to their will. 26 And as they led him away, they grabbed Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and they laid the cross on him, so he would carry it after Jesus. 27 And a large crowd of people followed him, and of women, who also bewailed and lamented him. 28 But Jesus turning to them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, don't cry for me, but cry for yourselves, and for your children. 29 For see, the days are coming, in which they'll say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never gave suck. 30 Then they'll begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us, and to the hills, Cover us. 31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?" 32 And there were also two others, criminals, led with him to be put to death. 33 And when they had come to the place that is called Calvary, they crucified him there, and the criminals, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they're doing." And they divided his clothes, and drew straws for them. 35 And the people stood watching. And the rulers with them also made fun of him, saying, "He saved others, let him save himself, if he is Christ, the chosen of God." 36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37 And saying, "If you're the king of the Jews, save yourself." 38 And a sign also was written above him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, "This is the King of the Jews." 39 And one of the criminals who were crucified railed at him, saying, "If you are Christ, save yourself and us." 40 But the other, answering, scolded him, saying, "Don't you fear God, seeing that you are in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." 42 And he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom." 43 And Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you'll be with me in heaven." 44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in the middle. 46 And when Jesus had shouted with a loud voice, he said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit," and having said that, he yielded up his spirit. 47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly, this was a righteous man." 48 And all the people that came together to that sight, seeing the things that were done, struck their chests, and returned. 49 And everyone who knew him, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood far off, watching these things. 50 And see, there was a man named Joseph, a counselor, and he was a good man, and fair, 51 (He had not agreed with the advice and deed of them,) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate, and begged for the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that had been cut out of stone, in which no one had ever before been placed. 54 And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath was approaching. 55 And the women also, who came with him from Galilee, followed after, and saw the tomb, and how his body had been laid. 56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments, and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment. ___Luke chapter 24 1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 And they entered in, and didn't find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And as they were much frustrated about it, see, two men stood by them in shining garments, 5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, 7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again." 8 And they remembered his words, 9 And returned from the tomb, and told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, who told these things to the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them like fairy tales, and they didn't believe them. 12 Then Peter got up, and ran to the tomb, and stooping down, he saw the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at what had happened. 13 And see, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, that was about sixty furlongs from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together about all these things that had happened. 15 And while they talked together and reasoned, Jesus himself came near, and went with them. 16 But their eyes were hindered such that they didn't recognize him. 17 And he said to them, "What kind of communications are these that you have with each other, as you walk, and are sad?" 18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you only a stranger in Jerusalem, and haven't known the things that have happened there in these days?" 19 And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21 But we trusted that it had been he that would have redeemed Israel, and beside all this, today is the third day since these things have happened. 22 Yes, and certain women also of our group made us astonished, who were at the tomb early, 23 And when they didn't find his body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 And some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it like the women had said, but they didn't see him." 25 Then he said to them, "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken, 26 Shouldn't Christ have suffered these things, and entered into his glory?" 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 And they came near the village where they were going, and he made as though he would have gone further. 29 But they detained him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And he went in to wait with them. 30 And as he sat to eat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and broke, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him, and he disappeared out of their sight. 32 And they said to each other, "Didn't our heart burn within us, while he talked with us on the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" 33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and those who were with them, 34 Saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon." 35 And they told what things were done on the way, and how he was known by them in breaking of bread. 36 And as they thus spoke, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace be to you." 37 But they were terrified and afraid, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38 And he said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself, handle me, and see, for a spirit doesn't have flesh and bones, like you see me have." 40 And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they didn't yet believe for joy, and wondered, he said to them, "Do you have any food here?" 42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of a honeycomb. 43 And he took it, and ate before them. 44 And he said to them, "These are the words that I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled that were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms about me." 45 Then he opened their understanding, so that they would understand the scriptures, 46 And said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 And see, I send the promise of my Father on you, but wait in the city of Jerusalem, until you are empowered from on high." 50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51 And while he blessed them, he was separated from them, and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. ___John chapter 1 1 The Word was there in the beginning, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him, and nothing that was made was made without him. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shined in darkness, and the darkness didn't understand it. 6 A man was sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came for a witness, to testify about the Light, so all men through him would believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to testify about that Light. 9 That was the true Light, that illuminates every man that comes into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world didn't know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own didn't receive him. 12 But to as many as did receive him, he gave power to become the sons of God, to those who believe on his name, 13 Who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and lived among us, (and we saw his glory, the glory as of God's only child,) full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about him, and shouted, "This is the one about whom I spoke, He that comes after me is preferred before me, for he was before me." 16 And of his fullness all of us have received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man has seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him. 19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 20 And he confessed, and didn't deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ." 21 And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" And he said, "I am not." "Are you that prophet?" And he answered, "No." 22 Then they said to him, "Who are you? So we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" 23 He said, "I am the voice of someone shouting in the wilderness, Make the way of the Lord straight, like the prophet Isaiah said." 24 And those who were sent were from the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, "Why do you baptize then, if you aren't the Christ, nor Elijah, nor that prophet?" 26 John answered them, "I baptize with water, but someone stands among you whom you don't know. 27 He's the one, who coming after me, is preferred before me, whose shoelaces I am not worthy to untie." 28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, "See, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. 30 This is He about whom I said, after me comes a man who is preferred before me, for He was before me. 31 And I didn't know him, but that he would be presented to Israel, that's why I've come baptizing with water." 32 And John testified, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it stayed on him. 33 And I didn't know him, but he that sent me to baptize with water said to me, On whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he that baptizes with the Holy Ghost. 34 And I saw, and testified that this is the Son of God." 35 Again the next day John stood, and two of his disciples, 36 And looking at Jesus as he walked, he said, "See, the Lamb of God!" 37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi," (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) "Where do you live?" 39 He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where he lived, and stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two that heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother, Simon, and told him, "We have found the Messiah, which by interpretation is, the Christ." 42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus saw him, he said, "You are Simon the son of Jona, you'll be called Cephas," which by interpretation is, a stone. 43 The day following, Jesus went into Galilee, and found Philip, and said to him, "Follow me." 44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law, and the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 46 And Nathanael said to him, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, "See, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceitfulness!" 48 Nathanael said to him, "Where do you know me from?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." 49 Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel." 50 Jesus answered him, "Do you believe because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree? You'll see greater things than these." 51 And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, After this you'll see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending from and descending on the Son of man." ___John chapter 2 1 And the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 And Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 And when they ran out of wine, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no wine." 4 Jesus said to her, "Woman, what do I have to do with you? My hour has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Whatever he says to you, do it." 6 And six water pots of stone were set there, the way the Jews purify water, containing two or three firkins each. 7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the water pots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, "Draw out now, and carry it to the governor of the feast." And they carried it. 9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was changed to wine, and didn't know where it came from, (but the servants who drew the water knew,) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 10 And said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out good wine, and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse, but you've kept the good wine until now." 11 Jesus did this beginning of miracles in Cana of Galilee, and demonstrated his glory, and his disciples believed on him. 12 After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brothers, and his disciples, and they stayed there not many days. 13 And the Jews' Passover was approaching, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 14 And found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting. 15 And when he had made a scourge from small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money, and overturned the tables, 16 And said to those who sold doves, "Take these things away from here, don't make my Father's house a house of merchandise." 17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, "The zeal of your house has eaten me up." 18 Then the Jews said to him, "What sign do you show us, since you're doing these things?" 19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20 Then the Jews said, "It took forty six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?" 21 But he was talking about the temple of his body. 22 So, when he had risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this to them, and they believed the scripture, and the word that Jesus had said. 23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, on the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles that he did. 24 But Jesus did not commit himself to them, because he knew all men, 25 And didn't need any man to testify, for he knew what was in man. ___John chapter 3 1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus at night, and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who's come from God, for no man can do these miracles that you do, unless God is with him." 3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a man is born again, he can't see the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a man is born of water and of the Spirit, he can't enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Don't be surprised that I said to you, You must be born again. 8 The wind blows where it wants, and you hear the sound of it, but can't tell where it comes from, nor where it's going. So is everyone that is born of the Spirit." 9 Nicodemus answered him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus answered him, "Are you a master of Israel, and don't know these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak that we know, and testify that we have seen, and you don't accept our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and you don't believe, how will you believe, if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 And no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, who is the Son of man, who is in heaven. 14 And like Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so the Son of man must be lifted up, 15 So that whoever believes in him won't be destroyed, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in him won't be destroyed, but have everlasting life. 17 For God didn't send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world through him would be saved. 18 He that believes on him is not condemned, but he that doesn't believe is already condemned, because he hasn't believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone that does evil hates the light, and doesn't come to the light, so that his wrongdoing won't be found out. 21 But he that does truth comes to the light, so that his deeds will be shown to be done in God." 22 After these things Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea, and he stayed there with them, and baptized. 23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was a lot of water there, and they came, and were baptized. 24 For John had not yet been put in prison. 25 Then a question arose between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. 26 And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, he that was with you on the other side of Jordan, about whom you testified, see, he's baptizing, and all men come to him." 27 John answered, "A man can receive nothing, unless it is given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves know that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I have been sent before him. 29 He that has the bride is the bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice, therefore this, my joy, is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He that comes from above is above all, he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaks of the earth, he that comes from heaven is above all. 32 And what he has seen and heard, he testifies about, and no man receives his testimony. 33 He that has received his testimony believes that God is righteous. 34 For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit to him without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. 36 He that believes on the Son has everlasting life, and he that doesn't believe the Son shall not see life, but the anger of God remains on him." ___John chapter 4 1 Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, 2 (Though Jesus himself didn't baptize, but his disciples did,) 3 He left Judea, and went again into Galilee. 4 And he had to go through Samaria. 5 Then he came to a city of Samaria that is called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being tired from his journey, sat on the well, and it was about the sixth hour. 7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." 8 (For his disciples had gone away to the city to buy food.) 9 Then the woman of Samaria said to him, "How is it that you, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, who am a woman of Samaria, for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans?" 10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that says to you, Give me a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." 11 The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep, from where then do you have that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself, and his children, and his cattle?" 13 Jesus answered her, "Whoever drinks of this water will get thirsty again, 14 But whoever drinks of the water that I give him shall never get thirsty, but the water that I give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." 15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so I don't get thirsty, nor come here to draw." 16 Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." 17 The woman answered, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You have well said, I have no husband, 18 For you've had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your husband, in that you spoke truly." 19 The woman said to him, "Sir, I can see that you're a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain, and you say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." 21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming, when you'll neither in this mountain, nor at Jerusalem worship the Father. 22 You don't know what you worship, we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father seeks such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit, and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." 25 The woman said to him, "I know the Messiah is coming, who is called Christ, when he comes, he will tell us all things." 26 Jesus said to her, "I that speak to you am he." 27 And then his disciples came, and were surprised that he talked with the woman, yet no man said, "What are you looking for?", or "Why are you talking with her?" 28 Then the woman left her water pot, and went into the city, and said to the men, 29 "Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did, isn't this the Christ?" 30 Then they went out of the city, and came to him. 31 In the mean time his disciples asked him, "Please eat, Master." 32 But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you don't know about." 33 Therefore the disciples said to each other, "Has anyone brought him anything to eat?" 34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 35 Don't you say, there are yet four months, and then comes the harvest? See, I say to you, lift up your eyes, and look at the fields, for they are white already for harvesting. 36 And he that reaps receives wages and gathers fruit yielding eternal life, so that both he that plants and he that reaps will rejoice together. 37 And this is how that saying is true, One plants, and another harvests. 38 I sent you to harvest what you didn't work for, other men labored, and you have entered into their labors." 39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, who testified, "He told me everything I ever did." 40 So when the Samaritans had come to him, they asked him to remain with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his own word, 42 And said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of your words, for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world." 43 Now after two days he departed from there, and went into Galilee. 44 For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45 Then when he had come into Galilee, the Galileans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast, for they also went to the feast. 46 So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he'd turned the water to wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to him, and asked him to come down, and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Then Jesus said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders, you won't believe." 49 The nobleman said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies." 50 Jesus said to him, "Go your way, your son will live." And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken to him, and he started home. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, "Your son will live." 52 Then he asked them what hour he began to get better. And they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives," and he himself believed and his whole family. 54 This is the second miracle that Jesus did, after he had come out of Judea into Galilee. ___John chapter 5 1 After this, there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, that is called in the Hebrew language Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, of blind, those who walked with difficulty, and withered people, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water. Then whoever stepped in first after the troubling of the water, was healed of whatever disease he had. 5 And a certain man was there, who'd had a sickness for thirty eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had now been a long time in that condition, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" 7 The invalid man answered him, "Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool, but while I am coming, someone else steps down before me." 8 Jesus said to him, "Get up, pick up your bed, and walk." 9 And immediately the man was healed, and picked up his bed, and walked, and that day was the Sabbath day. 10 The Jews therefore said to him that had been healed, "It is the Sabbath day, it is not lawful for you to carry your bed." 11 He answered them, "He that made me well said to me, Pick up your bed, and walk." 12 Then they asked him, "Which man is that who told you to pick up your bed and walk?" 13 And he that had been healed didn't know who it was, for Jesus had gone away, a multitude being in that place. 14 Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you've been healed, don't sin anymore, or something worse could happen to you." 15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. 16 And so the Jews persecuted Jesus, and looked for a way to kill him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath day. 17 But Jesus answered them, "My Father works up until now, and so do I." 18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. 19 Then Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do, for whatever things He does, the Son also does them likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all things that he does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you'll be amazed. 21 For as the Father raises up the dead, and makes them live, even so the Son makes alive whomever he wants to. 22 For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 So that all men would honor the Son, just like they honor the Father. He that doesn't honor the Son, doesn't honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, he that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but has passed from death to life. 25 Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear shall live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has given to the Son to have life in himself, 27 And has given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Don't be surprised at this, for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of damnation. 30 I can of my own self do nothing, as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is fair, because I don't seek my own will, but the will of the Father who sent me. 31 If I testify of myself, my witness is not true. 32 There is another that testifies about me, and I know that the testimony that he testifies about me is true. 33 You sent to John, and he testified to the truth. 34 But I don't receive testimony from man, but these things I say, so that you'll be saved. 35 He was a burning and a shining light, and you were willing for a while to rejoice in his light. 36 But I have a more important witness than from John, for the works that the Father has given me to finish, those works that I do testify about me that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father himself, who sent me, has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. 38 And you don't have his word living in you, for whom he has sent, you don't believe. 39 Search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life, and they testify about me. 40 And you will not come to me so you can have life. 41 I don't receive honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you don't have the love of God in you. 43 I have come in my Father's name, and you don't receive me. If another comes in his own name, you'll receive him. 44 How can you believe, who receive honor from each other, and don't seek the honor that comes from God only? 45 Don't think that I will accuse you to the Father, there is one that accuses you, and that's Moses in whom you trust. 46 For had you believed Moses, you would have believed me, for he wrote about me. 47 But if you don't believe his writings, how shall you believe my words?" ___John chapter 6 1 After these things, Jesus went across the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles that he did on those who were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and he sat there with his disciples. 4 And the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was approaching. 5 Then when Jesus lifted up his eyes, and saw a large multitude that had come to him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, so that these can eat?" 6 And this he said to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, "Two hundred penny's worth of bread is not enough for them, so that every one of them can take a little." 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 9 "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves, and two small fish, but what are they among so many?" 10 And Jesus said, "Make the men sit down." Now there was a lot of grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to those who were sitting down, and likewise of the fish as much as they wanted. 12 When they were filled, he said to his disciples, "Gather up the pieces that are left, so that nothing is lost." 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, that were left over after the people had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, "This is certainly that prophet that's supposed to come into the world." 15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain by himself. 16 And when evening had come, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 And entered into a ship, and went across the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus hadn't come to them. 18 And the sea was stirred up by a great wind that blew. 19 So when they had rowed about twenty five or thirty furlongs, they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and coming near the ship, and they were afraid. 20 But he said to them, "It is I, don't be afraid." 21 Then they willingly received him into the ship, and immediately the ship was at the land where they had been going to. 22 The day following, when the people who stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except the one into which his disciples had entered, and that Jesus didn't go with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples had gone away alone, 23 (But other boats came from Tiberias near the place where they ate bread, after the Lord had given thanks,) 24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus wasn't there, nor his disciples, they also took shipping, and went to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. 25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" 26 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you don't seek me because you saw the miracles, but because you ate of the loaves, and were filled. 27 Don't work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give you, for God the Father has sealed him." 28 Then they said to him, "What shall we do, so we can do the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe on him whom he has sent." 30 They said therefore to him, "What sign do you show then, so that we can see, and believe you? What do you do? 31 Our fathers ate manna in the desert, as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat." 32 Then Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, Moses didn't give you that bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he that came down from heaven, and gives life to the world. 34 Then they said to him, "Lord, always, increasingly, give us this bread." 35 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He that comes to me shall never hunger, and he that believes on me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you, that you also have seen me, and don't believe. 37 Everyone that the Father gives me shall come to me, and him that comes to me I will in no way throw out. 38 For I didn't come down from heaven to do my own will, but the will of Him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father's will who sent me, that of all that he has given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone who sees the Son, and believes on him, will have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day." 41 Then the Jews murmured at him, because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." 42 And they said, "Isn't this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that he says, I came down from heaven?" 43 Jesus therefore answered them, "Don't murmur among yourselves. 44 No man can come to me, unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught by God. Every man therefore that has heard, and has learned from the Father, comes to me. 46 Not that any man has seen the Father, except he that is from God, he has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, he that believes on me has everlasting life. 48 I am that bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that a man can eat of it, and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven, if any man eats of this bread, he'll live forever, and the bread that I will give is my flesh, that I will give for the life of the world." 52 The Jews therefore argued among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" 53 Then Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, lives in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father has sent me, and I live by the Father, so he that eats me shall live by me. 58 This is that bread that came down from heaven, not like your fathers ate manna, and are dead. He that eats of this bread shall live forever. 59 He said these things in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. 60 Many of his disciples therefore, when they'd heard this, said, "This is a difficult saying, who can understand it?" 61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said to them, "Does this offend you? 62 What if you see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that makes alive, the flesh doesn't profit, the words that I speak to you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you that don't believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that didn't believe, and who would betray him. 65 And he said, "That's why I said to you that no man can come to me, unless it's given to him by my Father." 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and didn't walk with him anymore. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Will you also go away?" 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 70 Jesus answered them, "Haven't I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?" 71 He was talking about Judas Iscariot the son of Simon, for he it was that would betray him, being one of the twelve. ___John chapter 7 1 After these things, Jesus walked in Galilee, for he wouldn't walk in Jewry, because the Jews were trying to kill him. 2 Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was near. 3 His brothers therefore said to him, "Depart from here, and go into Judea, so that your disciples also can see the works that you do. 4 For there is no man that does anything in secret, and he himself wants to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world." 5 For his brothers didn't believe in him, either. 6 Then Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7 The world can't hate you, but it hates me, because I testify about it, that it's doings are evil. 8 You go up to this feast, I won't go up yet to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come." 9 When he had said these words to them, he remained in Galilee. 10 But when his brothers had gone up, then he also went up to the feast, not openly, but secretly. 11 Then the Jews looked for him at the feast, and said, "Where is he?" 12 And there was a lot of murmuring among the people concerning him, for some said, "He is a good man." Others said, "No, he deceives the people." 13 But no man spoke openly about him for fear of the Jews. 14 Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. 15 And the Jews were surprised and said, "How does this man know letters, since he has no education?" 16 Jesus answered them, "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. 17 If any man will do his will, he shall know about the doctrine, whether it is from God, or whether I'm speaking on my own. 18 He that speaks on his own seeks his own glory, but he that seeks the glory of him that sent him is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. 19 Didn't Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law? Why are you trying to kill me?" 20 The people answered, "You have a demon, who's trying to kill you?" 21 Jesus answered them, "I have done one work, and you're all surprised. 22 Moses therefore gave you circumcision, (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers,) and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath day. 23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath day, so that the law of Moses won't be broken, are you angry at me, because I have made a man completely well on the Sabbath day? 24 Don't judge according to appearances, but judge righteous judgment." 25 Then some of those of Jerusalem said, "Isn't this he, whom they're trying to kill? 26 But see, he speaks boldly, and they say nothing to him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the actual Christ? 27 But we know where this man is from, but when Christ comes, no one knows where he's from." 28 Then Jesus said loudly in the temple as he taught, "You know me, and you also know where I'm from, and I haven't come on my own, but he that sent me is true, whom you don't know. 29 But I know him, for I am from him, and he has sent me." 30 Then they looked for a way to arrest him, but no man laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31 And many of the people believed on him, and said, "When Christ comes, will he do more miracles than these that this man has done?" 32 The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things about him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to arrest him. 33 Then Jesus said to them, "I am with you yet a little while, and then I go to him that sent me. 34 You'll look for me, and won't find me, and where I am you can't come. 35 Then the Jews said among themselves, "Where will he go so that we won't find him? Will he go to the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles? 36 What kind of saying is this, You'll look for me, and won't find me, and where I am you can't come?" 37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and shouted, "If any man is thirsty, let him come to me, and drink. 38 He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." 39 (But he spoke this about the Spirit that those who believe on him would receive, for the Holy Ghost was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.) 40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, "Truly this is the Prophet." 41 Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Shall Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Don't the scriptures say that Christ comes from the descendants of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?" 43 So there was a division among the people because of him. 44 And some of them would have arrested him, but no man laid hands on him. 45 Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, "Why haven't you brought him?" 46 The officers answered, "No man ever talked like this man." 47 Then the Pharisees answered, "Are you also deceived? 48 Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? 49 But these people who don't know the law are cursed." 50 Nicodemus said to them, (he that came to Jesus at night, being one of them,) 51 "Does our law judge any man, before it hears him, and knows what he's doing?" 52 They answered him, "Are you also from Galilee? Search, and look, for no prophet arises out of Galilee." 53 And every man went to his own house. ___John chapter 8 1 Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning he went again into the temple, and all the people came to him, and he sat down, and taught them. 3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought to him a woman arrested for adultery, and when they had set her among them, 4 They said to him, "Master, this woman was arrested in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned, but what do you say?" 6 They said this, tempting him, so that they could have something to accuse him with. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he didn't hear them. 7 So when they continued asking him, he stood up, and said to them, "He that is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her." 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And those who heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the oldest, until the last, and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing there. 10 When Jesus had stood up, and saw no one but the woman, he said to her, "Woman, where are your accusers? Doesn't anyone condemn you?" 11 She said, "No man, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Nor do I condemn you, go, and sin no more." 12 Then Jesus spoke again to them, "I am the light of the world, he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." 13 The Pharisees therefore said to him, "You testify about yourself, your record is not true." 14 Jesus answered them, "Though I testify about myself, yet my record is true, for I know where I came from, and where I'm going, but you can't tell where I came from, nor where I'm going. 15 You judge after the flesh, I judge no one. 16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. 17 It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am one that testifies about myself, and the Father that sent me testifies about me." 19 Then they said to him, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You don't know me or my Father, if you had known me, you would have known my Father also." 20 Jesus spoke these words in the treasury, as he taught in the temple, and no man laid hands on him, for his hour had not yet come. 21 Then Jesus also said to them, "I go my way, and you'll look for me, and shall die in your sins, where I go, you can't come." 22 Then the Jews said, "Will he kill himself?" Because he said, "Where I go, you can't come." 23 And he said to them, "You are from beneath, I am from above, you are of this world, I am not of this world. 24 I said therefore to you, that you'll die in your sins, for if you don't believe that I am he, you'll die in your sins." 25 Then they said to him, "Who are you?" And Jesus said, "I'm the same one I've been telling you about from the beginning. 26 I have many things to say and to judge of you, but he that sent me is true, and I speak to the world the things that I've heard from him." 27 They didn't understand that he spoke to them about the Father. 28 Then Jesus said to them, "When you've lifted up the Son of man, then you'll know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own, but as my Father has taught me, I speak these things. 29 And he that sent me is with me, the Father hasn't left me alone, for I always do the things that please him." 30 As he spoke these words, many believed on him. 31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who believed on him, "If you continue in my word, then you are my disciples indeed, 32 And you'll know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 33 They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and were never in bondage to any man, what do you mean, You'll be made free?" 34 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the servant doesn't live in the house forever, but the Son lives forever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, you'll be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you're trying to kill me, because my word has no place in you. 38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father, and you do that which you have seen with your father." 39 They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you're trying to kill me, a man that has told you the truth, which I've heard from God. Abraham didn't do that. 41 You do the deeds of your father." Then they said to him, "We're not born from fornication, we have one Father, God." 42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I proceeded out and came from God, nor did I come on my own, but he sent me. 43 Why don't you understand my speech? Because you can't hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you'll do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and didn't remain in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own, for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45 And because I tell you the truth, you don't believe me. 46 Which of you can show me to be a sinner? And if I say the truth, why don't you believe me? 47 He that is of God hears God's words, you therefore don't hear, because you are not of God." 48 Then the Jews answered him, "Don't we well say that you're a Samaritan, and have a demon?" 49 Jesus answered, "I don't have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 And I don't seek my own glory, there is one that seeks and judges. 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if a man keeps my sayings, he'll never see death." 52 Then the Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham is dead, and the prophets, and you say, If a man keeps my sayings, he'll never taste of death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Whom are you trying to make of yourself?" 54 Jesus answered, "If I honor myself, my honor is nothing, it is my Father that honors me, about whom you say, that he is your God, 55 Yet you haven't known him, but I know him, and if I were to say I don't know him, I would be a liar like you. But I know him, and keep his sayings. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it, and was glad." 57 Then the Jews said to him, "You're not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" 58 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." 59 Then they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the middle of them, and so passed by. ___John chapter 9 1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, "Master, who sinned, this man, or his parents, so that he was born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man, nor his parents, but so that the works of God would be revealed through him. 4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day, the night comes, when no man can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6 When he had said that, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the saliva, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 7 And said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam," (which is, by interpretation, "Sent.") He went his way therefore, and washed, and returned with good eyesight. 8 The neighbors therefore, and those who had seen before that he was blind, said, "Isn't this he that sat and begged?" 9 Some said, "This is he." Others said, "He is like him," but he said, "I am he." 10 Therefore they said to him, "How were your eyes opened?" 11 He answered, "A man called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes,and said to me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash, and I went and washed, and I received sight." 12 Then they said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I don't know." 13 They brought to the Pharisees him that had been blind. 14 And it was the Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. 15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said, "He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see." 16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not of God, because he doesn't keep the Sabbath day." Others said, "How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles?" And there was a division among them. 17 They said again to the blind man, "What do you say about him, that he has opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet." 18 But the Jews did not believe that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called for the parents of him that had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" 20 His parents answered them, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind, 21 But by what means he now sees, we don't know, or who has opened his eyes, we don't know, he is of age, ask him, he'll speak for himself." 22 His parents spoke these words, because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man confessed that he was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That's why his parents said, "He is of age, ask him." 24 Then again they called the man that had been blind, and said to him, "Give God the praise, we know that this man is a sinner." 25 He answered, "Whether he's a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I know, that although I was blind, now I see." 26 Then they said to him again, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" 27 He answered them, "I've told you already, and you didn't hear. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to be his disciples?" 28 Then they made fun of him, and said, "You are his disciple, but we are Moses' disciples. 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, as for this fellow, we don't know where he's from." 30 The man answered them, "Why in this is a marvelous thing, that you don't know where he's from, and yet he has opened my eyes. 31 Now we know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but if any man is a worshiper of God, and does his will, he hears him. 32 Since the world began it wasn't heard that any man opened the eyes of someone born blind. 33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing." 34 They answered him, "You were completely born in sins, and do you teach us?" And they threw him out. 35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when He had found him, He said to him, "Do you believe on the Son of God?" 36 He answered, "Who is he, Lord, so I can believe on him?" 37 And Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is he that talks with you." 38 And he said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped him. 39 And Jesus said, "For judgment I've come into this world, so that those who don't see can see, and so that those who see will be made blind." 40 And some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these words, and said to him, "Are we blind also?" 41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin, but now you say, We see, therefore your sin remains." ___John chapter 10 1 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he that doesn't enter by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the door keeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. 4 And when he sends out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 And they won't follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they don't know the voice of strangers." 6 Jesus spoke this parable to them, but they didn't understand the things that he spoke to them. 7 Then Jesus said to them again, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came prior to my coming are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door, by me if anyone enters in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal, and to kill, and to destroy, I have come so they can have life, and so they can have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is a hired hand, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and runs off, and the wolf catches them, and scatters the sheep. 13 The hired hand runs off, because he is a hired hand, and doesn't care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known by them. 15 As the Father knows me, so also, I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, that are not of this fold, them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17 Therefore my Father loves me, because I lay down my life, so that I can take it again. 18 No man takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the ability to lay it down, and I have the ability to take it again. I have received this commandment from my Father." 19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. 20 And many of them said, "He has a demon and is crazy, why do you listen to him?" 21 Others said, "These are not the words of him that has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?" 22 And it was at Jerusalem and the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. 24 Then the Jews came around him, and said to him, "How long will you make us doubt? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you didn't believe, the works that I do in my Father's name testify about me. 26 But you don't believe because you are not of my sheep, like I said to you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, 28 And I give them eternal life, and they'll never be destroyed, nor will anyone pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and my Father are one." 31 Then the Jews picked up stones again to throw at him. 32 Jesus answered them, "I've shown you many good works from my Father, for which of those works do you stone me?" 33 The Jews answered him, "We don't stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy, and because you, being a man, make yourself God." 34 Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, I said, You are gods? 35 If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came, and the scripture can't be broken, 36 Do you say about him whom the Father has made holy, and sent into the world, You blaspheme, because I said, I am the Son of God? 37 If I don't do the works of my Father, don't believe me. 38 But if I do, though you don't believe me, believe the works, so that you'll know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in him." 39 Therefore they tried again to find a way to arrest him, but he escaped out of their hand, 40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized, and he lived there. 41 And many resorted to him, and said, "John did no miracle, but all things that John spoke about this man were true." 42 And many believed on him there. ___John chapter 11 1 Now a certain man was sick named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) 3 Therefore his sisters sent to him saying, "Lord, see, he whom you love is sick." 4 When Jesus heard that, he said, "This sickness is not fatal, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God will be glorified by it." 5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he still remained two days in the same place where he was. 7 Then after that, he said to his disciples, "Let's go into Judea again." 8 His disciples said to him, "Master, the Jews recently tried to stone you, and are you going there again?" 9 Jesus answered, "Aren't there twelve hours in the day? If any man walks in the day, he doesn't stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if a man walks in the night, he stumbles, because there is no light in him." 11 He said these things, and after that he said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps. But I go, so I can awake him out of sleep." 12 Then his disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps, he's doing well." 13 But Jesus meant he was dead. But they thought that he'd spoken about taking of rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you'll believe, anyway, let's go to him." 16 Then Thomas who is called Didymus said, to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, so we can die with him." 17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had been laying in the grave four days already. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs away, 19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him. But Mary remained in the house. 21 Then Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now, whatever you ask God for, God will do for you." 23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother shall rise again." 24 Martha said to him, "I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection, and the life. He that believes in me, though he were dead, yet he will live, 26 And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" 27 She said to him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, that was supposed to come into the world." 28 And when she had said that, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly saying, "The Master has come, and asks for you." 29 As soon as she heard that, she got up quickly, and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met him. 31 The Jews then, who were with her in the house and comforted her, when they saw that Mary rose up hastily and went out, followed her saying, "She's going to the grave to cry there." 32 Then when Mary had come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." 33 When Jesus therefore saw her crying, and the Jews also crying who came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, 34 And said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." 35 Jesus cried tears. 36 Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" 37 And some of them said, "Couldn't this man, who opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man would not have died?" 38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself went to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay on it. 39 Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him that was dead, said to him, "Lord, by this time he stinks, for he has been dead four days." 40 Jesus said to her, "Didn't I say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?" 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead had been laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 And I knew that you hear me always, but because of the people that stand by I said it, so that they'll believe that you've sent me." 43 And when he thus had spoken, he shouted with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out." 44 And he that had been dead came out, bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a napkin. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go." 45 Then many of the Jews who came to Mary, and had seen the things that Jesus did, believed on him. 46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them the things Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, "What are we going to do? For this man is doing many miracles. 48 If we let him alone, all men will believe on him, and the Romans will come and take away our place and our nation." 49 And one of them named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, 50 Nor consider that it is best for us that one man should die for the people, so that the whole nation is not destroyed." 51 And he didn't speak this on his own, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for that nation, 52 And not for that nation only, but that also he would gather together the children of God that were scattered abroad. 53 Then from that day onward they plotted together to put him to death. 54 Jesus therefore didn't walk openly anymore among the Jews, but went from there to a country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and continued there with his disciples. 55 And the Jews' Passover had nearly arrived, and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then they looked for Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, "What do you think, that he will not come to the feast?" 57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment that if any man knew where he was, he must tell them, so they could arrest him. ___John chapter 12 1 Then six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom He raised from the dead. 2 They made him a supper there. And Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. 4 Then Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, Simon's son, who would betray him, said, 5 "Why wasn't this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?" 6 This he said, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the wallet, and carried what was put in it. 7 Then Jesus said, "Let her alone, she has kept this for the day of my burying. 8 For you always have the poor with you, but you don't always have me." 9 Many of the Jews therefore knew that he was there, and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but so they could see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests consulted about also putting Lazarus to death, 11 Since because of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus. 12 On the next day, many people that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 Took branches of palm trees, and went out to meet him, and shouted, "Hosanna, blessed is the King of Israel that comes in the name of the Lord." 14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat on it, as it is written, 15 "Fear not, daughter of Zion. See, your King comes, sitting on an ass's colt." 16 His disciples didn't understand these things at first, but after Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about him, and that they had done these things to him. 17 The people therefore that were with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, became witnesses. 18 For this reason the people also met him, because they heard that he had done this miracle. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "See how you don't prevail at all? See, the world follows him." 20 And there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. 21 So they went to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked, "Sir, we want to see Jesus." 22 Philip went and told Andrew, and again Andrew and Philip told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it produces much fruit. 25 He that loves his life shall lose it. And he that hates his life in this world shall keep it and have life eternal. 26 If any man serves me, let him follow me. And where I am, my servant will be there also. If any man serves me, my Father will honor him. 27 Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour?, but for this reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." 29 The people therefore that stood by and heard it said that it thundered. Others said, "An angel spoke to him." 30 Jesus answered, "This voice didn't come because of me, but for your sakes. 31 Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the prince of this world be thrown out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to me." 33 This he said, signifying what death he would die. 34 The people answered him, "We have heard out of the law that Christ lives forever, so how can you say, The Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?" 35 Then Jesus said to them, "For yet a little while, the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, so that darkness doesn't come on you, for he that walks in darkness doesn't know where he's going. 36 While you have light, believe in the light, so that you'll be the children of light." Jesus spoke these things, and departed, and hid himself from them. 37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they didn't believe on him, 38 So that the saying that was spoken by Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled, "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" 39 Therefore they couldn't believe, because Isaiah said again, 40 "He has blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart, so they wouldn't see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I would heal them." 41 Isaiah said these things, when he saw his glory, and spoke about him. 42 However, among the top rulers also, many believed on him, but because of the Pharisees they didn't confess him, so they wouldn't be put out of the synagogue, 43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. 44 Jesus shouted and said, "He that believes on me, believes not on me, but on him that sent me. 45 And he that sees me, sees him that sent me. 46 I have come a light into the world, so that whoever believes on me won't remain in darkness. 47 And if any man hears my words, and doesn't believe, I don't judge him, for I didn't come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 He that rejects me, and doesn't receive my words, has one that judges him, the word that I have spoken shall judge him at the last day. 49 For I haven't spoken of myself, but the Father who sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting. Whatever I speak therefore, just as the Father said to me, so I speak." ___John chapter 13 1 Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come that he was to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own that were in the world, he loved them until the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, 3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God, and went to God, 4 He got up from supper, and laid aside his garments, and took a towel, and wrapped it around himself. 5 After that he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel. 6 Then he came to Simon Peter, and Peter said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" 7 Jesus answered him, "What I do you don't know now, but you'll know later." 8 Peter said to him, "You'll never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I don't wash them, you have no part with me." 9 Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head." 10 Jesus said to him, "He that is washed only needs his feet washed, but is every bit clean, and you are clean, but not all." 11 For he knew who would betray him. That's why he said, "You're not all clean." 12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and sat down again, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Master and Lord, and you're right, because I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash each other's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, the servant is not greater than his lord, nor is he that is sent greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are happy if you do them. 18 I'm not talking about you all. I know whom I have chosen, but so that the scripture will be fulfilled, He that eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me. 19 Now I tell you before it happens, so that, when it has happened, you'll believe that I am he. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, he that receives whomever I send receives me. And he that receives me receives him that sent me." 21 When Jesus had said that, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." 22 Then the disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he meant. 23 Now one of his disciples was leaning on Jesus' chest, whom Jesus loved. 24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it was about whom he spoke. 25 He then lying on Jesus' chest said to him, "Lord, who is it?" 26 Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I'll give a sop, after I've have dipped it." And after he dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27 And after the sop, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly." 28 Now no man at the table knew why he said that to him. 29 For some of them thought, because Judas had the wallet, that Jesus had said to him, "Buy the things that we need for the feast," or, that he should give something to the poor. 30 He then, having received the sop, immediately went out, and it was night. 31 Therefore, when he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of man is glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall immediately glorify him. 33 Little children, I am with you yet a little while. You'll seek me, and as I said to the Jews, where I go, you can't come, so I say now to you. 34 A new commandment I give you, that you love each other like I've loved you, that you also love each other. 35 By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for each other." 36 Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered him, "Where I'm going, you can't follow me now, but you'll follow me afterward." 37 Peter said to him, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for your sake." 38 Jesus answered him, "Will you lay down your life for my sake? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster won't crow, until you've denied me three times." ___John chapter 14 1 "Don't let your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to myself, so that where I am, you'll be there also. 4 And where I'm going you know, and the way you know." 5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you're going, and how can we know the way?" 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father, except by me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also, and from now on you know him, and have seen him." 8 Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it will be sufficient for us." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been such a long time with you, and yet have you not known me, Philip? He that has seen me has seen the Father, and how then can you say, Show us the Father? 10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you, I don't speak on my own, but the Father that lives in me. He does the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me, or else believe me for the very works' sake. 12 Truly, truly, I say to you, he that believes on me, the works that I do, he shall do also. And greater works than these shall he do, because I go to my Father. 13 And whatever you ask in my name, that's what I'll do, so that the Father will be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in my name, I'll do it. 15 If you love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray to the Father, and he'll give you another Comforter, so that he will live with you forever, 17 Who is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world can't receive, because it doesn't see him, nor know him. But you know him, for he lives with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while, and the world sees me no more. But you see me. Because I live, you'll live also. 20 At that day you'll know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me. And he that loves me shall be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him." 22 Judas said to him, not Iscariot, "Lord, how is it that you'll reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?" 23 Jesus answered him, "If a man loves me, he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and live with him. 24 He that doesn't love me doesn't keep my sayings. And the word that you hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me. 25 I've spoken these things to you while yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, who is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he'll teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I give to you not like the world gives. Don't let your heart be troubled, and don't let it be afraid. 28 You've heard how I said to you, I go away, and come again to you. If you loved me, you would rejoice, because I said, I go to the Father, for my Father is greater than I am. 29 And now I have told you before it happens, so that, when it has happened, you'll believe. 30 From now on I will not talk much with you, for the prince of this world comes, and has nothing in me. 31 But so that the world will know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave me commandment, so I do. Get up, let's go from here." ___John chapter 15 1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vineyard keeper. 2 Every branch in me that doesn't produce fruit, he takes away. And every branch that bears fruit, he purges it, so it will produce more fruit. 3 Now you are clean through the word that I've spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can't bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, no more can you, unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He that remains in me, and I in him, the same produces a lot of fruit, for without me you can do nothing. 6 If a man doesn't remain in me, he is thrown out like a branch, and is withered, and men gather them, and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you'll ask whatever you want, and it shall be done to you. 8 In this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit. In that way, you'll be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you, continue in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you'll remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments, and remain in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, so that my joy will remain in you, and so your joy will be full. 12 This is my commandment, that you love each other, like I have loved you. 13 No man has greater love than this, that a man lays down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you. 15 From now on I don't call you servants, for the servant doesn't know what his lord is doing, but I have called you friends, for all things that I've heard from my Father I've made known to you. 16 You haven't chosen me, but I've chosen you, and ordained you, so that you'll go and produce fruit, and so that your fruit will remain, so that whatever you ask from the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 17 These things I command you, that you love each other. 18 If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you're not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, the servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they've kept my sayings, they will keep yours also. 21 But they will do all these things to you for my name's sake, because they don't know him that sent me. 22 If I hadn't come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin, but now they have no covering for their sin. 23 He that hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I hadn't done among them the works that no other man did, they would not have had sin. But now they've seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But this happens so that the word is fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a reason. 26 But when the Comforter has come, whom I will send to you from the Father, who is the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he'll testify about me. 27 And you'll also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning." ___John chapter 16 1 "I have spoken these things to you so that you won't be offended. 2 They'll put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time will come, that whoever kills you will think that he's doing God a service. 3 And these things they'll do to you, because they haven't known the Father, nor me. 4 But I've told you these things so that when the time comes, you'll remember that I told you about them. And I didn't say these things to you at the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I go my way to him that sent me. And none of you asks me, Where are you going? 6 But because I've said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. 7 Even so, I tell you the truth, It's best for you that I go away, for if I don't go away, the Comforter won't come to you. But if I depart, I'll send him to you. 8 And when he has come, he'll reveal the sin of the world, and will show righteousness, and will show justice. 9 The sin, because they don't believe on me. 10 The righteousness, because I go to my Father, and you don't see me anymore. 11 The justice, because the prince of this world is judged. 12 I still have many things to say to you, but you can't cope with them now. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he shall not speak of himself, but whatever he shall hear, he will speak. And he'll show you things to come. 14 He'll glorify me, for he'll receive of mine, and shall show it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are mine. That's why I said, he'll take of mine, and shall show it to you. 16 A little while, and you won't see me. And again, a little while, and you'll see me, because I go to the Father." 17 Then some of his disciples said among themselves, "What is this that he says to us, A little while, and you won't see me, and again, a little while, and you'll see me, and, because I go to the Father?" 18 They said therefore, "What is this that he says, A little while? We can't tell what he's saying." 19 Now Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, and said to them, "Do you inquire among yourselves about the saying, A little while, and you won't see me, and again a little while, and you'll see me? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you that you'll cry and lament, but the world will rejoice. And you'll be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21 A woman, when she is in travail has sorrow, because her hour has come, but as soon as she obtains the relief after childbirth, she no longer remembers the pain, for the joy that a man has been born into the world. 22 And you now therefore have sorrow. But I'll see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. 23 And in that day you'll ask me nothing. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he'll give it to you. 24 Until now you've asked nothing in my name, ask, and you'll receive, so that your joy will be full. 25 I have spoken these things to you in proverbs. But the time will come, when I'll no longer speak to you in proverbs, but I'll show you plainly from the Father. 26 At that day you'll ask in my name. And I don't say to you, that I will pray to the Father for you. 27 For the Father himself loves you, because you've loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. 28 I came from the Father, and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world, and go to the Father." 29 His disciples said to him, "See, now you're speaking plainly, and not speaking a proverb. 30 Now we're sure that you know all things, and don't need for any man to ask you. By this we believe that you came from God." 31 Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? 32 See, the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you'll be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone. And yet I'm not alone, because the Father is with me. 33 I have spoken these things to you so that in me you'll have peace. In the world you'll have tribulation. But be of good cheer, I've overcome the world." ___John chapter 17 1 Jesus spoke these words, and looked up toward heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, so that your Son will also glorify you. 2 As you've given him power over all flesh, so that he'd give eternal life to as many as you have given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they'll know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you've sent. 4 I have glorified you on the earth. I've finished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify me with your own self, with the glory that I had with you before the world was. 6 I have revealed your name to the men that you gave me out of the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me. And they have kept your word. 7 Now they have known that all things that you've given me are from you. 8 For I've given them the words that you gave me. And they've received them, and have known surely that I came out from you, and they've believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I don't pray for the world, but for those that you've given me, for they are yours. 10 And all of mine are yours, and yours are mine. And I'm glorified in them. 11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to you. Holy Father, keep through your own name those whom you've given me, so that they'll be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. Those that you gave me I've kept, and none of them is lost, except for the son of hell, so that the scripture would be fulfilled. 13 And now I come to you. And these things I speak in the world, so that they'll have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I've given them your word. And the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I don't pray that you'll take them out of the world, but that you'll keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Make them holy through your truth. Your word is truth. 18 Like you've sent me into the world, so I've also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I purify myself, so that they also will be made holy through the truth. 20 Nor do I pray for these only, but for those also who will believe on me through their word, 21 So that they'll all be one, like you, Father, are in me, and I in you, so that they'll also be one in us, so that the world will believe that you've sent me. 22 And the glory that you gave me, I've given them, so that they'll be one, just as we are one, 23 I in them, and you in me, so that they'll be made perfect in one, and so the world will know that you've sent me, and have loved them, like you've loved me. 24 Father, I also want those that you've given me to be with me where I am, so that they'll see my glory that you've given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, the world hasn't known you. But I've known you, and these have known that you've sent me. 26 And I have declared to them your name, and will declare it, so that the love with which you've loved me will be in them, and I in them." ___John chapter 18 1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where there was a garden, into which he entered, and his disciples. 2 And Judas also, who betrayed him, knew the place, for Jesus often went there with his disciples. 3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would happen to him, went out and said to them, "Who are you looking for?" 5 They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am he." And Judas also, who betrayed him, stood with them. 6 As soon then as he had told them, "I am he," they went backward, and fell to the ground. 7 Then he asked them again, "Who are you looking for?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." 8 Jesus answered, "I've told you that I am he. If therefore you seek me, let these go their way," 9 So that the saying would be fulfilled that he said, "Of those that you gave me, I've lost none." 10 Then Simon Peter having a sword pulled it out, and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. 11 Then Jesus said to Peter, "Put away your sword into the sheath. The cup that my Father has given me, shall I not drink it?" 12 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and tied him, 13 And led him away to Annas first, for he was father in law to Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year. 14 Now Caiaphas was the one who gave advice to the Jews that it was best for one man to die for the people. 15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. That disciple was known to the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. 16 But Peter stood outside at the door. Then that other disciple went out, who was known to the high priest, and spoke to the woman that kept the door, and brought in Peter. 17 Then the young woman that kept the door said to Peter, "Aren't you also one of this man's disciples?" He said, "I'm not." 18 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals, for it was cold. And they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. 19 Then the high priest asked Jesus about his disciples, and about his teachings. 20 Jesus answered him, "I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in the synagogue and in the temple, where the Jews always go. And I've said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard me what I've said to them. See, they know what I said." 22 And when he had said this, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand and said, "Is that how you answer the high priest?" 23 Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken evil, testify about the evil, but if well, why do you strike me?" 24 Now Annas had sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. 25 And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore to him, "Aren't you also one of his disciples?" He denied it, and said, "I'm not." 26 One of the servants of the high priest, being a kinsman of the man whose ear Peter had cut off said, "Didn't I see you in the garden with him?" 27 Peter then denied again, and immediately the rooster crowed. 28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the hall of judgment. And it was early. And they themselves didn't go into the judgment hall, so they wouldn't be defiled, but so they could eat the Passover. 29 Then Pilate went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?" 30 They answered him, "If he weren't a criminal, we wouldn't have brought him to you." 31 Then Pilate said to them, "You take him and judge him according to your law." The Jews therefore said to him, "It is not lawful for us to execute anyone," 32 So that the saying of Jesus would be fulfilled, that he spoke, signifying what death he would die. 33 Then Pilate went into the judgment hall again and called Jesus, and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" 34 Jesus answered him, "Do you say this thing on your own, or did others say this to you about me?" 35 Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have brought you to me. What have you done?" 36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, so that I wouldn't be given to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here." 37 Pilate therefore said to him, "Are you a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. That's why I was born, and I came into the world for this reason, so that I would testify to the truth. Everyone that is of the truth hears my voice." 38 Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, "I find no fault at all in him. 39 But you have a custom, that I should set someone free for you at the Passover. So do you want me to set free the King of the Jews for you?" 40 Then they all shouted again, "Not this man, but Barabbas." Now Barabbas was a robber. ___John chapter 19 1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and whipped him. 2 And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put a purple robe on him, 3 And said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck him with their hands. 4 Pilate therefore went out again, and said to them, "See, I bring him out to you, so you'll know that I find no fault in him." 5 Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, "Look at the man!" 6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they shouted, "Crucify him, crucify him." Pilate said to them, "You take him, and crucify him, for I find no fault in him." 7 The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God." 8 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was more afraid, 9 And went again into the judgment hall, and said to Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 Then Pilate said to him, "You won't answer me? Don't you know that I have the authority to crucify you, and have authority to set you free?" 11 Jesus answered, "You could have no authority at all over me, unless it had been given to you from above, therefore he that brought me to you has the greater sin." 12 And from then on Pilate looked for a way to release him, but the Jews shouted, "If you let this man go, you're not Caesar's friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar." 13 When Pilate therefore heard that, he brought Jesus out, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 And it was the preparation of the Passover, and about the sixth hour, and he said to the Jews, "Look at your King!" 15 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." 16 Then he gave him therefore to them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. 17 And he, carrying his cross went out into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew, Golgotha, 18 Where they crucified him, and two others with him, one on each side, and Jesus in the middle. 19 And Pilate wrote a sign, and put it on the cross. And the sign said, "Jesus of Nazareth, The King of the Jews." 20 Then many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. And it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. 21 Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Don't write, The King of the Jews, but that he said, I am King of the Jews." 22 Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written." 23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and divided them into four parts, to each soldier a part. And also his coat. Now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. 24 They said therefore among themselves, "Let's not tear it, but draw straws for it, to see who gets it," so that the scripture would be fulfilled, that says, "They divided my clothing among them, and for my vesture they drew straws." These things therefore the soldiers did. 25 Now Jesus' mother stood by his cross, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, look at your son!" 27 Then he said to the disciple, "Look at your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. 28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things had now been accomplished, so that the scripture would be fulfilled, said, "I'm thirsty." 29 Now a container full of vinegar was sitting there. And they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it on hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head, and yielded up his spirit. 31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, so the bodies wouldn't remain on the cross on the Sabbath day, (for that Sabbath day was a high day,) asked Pilate for their legs to be broken, and that they would be taken away. 32 Then the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who were crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was already dead, they didn't break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he that saw it testified, and his testimony is true. And he knows that he's telling the truth, so that you'll believe. 36 For these things were done, so that the scripture would be fulfilled, "No bone of him shall be broken." 37 And again, another scripture says, "They shall look at him whom they pierced." 38 And after this, Joseph of Arimathaea, a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate for permission to take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate gave him permission. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 39 And Nicodemus also came, who at the first came to Jesus at night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds in weight. 40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen cloth with the spices, the way the Jews bury people. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been buried. 42 Therefore they laid Jesus there because of the Jews' preparation day, for the tomb was nearby. ___John chapter 20 1 The first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 Then she ran, and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They've taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they've laid him." 3 Peter therefore went out, and that other disciple, and came to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together. And the other disciple outran Peter, and arrived first at the tomb. 5 And stooping down, and looking in, he saw the linen clothes lying. But he didn't go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb, and saw the linen clothes lie, 7 And the napkin, that had been around his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8 Then that other disciple also went in, who came first to the tomb, and he saw, and believed. 9 For they didn't yet know the scripture that he must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again to their own home. 11 But Mary stood outside at the tomb crying. And as she cried, she stooped down, and looked into the tomb, 12 And saw two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 And they said to her, "Woman, why are you crying?" She said to them, "Because they've taken away my Lord, and I don't know where they've laid him." 14 And when she had said that, she turned around, and saw Jesus standing, and didn't know it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?" She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, "Sir, if you've carried him from here, tell me where you've laid him, and I will take him away." 16 Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned around, and said to him, "Rabboni," which is to say, "Master." 17 Jesus said to her, "Don't touch me, because I haven't yet ascended to my Father, but go to my brothers, and say to them, I ascend to my Father, and your Father, and to my God, and your God." 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had said these things to her. 19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them, and said to them, "Peace be to you." 20 And when he had said that, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad, when they saw the Lord. 21 Then Jesus said to them again, "Peace be to you, as my Father has sent me, so I send you." 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Ghost. 23 Whoever's sins you cancel, they are cancelled for them, and whoever's sins you retain, they are retained." 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, "We've seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the print of the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I won't believe." 26 And after eight days his disciples were again indoors, and Thomas with them. Then Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood among them, and said, "Peace be to you." 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and see my hands, and reach your hand here, and put it into my side, and don't be faithless, but believing." 28 And Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God." 29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen me, you've believed, blessed are those who haven't seen, and yet have believed." 30 And truly, Jesus did many other signs, in the presence of his disciples, that are not written in this book, 31 But these are written, so that you'll believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and so that believing, you'll have life through his name. ___John chapter 21 1 After these things, Jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias, and here's how he showed himself. 2 Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples were gathered together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, "I'm going fishing." They said to him, "We'll go, too." They went out, and entered into a ship immediately. And that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning had come, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples didn't know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, "Children, do you have any fish?" They answered him, "No." 6 And he said to them, "Throw the net on the right side of the ship, and you'll find." They threw therefore, and now they were not able to pull it for the multitude of fish. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It's the Lord." Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his fisherman's coat, (for he was naked,) and jumped into the sea. 8 And the other disciples came in a little ship, (for they weren't far from land, but about a hundred yards,) dragging the net with fish. 9 As soon then as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you've now caught." 11 Simon Peter went up, and pulled the net to land full of large fish, one hundred fifty three fish, and though there were so many, yet the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, "Come and eat." And none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?," knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Then Jesus came, and took bread, and gave it to them, and also fish. 14 This is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after he had risen from the dead. 15 So when they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jona, do you love me more than you love these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." 16 He said to him again the second time, "Simon, son of Jona, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know I love you." He said to him, "Feed my sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jona, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything, you know I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you dressed yourself, and walked where you wanted to, but when you're old, you'll reach out your hands, and someone else will dress you, and carry you where you don't want to go." 19 This he spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me." 20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also leaned on his chest at supper, and said, "Lord, who is it that will betray you?" 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, "Lord, and what shall this man do?" 22 Jesus said to him, "If I want him to wait until I come, what is that to you? Follow me." 23 Then this saying went around among the brothers, that that disciple wouldn't die, yet Jesus didn't say to him, "He won't die," but, "If I want him to wait until I come, what is that to you?" 24 This is the disciple who's testifying about these things, and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true. 25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if they were all to be written, I suppose even the world itself couldn't contain the books that would be written. Amen. ___Acts chapter 1 1 I have written the previous book, O lover of God, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after he, through the Holy Ghost, had given commandments to the Apostles whom he had chosen, 3 To whom also he showed himself alive after his ordeal by many reliable proofs, being seen by them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. 4 And being assembled together with them, commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, "Which," he said, "you have heard from me. 5 For John truly baptized with water, but you'll be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days from now." 6 When they therefore had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, that the Father has put in his own power. 8 But you'll receive power, after the Holy Ghost has come on you, and you'll be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth." 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they watched, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadily toward heaven as he went up, see, two men stood by them in white clothes, 11 Who also said, "You men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, shall come back the same way as you have seen him go into heaven." 12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a Sabbath day's journey. 13 And when they had come in, they went up into an upper room, where Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James stayed. 14 These all continued in agreement in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. 15 And in those days Peter stood up among the disciples, and said, (the number of names together was about one hundred twenty,) 16 "Men and brothers, this scripture must necessarily have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was one of us, and had obtained part of this ministry. 18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of sin, and falling down, he burst in pieces in the middle, and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it was known to all those living in Jerusalem, so that the field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The Field of Blood. 20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell in it, and let someone else take his office. 21 So of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 Beginning from the baptism of John, until the day that he was taken up from us, someone must be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection." 23 And they selected two candidates, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed, and said, "You Lord, who knows the hearts of all men, show which of these two you've chosen, 25 So he can take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas fell by sinning, so that he would go to his own place." 26 And they drew straws and got Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven Apostles. ___Acts chapter 2 1 And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all in agreement in one place. 2 And suddenly, a sound came from heaven like a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And they saw split tongues like fire, and it rested on each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the words to speak. 5 And Jews were living at Jerusalem, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this news had spread around, the multitude came together and were amazed, because every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and surprised, saying to each other, "See, aren't all of these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear every man in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and those living in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, Jews and converts, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we hear them speak in our languages the wonderful works of God." 12 And they were all amazed and were in doubt, saying to each other, "What does this mean?" 13 Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine." 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said to them, "You men of Judea, and all of you that live at Jerusalem, know this, and listen to my words, 15 For these people aren't drunk, like you think, since it's only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel, 17 And it shall be, in the last days, says God, I will pour out of my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams, 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy, 19 And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke, 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord comes, 21 And it shall be, that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. 22 You men of Israel, hear these words, Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God among you, by miracles and wonders and signs, that God did by him among you, as you yourselves also know, 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and beforehand knowledge of God, you've taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and killed, 24 Whom God has raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that he should be held captive by it. 25 For David speaks concerning him, I could always picture the Lord before my face, for he is at my right hand, so that I wouldn't be moved, 26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad, also my flesh shall rest in hope, 27 Because you won't leave my soul in hell, nor will you allow your Holy One to see corruption. 28 You've made known to me the ways of life, you'll make me full of joy with your face. 29 Men and brothers, let me freely speak to you about the patriarch David, that he is dead and buried, and his tomb is still with us today. 30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne, 31 He, seeing this beforehand, spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 God has raised up this Jesus, about whom all of us are witnesses. 33 Therefore being honored at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he has given this that you now see and hear. 34 For David has not ascended into the heavens, but he said himself, The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand, 35 Until I make your enemies your footstool. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain, that God has made that same Jesus, whom you've crucified, the Lord and Christ." 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said to Peter and to the rest of the Apostles, "Men and brothers, what shall we do?" 38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you'll receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are far off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." 40 And he testified and exhorted with many other words, and said, "Save yourselves from this wicked generation." 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized, and the same day there were added to them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued steadily in the Apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done by the Apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and divided them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily in agreement in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, ate their food with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were going to be saved. ___Acts chapter 3 1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, which was the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man who couldn't walk since birth was carried, whom they laid every day at the gate of the temple that is called Beautiful, to beg for money from those who entered into the temple, 3 Who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for money. 4 And Peter, fastening his eyes on him with John said, "Look at us." 5 And he paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, "I have no silver or gold, but what I have, I give you, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 And they knew that it was he that sat begging at the Beautiful gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11 And as the lame man who'd been healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. 12 And when Peter saw it, he said to the people, "You men of Israel, why are you surprised at this? Or why do you look so earnestly at us, as though by our own power or holiness we had given this man the ability to walk? 13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Son Jesus, whom you arrested, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he wanted to set him free. 14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted to you, 15 And killed the Prince of Life, whom God has raised from the dead, about which we are witnesses. 16 And his name, through faith in his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know, yes, the faith that is by him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all. 17 And now, brothers, I know that you did it through ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But those things that God had shown beforehand, by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ would suffer, he has so fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and be converted, so that your sins will be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord, 20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, who was previously preached to you, 21 Whom the heaven must hold until the times of restoring of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. 22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up to you of your brothers, like me, him shall you hear in all things whatever he shall say to you. 23 And it shall be, that every soul, that won't listen to that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. 24 Yes, and all the prophets starting with Samuel, and those that follow later, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. 25 You are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant that God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, And in your descendants all the people of the earth shall be blessed. 26 To you first, God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his sins." ___Acts chapter 4 1 And as they spoke to the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came to them, 2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them, and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of men was about five thousand. 5 And on the next day, their rulers, and elders, and scribes, 6 And Annas, the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and all the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7 And when they had brought them in, they asked, "By what power, or by what name, have you done this?" 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said to them, "You rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9 If we are questioned today about the good deed done to the man who couldn't walk, by what means he's been made well, 10 I tell you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him does this man stand here before you well. 11 This is the stone that was rejected by you builders, that has become the cornerstone. 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, by which we must be saved." 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and ignorant men, they were surprised, and they took note of them, that they had been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man standing with them who had been healed, they could say nothing against it. 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16 Saying, "What shall we do to these men? The fact that a notable miracle has been done by them is clear to all those who live in Jerusalem, and we can't deny it. 17 But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us strictly threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name. 18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you can judge. 20 For we can only speak the things that we have seen and heard." 21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all men glorified God for what had been done. 22 For the man was more than forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shown. 23 And being let go, they went to their own people, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard that, they all lifted up their voices to God, and said, "Lord, you are God, who has made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 Who by the mouth of your servant David have said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? 26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. 27 For truly against your holy child Jesus, whom you have anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28 To do whatever your hand and your judgment previously determined to be done. 29 And now, Lord, look at their threatenings, and grant to your servants, that with all boldness they'll speak your word, 30 By stretching out your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders will be done by the name of your holy child Jesus." 31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. 32 And the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and of one soul, nor did any of them say that anything he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And the Apostles witnessed with great power about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all. 34 Nor were there any among them that lacked, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the Apostles' feet, and distribution was made to every man according to his needs. 36 And Joses, who by the Apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, "The Son of Consolation,") a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the Apostles' feet. ___Acts chapter 5 1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the money, his wife also knowing about it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the Apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 While it remained, wasn't it your own? And after it was sold, wasn't it under your control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You haven't lied to men, but to God." 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the spirit, and great fear came on all of those who heard these things. 6 And the young men got up, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7 And it was about three hours later when his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in. 8 And Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?" And she said, "Yes, for so much." 9 Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? See, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and shall carry you out." 10 Then she fell down immediately at his feet, and yielded up the spirit, and the young men came in, and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. 11 And great fear came on all the church, and on as many as heard these things. 12 And by the hands of the Apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people, (and they were all in agreement in Solomon's porch. 13 And of the rest, no man dared join himself to them, but the people magnified them. 14 And more believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.) 15 So that they brought out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, so that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. 16 A multitude also came out of the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people, and those who were troubled by evil spirits, and they were all healed. 17 Then the high priest rose up, and all of those who were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, 18 And arrested the Apostles, and put them in the common prison. 19 But the angel of the Lord at night opened the prison doors, and brought them out, and said, 20 "Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life." 21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and those who were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, and didn't find them in the prison, they returned and said, 23 "Truly, we found the prison shut with all security, and the keepers standing outside in front of the doors, but when we had opened, we found no one inside." 24 Now when the high priest, and the top officer of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they worried who would hear about it. 25 Then someone came and told them, "The men you put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people." 26 Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, so that they wouldn't be stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council, and the high priest asked them, 28 "Didn't we strictly command you not to teach in this name? And see, you've filled Jerusalem with your teachings, and intend to make us guilty of this man's blood." 29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, "We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed and hung on a tree. 31 God has exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things, and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God has given to those who obey him." 33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and looked for ways to kill them. 34 Then a Pharisee named Gamaliel stood up in the council, a doctor of the law, with a good reputation among all the people, and commanded to move the apostles farther away, 35 And said to them, "You men of Israel, be careful what you intend to do concerning these men. 36 For before these days, Theudas rose up, boasting himself to be someone, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves, who was killed, and all who obeyed him were scattered, and brought to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the taxing, and attracted away many people after him. He also died, and all who obeyed him, were dispersed. 38 And now I say to you, back off from these men, and let them alone, for if this counsel or this work is of men, it will come to nothing, 39 But if it is from God, you can't overthrow it, or you might find you're fighting against God." 40 And to him they agreed, and when they had called the Apostles, and beaten them, they commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they didn't stop teaching and preaching Jesus Christ." ___Acts chapter 6 1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples had multiplied, a murmuring of the Greeks arose against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples to them, and said, "It is not reasonable that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 3 So brothers, choose from among yourselves seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we can appoint over this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word." 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas, a convert from Antioch, 6 Whom they set before the Apostles, and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. 8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. 9 Then certain of the synagogue that is called the synagogue of the Libertines arose, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke. 11 Then they found false witnesses, who said, "We've heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God." 12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came to him and arrested him, and brought him to the council, 13 And set up false witnesses who said, "This man won't stop speaking blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law, 14 For we've heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and change the customs that Moses gave us." 15 And all that sat in the council, looking steadily at him, saw his face as though it was the face of an angel. ___Acts chapter 7 1 Then the high priest said, "Are these things so?" 2 And he said, "Men, brothers, and fathers, listen, the God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Charran, 3 And said to him, Get out of your country, and from your family, and come into the land that I will show you. 4 Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans, and lived in Charran, and from there, when his father was dead, he moved him into this land in which you're now living. 5 And he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on, yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him, when as yet he had no child. 6 And God spoke this way, that his descendants would temporarily live in a strange land, and that they would bring them into bondage, and treat them evil four hundred years. 7 And the nation to whom they'll be in bondage I will judge, said God, and after that they'll come out, and serve me in this place. 8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision, and so Abraham fathered Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day, and Isaac fathered Jacob, and Jacob fathered the twelve patriarchs. 9 And the patriarchs, because of envy, sold Joseph into Egypt, but God was with him, 10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. 11 Now a famine came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers found no food. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. 13 And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph's family was made known to Pharaoh. 14 Then Joseph sent, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his family, seventy five souls. 15 So Jacob went down into Egypt and died, he, and our fathers, 16 And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of Emmor, the father of Sychem. 17 But when the time of the promise came near, that God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, 18 Until another king arose, who didn't know Joseph. 19 He dealt treacherously with our people, and did evil to our fathers, so that they threw out their babies to kill them. 20 At which time Moses was born, and was a good looking baby, and nourished up in his father's house three months, 21 And when he was thrown out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. 22 And Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. 23 And when he was fully forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and struck the Egyptian, 25 For he supposed his brothers would have understood how that God by his hand would give them deliverance, but they didn't understand. 26 And the next day he showed himself to them as they argued, and would have made peace between them, saying, Sirs, you are brothers, why do you do wrong to each other? 27 But he that did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Will you kill me, like you did the Egyptian yesterday? 29 Then Moses ran off after hearing that, and was a stranger in the land of Midian, where he fathered two sons. 30 And after forty years, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight, and as he went near to see it, the voice of the Lord came to him, 32 Saying, I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and didn't dare look. 33 Then the Lord said to him, Put off your shoes from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. 34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and have come down to give them deliverance. And now come, I will send you into Egypt. 35 This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made you a ruler and a judge? God sent to be a ruler and a deliverance giver by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 He brought them out, after he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years. 37 This is that Moses, who said to the children of Israel, The Lord your God shall raise up to you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him. 38 This is he that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel that spoke to him in Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who received the lively oracles to give to us, 39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but pushed him from them, and in their hearts turned back again to Egypt, 40 Saying to Aaron, Make us gods to go before us, for as for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we don't know what has become of him. 41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. 42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets, O house of Israel, have you offered to me dead animals and sacrifices for forty years in the wilderness? 43 Yes, you took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures that you made to worship, and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. 44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking to Moses, that he should make it according to the pattern that he had seen. 45 Which also our fathers that came afterward brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, until the days of David, 46 Who found favor before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. 47 But Solomon built him a house. 48 But the most High doesn't live in temples made by hands, like the prophet says, 49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool, what house will you build me? Says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? 50 Hasn't my hand made all these things? 51 You stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Ghost. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets have your fathers not persecuted? And they have killed those who showed before of the coming of the Just One, of whom you've now been the betrayers and murderers, 53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and haven't kept it." 54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadily into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 And said, "I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." 57 Then they shouted with a loud voice, and plugged their ears, and all ran at him, 58 And threw him out of the city, and stoned him, and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling on God, and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 And he kneeled down, and shouted with a loud voice, "Lord, don't hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he died. ___Acts chapter 8 1 And Saul agreed with his being stoned to death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church that was at Jerusalem, and they were all scattered around throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3 As for Saul, he fought against the church, entering into every house, and arresting men and women, sent them to prison. 4 Therefore those who were scattered around went everywhere preaching the word. 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ to them. 6 And the people all paid attention to the things that Philip spoke, hearing and seeing the miracles that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voices, came out of many that had been possessed by them, and many that had the palsy, and that were lame, were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city. 9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, presenting himself as some great person, 10 To whom they all paid attention, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the great power of God." 11 And to him they had regard, because for a long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Then Simon himself also believed, and when he'd been baptized, he continued with Philip and wondered, seeing the miracles and signs that were done. 14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 Who, when they had come down, prayed for them, so they would receive the Holy Ghost, 16 (For as yet he had fallen on none of them, only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the Apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, "Give me also this power, so that on whomever I lay hands, he will receive the Holy Ghost." 20 But Peter said to him, "Let you and your money be destroyed, because you've thought that the gift of God can be purchased for money. 21 You have no part nor rights in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of your wickedness, and pray to God, if perhaps the thought of your heart can be forgiven. 23 For I perceive that you are in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of sin." 24 Then Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me, that none of these things that you've spoken comes on me." 25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. 26 And the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, "Get up, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, which is desert." 27 And he got up and went, and see, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Isaiah, the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near, and get aboard this chariot." 30 And Philip ran to him, and heard him read the prophet Isaiah and said, "Do you understand what you're reading?" 31 And he said, "How can I, unless some man helps me?" And he desired Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The place of the scripture that he read was this, "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so he didn't open his mouth, 33 In his humiliation, he was robbed of justice, and who shall declare his genealogy? For his life is taken from the earth." 34 And the eunuch answered Philip and said, "Please tell me, who is the prophet talking about here? About himself, or about some other man?" 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached Jesus to him. 36 And as they went on their way, they came to a certain body of water, and the eunuch said, "See, here is water, what would keep me from being baptized?" 37 And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you can." And he answered, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they had come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, so that the eunuch saw him no more, and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus, and passing through, he preached in all the cities until he came to Caesarea. ___Acts chapter 9 1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 And desired from him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, so that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he could bring them to Jerusalem in handcuffs. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shined around him, 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" 5 And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And the Lord said, "I am Jesus whom you're persecuting, it is hard for you to kick against the sharp points." 6 And he, trembling and astonished said, "Lord, what do you want me to do?" And the Lord said to him, "Get up and go into the city, and you'll be told what you must do." 7 And the men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul got up from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one, but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was without sight for three days, and didn't eat or drink. 10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "See, I am here, Lord." 11 And the Lord said to him, "Get up, and go into the street that is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for someone called Saul of Tarsus, for see, he's praying, 12 And has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, so that he'll receive his sight." 13 Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem, 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to arrest all that call on your name." 15 But the Lord said to him, "Be on your way, for he is a chosen container to me, to carry my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel, 16 For I will show him how he must suffer great things for my name's sake." 17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house, and putting his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, that appeared to you on the way as you came, has sent me, so that you'll receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost." 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received sight immediately, and got up, and was baptized. 19 And when he'd eaten, he was strengthened. Then Saul was certain days with the disciples who were at Damascus. 20 And immediately he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 21 But all that heard him were amazed and said, "Isn't this he that destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and came here for that purpose, so he could bring them in handcuffs to the chief priests?" 22 But Saul increased even more in strength, and put to confusion the Jews who lived at Damascus, proving that this is the actual Christ. 23 And after many days had gone by, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 But their laying in wait was known by Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him at night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. 26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, and didn't believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the Apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. 29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Greeks, but they tried to kill him. 30 Which, when the brothers knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him to Tarsus. 31 Then the churches had rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were built up, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. 32 And as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 And he found a certain man named Aeneas there, who had been confined to his bed for eight years, and was sick of the palsy. 34 And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ makes you well, get up, and make your bed." And he got up immediately. 35 And all that lived at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord. 36 Now at Joppa, there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, who by interpretation is called Dorcas, this woman was full of good works and giving of money that she did. 37 And in those days she was sick and died, whom when they had washed, they laid her body in an upper room. 38 And because Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent to him two men, desiring him to not delay to come to them. 39 Then Peter got up and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper room, and all the widows stood by him crying, and showing the coats and garments that Dorcas made, while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all out, and kneeled down, and prayed, and turning to the body said, "Tabitha, get up." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. 42 And it was known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa many days with Simon, a tanner. ___Acts chapter 10 1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the military unit called the "Italian band," 2 A devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave a lot of money to the people, and prayed to God always. 3 He saw in a vision, apparently about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him, and saying to him, "Cornelius." 4 And when he looked at him, he was afraid and said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and your giving have come up for a memorial before God. 5 And now, send men to Joppa, and ask for Simon Peter. 6 He's staying with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea side, he'll tell you what you should do." 7 And when the angel who spoke to Cornelius had departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually, 8 And when he had told all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa. 9 On the next day, as they went on their journey, and came near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about the sixth hour. 10 And he became very hungry, and wanted to eat, but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain container coming down to him, like a large sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth, 12 In which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and birds of the air. 13 And a voice came to him, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat." 14 But Peter said, "Not so, Lord, for I've never eaten anything that is common or unclean." 15 And the voice spoke to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed, don't you call common." 16 This was done three times, and the container was pulled back into heaven. 17 Now while Peter wondered in himself what this vision that he had seen meant, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood at the gate, 18 And called, and asked whether Simon Peter was living there. 19 While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "See, three men are looking for you. 20 So get up, go down, and go with them, without worrying, for I have sent them." 21 Then Peter went down to the men who'd been sent to him from Cornelius and said, "See, I'm the one you're looking for, why have you come?" 22 And they said, "Cornelius the centurion, an honest man, and one that fears God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned by God, by a holy angel, to send for you to come to his house, and to listen to your words." 23 Then he invited them in, and lodged them. And on the next day Peter went away with them, and certain brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And the next day afterward, they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his family and close friends. 25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up, I myself also am a man." 27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that had gathered together. 28 And he said to them, "You know that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come to someone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29 Therefore I came to you without objecting, as soon as I was sent for. I ask therefore why have you sent for me?" 30 And Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and see, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 And said, Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your giving has been remembered in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa, and ask Simon Peter to come here. He's living at the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea side, who when he comes, shall speak to you. 33 Immediately therefore I sent to you, and you've done well to come. Now therefore we're all present here before God, to hear all things that are commanded to you by God." 34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said, "Truly, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons, 35 But in every nation he that fears Him, and does righteousness, is accepted by Him. 36 The word that God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, (he is Lord of all.) 37 That word, I say, you know, that was published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism that John preached, 38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, who went around doing good, and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things that he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem, whom they killed and hung on a tree, 40 God raised him up the third day, and showed him openly, 41 Not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is he that was ordained by God to be the Judge of the alive and of the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him, that through his name whoever believes in him shall receive forgiveness of sins." 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all of those who heard the word. 45 And all the Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Ghost was also poured out on the Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speak with unknown tongues, and magnify God. Then Peter responded, 47 "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Ghost as well as we have?" 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a certain number of days. ___Acts chapter 11 1 And the Apostles and brothers that were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2 And when Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him, 3 Saying, "You went in to uncircumcised men, and ate with them." 4 But Peter told the story from the beginning, and explained it in order to them, saying, 5 "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, a certain container descend, like a large sheet, let down from heaven by four corners, and it came to me, 6 On which, when I had looked, I considered, and saw four-footed animals of the earth, and wild animals, and creeping things, and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, Get up, Peter, kill and eat. 8 But I said, Not so, Lord, for nothing common or unclean has at any time entered into my mouth. 9 But the voice answered me back from heaven, What God has cleansed, don't you call common. 10 And this was done three times, and all were pulled up again into heaven. 11 And, immediately there were three men who had already come to the house where I was, sent from Caesarea to me. 12 And the Spirit told me to go with them without worrying. Also these six brothers accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house, 13 And he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, that stood and said to him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon Peter, 14 Who will tell you words, by which you and all your family will be saved. 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, like on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, John indeed baptized with water, but you'll be baptized with the Holy Ghost. 17 So then, since God gave them the same gift as he did to us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could oppose God?" 18 When they heard these things, they didn't argue, and glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance for salvation." 19 Now those who were scattered around because of the persecution that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one except the Jews. 20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Greeks, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed, and turned to the Lord. 22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church that was in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas, so that he would go as far as Antioch. 23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, so that with purpose of heart they would stick with the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas departed to Tarsus, to look for Saul, 26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. 27 And in those days prophets went from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them named Agabus stood up, and signified by the Spirit that there would be great drought throughout all the world, which happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. 29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea, 30 Which they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. ___Acts chapter 12 1 Now about that time, Herod the king stretched out his hands to persecute certain of the church. 2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to arrest Peter also. (It was during the days of unleavened bread.) 4 And after he'd arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four bands of soldiers to keep him, intending after Easter to bring him out to the people. 5 Peter therefore was kept in prison, but prayer was made without stopping by the church to God for him. 6 And when Herod would have brought him out, the same night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and the keepers before the door kept the prison. 7 And see, the angel of the Lord came to him, and a light shined in the prison, and he struck Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, "Get up quickly." And his chains fell off of his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, "Get dressed, and tie on your sandals." And he did. And he said to him, "Throw your garment around yourself, and follow me." 9 And he went out, and followed him, and didn't know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, that opened to them by itself, and they went out, and passed on through one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11 And when Peter had come to himself he said, "Now I know certainly, that the Lord has sent his angel, and has given me deliverance out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the Jews." 12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered together praying. 13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a young woman named Rhoda came to listen. 14 And when she knew Peter's voice, she didn't open the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood at the gate. 15 And they said to her, "You're crazy." But she insisted that it was so. Then they said, "It is his angel." 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they had opened the door and saw him, they were amazed. 17 But he, beckoning to them with the hand to be quiet, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Go show these things to James, and to the brothers." And he departed, and went into another place. 18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers what had become of Peter. 19 And when Herod had looked for him, and didn't find him, he questioned the keepers, and commanded that they be executed. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and lived there. 20 And Herod was highly displeased with those of Tyre and Zidon, but they came united, and having made Blastus, the king's butler, their friend, desired peace, because their country was nourished by the king's country. 21 And on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal clothes, sat on his throne and made an oration to them. 22 And the people gave a shout, "It is the voice of a god, and not of a man." 23 And immediately the angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn't give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms, and gave up the spirit. 24 But the word of God grew and multiplied. 25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John Mark. ___Acts chapter 13 1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers, like Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, "Separate for me Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have called them." 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So they, being sent out by the Holy Ghost, departed to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews, and they had also John as one of their ministers. 6 And when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Barjesus, 7 Who was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man, who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas, the sorcerer (because that's his name by interpretation), resisted them, trying to turn the deputy away from the faith. 9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10 And said, "O full of all subtlety and all mischief, you child of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not stop trying to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11 And now, see, the hand of the Lord is on you, and you'll be blind, not seeing the sun for a season." And immediately a mist and a darkness fell on him, and he went around looking for someone to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the deputy, when he saw what had been done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord. 13 Now when Paul and his group departed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia, and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. 14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down. 15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, "You men and brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, go ahead." 16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen. 17 The God of our people Israel, chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they lived as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with a high arm he brought them out of it. 18 And for about forty years he endured their ways in the wilderness. 19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he divided their land to them by drawing straws. 20 And after that, he gave them judges for about four hundred fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. 21 And afterward they wanted a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who'll fulfill all my will. 23 Of this man's descendants, God according to his promise, has raised for Israel a Savior, Jesus, 24 When John had first preached before of his coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Who do you think I am? I am not he. But see, someone is coming after me, whose shoelaces I am not worthy to untie. 26 Men and brothers, children of the stock of Abraham, and whoever among you fears God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. 27 For those who live at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they didn't know him, nor yet the voices of the prophets that are read every Sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. 28 And though they found no reason to execute him, yet they desired Pilate to kill him. 29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross, and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 And he was seen many days by those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people. 32 And we declare to you happy news, that the promise that was made to the fathers, 33 God has fulfilled the same to us their children, in that he has raised up Jesus again, as it is also written in the second psalm, You are my Son, this day I've begotten you. 34 And concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said like this, I will give you the sure mercies of David. 35 So he says also in another psalm, You won't allow your Holy One to see corruption. 36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, died, and was laid with his fathers, and saw corruption, 37 But he whom God raised again, saw no corruption. 38 I'm telling you therefore, men and brothers, that the forgiveness of sins, through this man, is preached to you. 39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which you couldn't be justified by the law of Moses. 40 Beware therefore, so what was spoken about in the prophets doesn't happen to you, 41 Look, you despisers, and wonder, and be destroyed, for I work a work in your days, a work that you'll no way believe, though a man explains it to you." 42 And when the Jews had gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles asked that these words would be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation had split up, many of the Jews and religious converts followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 44 And the next Sabbath day, almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spoke against the things that were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas became bold and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you, but since you put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, see, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For that's what the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set you to be a light of the Gentiles, so that you would be for salvation to the ends of the earth." 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord, and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the important men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. 51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost. ___Acts chapter 14 1 And in Iconium, both of them went together into the synagogue of the Jews, and spoke such that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and gave them a bad opinion of the brothers. 3 Therefore, they remained a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who gave testimony to the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the multitude of the city was divided, and part held with the Jews, and part with the Apostles. 5 And when there was an assault made both by the Gentiles, and also by the Jews with their rulers, to mistreat them, and to stone them, 6 They were aware of it, and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the region that's around there, 7 And they preached the gospel there. 8 And a certain man sat at Lystra, whose feet didn't work right, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never walked, 9 He heard Paul speak, who steadily looking at him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, 10 Said with a loud voice, "Stand up on your feet." And he jumped and walked. 11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men." 12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter, and Paul, Mercury, because he was the main speaker. 13 Then the priest of Jupiter, who was before their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. 14 Which, when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about, they tore their clothes, and ran in among the people, shouting, 15 "Sirs, why are you doing this? We also are men of similar emotions to you, and preach that you should turn away from these vanities to the living God, who made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them, 16 Who in the past allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. 17 But he didn't leave himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness." 18 And with these sayings they barely restrained the people from doing sacrifice to them. 19 And certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, brought him out of the city, supposing he was dead. 20 But, as the disciples stood around him, he rose up, and came into the city, and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had ordained elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord, on whom they believed. 24 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia, 26 And sailed from there to Antioch, from which place they had been committed to the grace of God for the work that they fulfilled. 27 And when they had arrived, and had gathered the church together, they recited all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they stayed there a long time with the disciples. ___Acts chapter 15 1 And certain men who came down from Judea taught the brothers, and said, "Unless you are circumcised according to the law of Moses, you can't be saved." 2 Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of them, would go up to Jerusalem to the Apostles and elders about this question. 3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles, and they caused great joy to all the brothers. 4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and by the Apostles and elders, and they told all things that God had done with them. 5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who were believers rose up, saying that it was necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 6 And the Apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. 7 And when there had been much arguing, Peter got up and said to them, "Men and brothers, you know that a good while ago, God made a choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the hearts, was a witness for them, giving them the Holy Ghost, just like he did to us, 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore, why would you tempt God, by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples, that neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, just like them." 12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and listened to Barnabas and Paul, telling what miracles and wonders God had done among the Gentiles by them. 13 And after they finished, James answered, "Men and brothers, listen to me. 14 Simon has declared how God at first visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15 And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written, 16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David that has fallen down, and I will build again the ruins of it, and I will set it up, 17 So that the remaining men will seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, on whom my name is called, says the Lord, who does all these things. 18 Known to God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 19 So my judgment is, that we not trouble those who from among the Gentiles have turned to God, 20 But that we write to them to abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For since old times, Moses has those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day." 22 Then it pleased the Apostles and elders, and the whole church, to send chosen men of their own group to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas Barsabas, and Silas, important men among the brothers, 23 And they wrote letters by them like this, "The Apostles and elders and brothers send greetings to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, 24 Because we've heard that some who went out from us have inconvenienced you with words, troubling your souls, saying, You must be circumcised, and keep the law, to whom we gave no such commandment, 25 It seemed good to us, being assembled and united, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 Men that have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we've sent Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay on you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 That you abstain from foods offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled things, and from fornication, which, if you keep yourselves from them, you'll do well. Farewell." 30 So when they'd been dismissed, they came to Antioch, and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter, 31 Which when they'd read, they rejoiced for the consolation. 32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brothers with many words, and confirmed them. 33 And after they had stayed there a while, they were sent out in peace from the brothers to the Apostles. 34 However, it pleased Silas to remain there longer. 35 Paul, also, and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. 36 And some days afterward, Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's go again and visit our brothers in every city where we've preached the word of the Lord, and see how they're doing." 37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John Mark. 38 But Paul thought it wasn't good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and didn't go with them to the work. 39 And the disagreement was so sharp between them that they split from each other, and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed to Cyprus, 40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being committed by the brothers to the grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches. ___Acts chapter 16 1 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra, and a certain disciple was there named Timothy, the son of a certain woman who was a Jewess and a believer, but his father was a Greek, 2 Who had a good reputation among the brothers that were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted him to go ministering with him, and took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those quarters, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees to keep that were ordained by the Apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem. 5 And so the churches were established in the faith, and increased in number daily. 6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden by the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, 7 After they'd come to Mysia, they planned to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit wouldn't allow it. 8 And passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night, a man of Macedonia stood and asked him, "Come over into Macedonia and help us." 10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we planned to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. 11 Therefore departing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis, 12 And from there to Philippi, which is the main city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony, and we stayed in that city for a while. 13 And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was usually made, and we sat down, and spoke to the women who went there. 14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira who worshipped God, heard us, whose heart the Lord opened, so that she paid attention to the things that were spoken by Paul. 15 And after she and her household were baptized, she asked us, "If you've judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house, and stay there." And she persuaded us. 16 And as we went to prayer, a certain young woman possessed by a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, and shouted, "These men are the servants of the most high God, who show us the way of salvation." 18 And she did that many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out the same hour. 19 And when her masters saw that the hope of using her to make money was gone, they laid hands on Paul and Silas, and brought them into the marketplace to the rulers, 20 And brought them to the officials and said, "These men, being Jews, trouble our city very much, 21 And teach customs, that are not lawful for us to receive nor to observe, being Romans." 22 And the multitude rose up together against them, and the officials tore off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 23 And when they had thoroughly whipped them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them safely, 24 Who, having received that responsibility, put them into the inner prison, and made their feet secure in the stocks. 25 And at midnight, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God, and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's handcuffs and shackles were undone. 27 And the keeper of the prison, waking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he pulled out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had fled. 28 But Paul shouted with a loud voice, "Don't harm yourself, for we're all here." 29 Then he called for a light, and jumped in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 And they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you'll be saved, and your family." 32 And they spoke to him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and was baptized, he and all his, immediately. 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. 35 And when it was day, the officials sent the sergeants, saying, "Let those men go." 36 And the keeper of the prison told this statement to Paul, "The officials have sent to let you go, now therefore depart, and go in peace." 37 But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us openly, without a trial, being Romans, and have thrown us into prison, and now do they put us out secretly? No truly, but let them come themselves and fetch us out." 38 And the sergeants told these words to the officials, and they were afraid, when they heard that they were Romans. 39 And they came and asked them please, and brought them out, and wanted them to depart out of the city. 40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia, and when they had seen the brothers, they comforted them and departed. ___Acts chapter 17 1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 And Paul, as he usually did, went in to them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, 3 Opening and declaring that Christ had to have suffered, and risen again from the dead, and that "This Jesus, whom I preach to you, is Christ." 4 And some of them believed, and fellowshipped with Paul and Silas, and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the main women not a few. 5 But the Jews who didn't believe, being envious, found certain lewd and crude men, and gathered a crowd, and put the city into an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and tried to bring them out to the people. 6 And when they didn't find them, they brought Jason and certain brothers to the rulers of the city, shouting, "These that have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 Whom Jason has received, and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus." 8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. 9 And when they had taken bond money from Jason and from the others, they let them go. 10 And the brothers immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night to Berea, who arriving there, went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, also of honorable women who were Greeks, and of men, not a few. 13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica knew that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also, and stirred up the people. 14 And then immediately the brothers sent away Paul to go toward the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. 15 And those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens, and sending a commandment to Silas and Timothy to quickly come to him, they departed. 16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city completely given to idolatry. 17 Therefore he disputed in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout people, and in the market daily with those who met with him. 18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him. And some said, "What will this babbler say?" Others said, "He seems to be a preacher of strange gods," because he preached Jesus to them, and the resurrection. 19 And they took him, and brought him to Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new doctrine is that you talk about? 20 For you bring strange things to our ears. We want to know therefore what these things mean." 21 (For all the Athenians and strangers who were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) 22 Then Paul stood in the middle of Mars' hill, and said, "You men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious. 23 For as I passed by, and saw your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore you ignorantly worship, I'll tell you about him. 24 God, that made the world and all things in it, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, doesn't live in temples made by hands, 25 Nor is he ministered to by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he gives to all life, and breath, and all things, 26 And has from one blood made all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined the times appointed beforehand, and the bounds of their habitation, 27 So that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they would feel after him, and find him, though he's not far from any of us, 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being, as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 29 Since we then are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by art and man's device. 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 Because he has appointed a day, in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he has ordained, about whom he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead." 32 And when they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some made fun of it, and others said, "We will hear you again about this matter." 33 So Paul departed from among them. 34 But certain men stuck with him and believed, among whom was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them. ___Acts chapter 18 1 After these things, Paul departed from Athens, and went to Corinth, 2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, recently arrived from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, (because Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome,) and went to them. 3 And because he was of the same craft, he stayed with them, and worked, for their occupation was tent making. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. 5 And when Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is Christ. 6 And when they opposed themselves and blasphemed, he shook his clothes, and said to them, "Your blood is on your own heads, I am clean, from now on I will go to the Gentiles." 7 And he departed from there, and entered into a certain man's house named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house was right up against the synagogue. 8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house, and many of the Corinthians after hearing, believed and were baptized. 9 Then the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Don't be afraid, but speak, and don't be quiet, 10 For I am with you, and no man will set on you to hurt you, for I have many people in this city." 11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. 12 And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews united in a plot against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, 13 And said, "This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law." 14 And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O you Jews, it would be reasonable for me to bear with you, 15 But if it's a question of words and names, and of your law, you take care of it, for I will be no judge of such matters." 16 And his soldiers forced them to go from the judgment seat. 17 Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the main ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the judgment seat. And Gallio cared about none of those things. 18 And after this, Paul stayed there yet a good while, and then departed from the brothers, and sailed from there into Syria, and with him, Priscilla and Aquila, having shaved his head in Cenchrea, for he had a vow. 19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there, but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they desired him to stay a longer time with them, he wouldn't, 21 But said "goodbye," and that "I must by all means keep this feast that's coming in Jerusalem, but I'll return again to you, God willing." And he sailed from Ephesus. 22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and greeted the church, he went down to Antioch. 23 And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples. 24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, a good speaker, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in the spirit, he spoke and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue, whom, when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him, and explained to him the way of God more perfectly. 27 And when he was inclined to pass into Achaia, the brothers wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him, who when he had come, helped them much who had believed through grace, 28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and in public, showing by the scriptures that Jesus is Christ. ___Acts chapter 19 1 And while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts, came to Ephesus. And finding certain disciples, 2 He said to them, "Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?" And they said, "We haven't heard whether there is a Holy Ghost." 3 And he said, "What kind of baptism did you have?" And they said, "John's baptism." 4 Then Paul said, "John truly baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they need to believe on him that would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came on them, and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied. 7 And there were about twelve of those men. 8 And he went into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. 9 But when various of them were hardened, and didn't believe, but spoke evil about that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 And this continued for two years, so that all of those who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. 11 And God did special miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 So that from his body, handkerchiefs or aprons were brought to the sick, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. 13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, decided to call over those who had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, "We command you by Jesus whom Paul preaches." 14 And there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, who did that. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?" 16 And the man that had the evil spirit jumped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks who were also living at Ephesus, and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds. 19 Many of those also who used occult arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men, and they counted the price of them, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of God grew mightily and prevailed. 21 After these things had ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome." 22 So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus. But he himself stayed in Asia for a while. 23 At the same time, there arose no small stir about that way. 24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain to the craftsmen, 25 Whom he called together with the workmen of similar occupations, and said, "Sirs, you know that by this craft we have our wealth. 26 Also, you see and hear, that not only at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that any gods made by hands are not really gods, 27 So that not only is this our craft in danger to be destroyed, but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana will be despised, and her magnificence will be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worships." 28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of anger, and shouted, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians." 29 And the whole city was filled with confusion, and having laid hands on Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's travel companions, they all rushed together into the theater. 30 And when Paul would have entered into the people, the disciples wouldn't allow it. 31 And certain of the important men of Asia who were his friends, sent to him, desiring that he would not risk going into the theater. 32 Some therefore shouted one thing, and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them didn't know why they were gathered together. 33 And they pulled Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defense to the people. 34 But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice for about two hours shouted, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians." 35 And when the town clerk had appeased the people, he said, "You men of Ephesus, what man is there who doesn't know that the people of the city of Ephesus are worshippers of the great goddess Diana, and of the image that fell down from Jupiter? 36 Seeing then that these things can't be spoken against, you ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. 37 For you have brought these men here, who are neither robbers of churches, nor blasphemers of your goddess. 38 So if Demetrius, and the craftsmen that are with him, have a matter against any man, the courts are open, and there are deputies. Let them plead their cases. 39 But if you inquire anything concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. 40 For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, since there's no reason we can give to explain this occurrence." 41 And after saying that, he dismissed the assembly. ___Acts chapter 20 1 And after the uproar had stopped, Paul called to himself the disciples, and embraced them, and departed to go into Macedonia. 2 And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he went into Greece, 3 And stayed there three months. And when the Jews laid in ambush for him, as he was about to sail to Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia. 4 And Sopater of Berea accompanied him into Asia, and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. 5 These going before, waited for us at Troas. 6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came to Troas in five days, where we stayed seven days. 7 And on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached to them, ready to depart on the next day, and continued his preaching until midnight. 8 And there were many lights in the upper room where they were gathered together. 9 And a certain young man named Eutychus sat in a window, having fallen into a deep sleep. And as Paul was preaching for a long time, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and seemed to be dead. 10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, "Don't be troubled, for his life is in him." 11 When he had therefore come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even until daybreak, then he departed. 12 And they brought the young man alive, and were more than a little comforted. 13 And we went before to the ship, and sailed to Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, because that's what he wanted, intending to go on foot. 14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him aboard, and came to Mitylene. 15 And we sailed from there, and came the next day opposite Chios, and the next day we arrived at Samos, and waited at Trogyllium, and the next day we came to Miletus. 16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia, for he hurried if possible, to be at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. 17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. 18 And when they had come to him he said, "You know, from the first day I came into Asia, my lifestyle with you consistently, 19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears and temptations, that happened to me by the lying in ambush by the Jews, 20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable to you, but have shown you, and have taught you in public, and from house to house, 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, see, I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 Except that the Holy Ghost witnesses in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions are on me. 24 But none of these things move me, nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I'll finish my course with joy, and the ministry that I have received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, see, I know that you all, among whom I've gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. 26 So I testify to you today, that I am clean from the blood of all men. 27 For I haven't failed to declare to you all of the counsel of God. 28 Watch yourselves therefore, and take care of the flock, over which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers, to feed the church of God that he has purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves men shall arise, speaking perverse things, to pull away disciples after them. 31 So stay awake, and remember that for three years I never stopped warning everyone night and day, with tears. 32 And now brothers, I commit you to God, and to the word of his grace, who is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all of those who are made holy. 33 I have desired no man's silver, or gold, or clothes. 34 Yes, you yourselves know, that these hands have ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me. 35 I have shown you all things, how that so laboring you ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive." 36 And when he had said that, he kneeled down and prayed with them all. 37 And they all cried a lot, and hugged Paul's neck, and kissed him, 38 Sorrowing most of all for the words that he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they went with him to the ship. ___Acts chapter 21 1 And after we had gone from them and had launched, we came with a straight course to Coos, and the day following to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2 And finding a ship sailing over to Phenicia, we went aboard, and sailed away. 3 Now when we had seen Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre, for the ship was to unload its cargo there. 4 And finding disciples, we waited there seven days, who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. 5 And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way, and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, until we were out of the city, and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed. 6 And when we had said goodbye, we boarded the ship, and they went home. 7 And when we had finished our trip from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and greeted the brothers, and stayed with them one day. 8 And the next day we that were of Paul's group departed, and came to Caesarea, and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, who prophesied. 10 And as we waited there many days, a certain prophet came down from Judea, named Agabus. 11 And when he had come to us, he took Paul's girdle, and tied his own hands and feet, and said, "Thus says the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem handcuff the man that owns this girdle, and shall give him into the custody of the Gentiles." 12 And when we heard these things, both we, and those of that place, asked him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, "What do you mean, to cry and to break my heart? For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." 14 And when he would not be persuaded, we stopped and said, "The will of the Lord be done." 15 And after those days we took our baggage, and went up to Jerusalem. 16 Some of the disciples of Caesarea also went with us, and brought with them Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple with whom we would lodge. 17 And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. 18 And the following day, Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19 And when he had greeted them, he told the details of what God had done among the Gentiles by his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said to him, "You see brother, how many thousands of Jews there are that believe, and they are all zealous regarding the law. 21 And they are informed about you, that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles not to follow Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, nor to walk after the customs. 22 What is it therefore? The multitude will certainly come together, for they'll hear that you've come here. 23 Therefore do this that we say to you. We have four men who have a vow on them. 24 Go and purify yourself with them, and be at charges with them, so they can shave their heads. And all will know that the things about which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly, and keep the law. 25 Concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, except that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication." 26 Then Paul went with the men, and the next day purifying himself with them, entered into the temple, to show the accomplishment of the days of purification, until an offering would be offered for each of them. 27 And when the seven days were nearly finished, the Jews who were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, 28 Shouting, "Men of Israel, help, this is the man that teaches all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place. And also brought Greeks into the temple, and has polluted this holy place." 29 (For they had previously seen Trophimus, an Ephesian, with him in the city, whom they supposed Paul had brought into the temple.) 30 And the whole city got very worked up, and the people ran together, and they took Paul, and pulled him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut. 31 And as they tried to kill him, news came to the commander of the soldiers, that all Jerusalem was rioting. 32 Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them, and when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains, and demanded who he was and what he had done. 34 And some shouted one thing, some another, among the multitude, and when he couldn't know the certainty because of the rioting, he commanded him to be carried into the castle. 35 And when he came on the stairs, so it was that he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the people. 36 For the multitude of the people followed, shouting, "Away with him." 37 And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said to the chief captain, "May I speak to you?" Who said, "Can you speak Greek? 38 Aren't you that Egyptian, who previously started a riot, and led out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?" 39 But Paul said, "I am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no unimportant city, and I ask you please, allow me to speak to the people." 40 And when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying, ___Acts chapter 22 1 "Men, brothers, and fathers, hear my defense that I make now to you." 2 (And when they heard that he spoke to them in Hebrew, they were quieter, and he said,) 3 "I am truly a man who is a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect ways of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as you all are this day. 4 And I persecuted this way, putting to death, and binding, and delivering into prisons both men and women. 5 As also the high priest can testify, and all the estate of the elders, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and went to Damascus, to bring those who were bound there to Jerusalem to be punished. 6 And as I made my journey, and had come near Damascus about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shined around me. 7 And I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? 8 And I answered, Who are you, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you're persecuting. 9 And those who were with me indeed saw the light, and were afraid, but they didn't hear the voice of him that spoke to me. 10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Get up, and go into Damascus, and there you'll be told about all things that are appointed for you to do. 11 And when I couldn't see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand by those who were with me, I came into Damascus. 12 And Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good reputation with all the Jews who lived there, 13 Came to me, and stood, and said to me, Brother Saul, receive your sight. And the same hour I looked up at him. 14 And he said, The God of our fathers has chosen you, that you should know his will, and see that Just One, and should hear the voice of his mouth. 15 For you shall be his witness to all men about what you've seen and heard. 16 And now why do you wait? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. 17 And when I had come again to Jerusalem, while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance, 18 And saw him saying to me, Hurry up, and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they won't receive your testimony concerning me. 19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed on you, 20 And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I was also standing by, and agreeing with his execution, and kept the coats of those who killed him. 21 And he said to me, Depart, for I'll send you far from here to the Gentiles." 22 And they listened to him until he said that, and then lifted up their voices, and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth, for it's not right that he should live." 23 And as they shouted, and threw off their clothes, and threw dust into the air, 24 The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and ordered that he be examined by whipping, so that he would know why they shouted that way against him. 25 And as they tied him with leather straps, Paul said to the centurion that stood by, "Is it lawful for you to whip a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?" 26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, "Be careful what you do, because this man's a Roman." 27 Then the chief captain came and said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman?" He said, "Yes." 28 And the chief captain answered, "With a lot of money I obtained this freedom." And Paul said, "But I was born free." 29 Then immediately those who would have whipped him went away, and the chief captain also was afraid, after he learned that he was a Roman, and because he had tied him up. 30 On the next day, because he wanted to know for sure why he'd been accused by the Jews, he untied him, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them." ___Acts chapter 23 1 And Paul, earnestly looking at the council said, "Men and brothers, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day." 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitened wall, for do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?" 4 And those who stood by said, "Do you revile God's high priest?" 5 Then Paul said, "I didn't know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people." 6 But when Paul perceived that one part was Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he shouted in the council, "Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. Of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being questioned." 7 And when he had said that, an argument arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the multitude was divided, 8 For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees confess that there are. 9 And a big argument arose, and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part got up, and argued, "We find no evil in this man, but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God." 10 And when a great controversy arose, the chief captain, afraid that Paul might have been pulled in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle. 11 And the night following, the Lord stood by him and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul, for as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify at Rome." 12 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13 And more than forty of them had made this conspiracy. 14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, "We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 Now you therefore, with the council, ask the chief captain to bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you would inquire something more perfectly about him, and we, before he ever comes near, are ready to kill him." 16 And when Paul's sister's son heard about their lying in ambush, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul. 17 Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, "Bring this young man to the chief captain, for he has a certain thing to tell him." 18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain and said, "Paul the prisoner called me to him, and asked me to bring this young man to you, who has something to tell you." 19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, "What is it that you have to tell me?" 20 And he said, "The Jews have agreed to desire you to bring Paul down tomorrow into the council, as though they would inquire something about him more perfectly. 21 But don't yield to them, for there are more than forty men of them lying in ambush for him, who have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink until they have killed him, and now they're ready, looking for a promise from you." 22 So the chief captain then let the young man go, and ordered him, "Make sure you don't tell anyone that you've shown me these things." 23 And he called two centurions to himself, saying, "Prepare two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, at the third hour of the night, 24 And provide them animals to set Paul on, and bring him safe to Felix the governor." 25 And he wrote a letter like this: 26 "Claudius Lysias sends greetings to the most excellent governor Felix. 27 This man was taken by the Jews, and would have been killed by them. Then I came with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman. 28 And when I would have known the reason that they accused him, I brought him out into their council, 29 Whom I perceived to be accused of questions regarding their law, but to be accused of nothing worthy of death or of prison. 30 And when I was told how the Jews laid in ambush for the man, I sent immediately to you, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before you what they had against him. Farewell." 31 Then the soldiers, like they'd been commanded, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 On the next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle, 33 Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the letter to the governor, presented Paul also before him. 34 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia, 35 "I will hear you," he said, "when your accusers have also come." And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall. ___Acts chapter 24 1 And after five days, Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul. 2 And when he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, "Seeing that by you we enjoy great quietness, and that you've done very worthy deeds to this nation, 3 We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 Anyway, so I won't be further tedious to you, I ask that you would hear us, in your clemency, a few words. 5 For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of rebellion among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, 6 Who has also profaned the temple, whom we took, and would have judged according to our law. 7 But the chief captain, Lysias, came on us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, 8 Commanding his accusers to come to you, by questioning whom you'll find out all the things about which we accuse him." 9 And the Jews also agreed, saying that these things were so. 10 Then Paul, after the governor had beckoned to him to speak, answered, "Since I know that you've been for many years a judge to this nation, I answer for myself more cheerfully, 11 Because you'll understand, that there are only twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, nor raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city, 13 Nor can they prove the things about which they now accuse me. 14 But this I confess to you, that after the way that they call false religion, that's how I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things that are written in the law and in the prophets, 15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. 16 And in this I exercise myself, to always have a conscience without offence toward God, nor toward men. 17 Now after many years I came to bring offerings to my nation. 18 When certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with rioting. 19 Who ought to have been here before you and object, if they had anything against me. 20 Or else let these same people here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council, 21 Unless it is for this one voice, that I shouted standing among them, Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am questioned by you this day." 22 And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, "When Lysias the chief captain comes down, I will know the maximum about your business." 23 And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come to him. 24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, "Go your way for this time. When I have a convenient time, I'll call for you." 26 He hoped also that money would have been given to him by Paul, so that he would set him free, so he sent for him more often, and talked with him. 27 But after two years Porcius Festus replaced Felix as governor, and Felix, willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound. ___Acts chapter 25 1 Now when Festus had come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. 2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and asked him, 3 And desired favor against him, that he would send orders to bring him to Jerusalem, laying in ambush on the way to kill him. 4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart soon to go there. 5 "Let them therefore," said he, "who among you are able, go down with me and accuse this man, if there is any wickedness in him." 6 And when he had stayed among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought. 7 And when he had come, the Jews who came down from Jerusalem stood around, and made many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they couldn't prove. 8 While he answered for himself, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor yet against Caesar have I offended anything at all." 9 But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be judged before me there about these things?" 10 Then Paul said, "I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you very well know. 11 For if I am an offender, or have committed anything worthy of death, I don't refuse to die, but if there are none of these things about which they accuse me, no man may deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar." 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, "Have you appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you'll go." 13 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus. 14 And after they had been there many days, Festus told Paul's cause to the king, saying, "There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix, 15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him. 16 To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before the accused has the accusers face to face, and has the right to answer for himself concerning the crime he's accused of. 17 Therefore, when they had come here, without any delay, on the next day, I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought out. 18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation of such things as I supposed, 19 But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of someone named Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul said is alive. 20 And because I'm not sure about this kind of question, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and be judged there regarding these matters. 21 But when Paul had appealed to be reserved to the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept until I could send him to Caesar." 22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I'd like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," he said, "you'll hear him." 23 And on the next day, when Agrippa had come, and Bernice, with great fanfare, and had entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and top men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought out. 24 And Festus said, "King Agrippa, and all men present here with us, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. 25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself has appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him. 26 About whom I have no certain thing to write to my lord. So I have brought him before you, and especially before you, O king Agrippa, so that after questioning, I'll have something to write. 27 For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not with him to show the crimes laid against him." ___Acts chapter 26 1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You may speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand, and answered for himself, 2 "I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I'll answer for myself today before you concerning all the things about which I'm accused by the Jews, 3 Especially because I know you to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews, so I ask you to hear me patiently. 4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know, 5 Who knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the strictest sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise God made to our fathers, 7 To which promise our twelve tribes, constantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. 8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God would raise the dead? 9 I truly thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 Which things I also did in Jerusalem, and I sent many of the saints to prison, having received authority from the chief priests. And when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. 11 And I punished them often in every synagogue, and forced them to blaspheme, and being quite insane against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities. 12 And so, as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, 13 At mid-day, O king, I saw on the way, a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who traveled with me. 14 And when we'd all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the sharp points. 15 And I said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom you're persecuting. 16 But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of these things that you've seen, and of the things in which I will appear to you, 17 Giving you deliverance from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they'll receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith that is in me. 19 And so, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 But showed first to those of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works consistent with repentance. 21 For these reasons, the Jews caught me in the temple, and tried to kill me. 22 Having therefore obtained help from God, I continue until this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come, 23 That Christ would suffer, and that he would be the first that would rise from the dead, and would show light to the people, and to the Gentiles." 24 And as he thus spoke for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you're beside yourself, much learning has made you insane." 25 But he said, "I'm not insane, most noble Festus, but I speak the words of truth and soberness. 26 For the king knows about these things, before whom I also speak freely, for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him, for this thing was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe." 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to be a Christian." 29 And Paul said, "I wish to God, that not only you, but also all that hear me today, were not only almost, but completely like I am, except for these shackles." 30 And when he had said that, the king got up, and the governor, and Bernice, and those who sat with them, 31 And when they had gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, "This man has done nothing worthy of death or of bonds." 32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free, if he had not appealed to Caesar." ___Acts chapter 27 1 And when it was determined that we would sail to Italy, Paul and certain other prisoners, were turned over to Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band. 2 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, intending to sail by the coasts of Asia, this Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. 3 And the next day we stopped at Zidon. And Julius treated Paul courteously, and gave him freedom to go to his friends to refresh himself. 4 And when we had launched from there, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. 5 And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. 6 And the centurion found a ship of Alexandria there, sailing to Italy, and he put us in it. 7 And when we had sailed slowly many days, and barely had come opposite Cnidus, the wind not allowing us, we sailed under Crete, opposite Salmone. 8 And hardly passing it, came to a place that is called, "The Fair Havens," near the city of Lasea. 9 Now when much time had been spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul advised them, 10 "Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the cargo and ship, but also of our lives." 11 However the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than the things that were spoken by Paul. 12 And because the haven was not good to winter in, the majority advised to depart from there also, if possibly they could get to Phenice, and spend the winter there, which is a haven of Crete, and lies toward the southwest and northwest. 13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, departing from there, they sailed close by Crete. 14 But not long afterward, a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon, arose against it. 15 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. 16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat, 17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps underneath the ship. And fearing they might fall into the quicksands, took down the sails, and so were driven. 18 And we, being very much tossed by a rough sea, the next day they lightened the ship. 19 And the third day we threw out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. 20 And when neither sun nor stars were visible in many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we would be saved was then taken away. 21 But after long silence Paul stood up among them, and said, "Sirs, you should have listened to me, and not have departed from Crete, and to have had this harm and loss. 22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer, for there'll be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. 23 For the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, stood by me this night, 24 And said, Don't be afraid, Paul, you must be brought before Caesar, and see, God has given you all of those who sail with you. 25 And so, sirs, be of good cheer, for I believe God, that it shall be just like I was told. 26 But we'll be thrown onto a certain island." 27 But when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight, the shipmen figured that they'd come near to some country, 28 And took a depth reading, and found it twenty fathoms, and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. 29 Then fearing that we might fall on rocks, they dropped four anchors out of the rear of the ship, and wished for sunrise. 30 And as the sailors were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under cover as though they would have thrown anchors out of the front of the ship, 31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, "Unless these remain in the ship, you can't be saved." 32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let it fall off. 33 And while the day was coming on, Paul asked them all to eat, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day that you've waited and continued fasting, having taken nothing. 34 And so I ask you to take some food, for this is for your health, for not a hair shall fall from the head of any of you." 35 And when he had said that, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all, and when he had broken it, he began to eat. 36 Then they were all of good cheer, and they also ate. 37 And we were a total of two hundred seventy six souls in the ship. 38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and threw out the wheat into the sea. 39 And when it was day, they didn't know the land, but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into which they were thinking, if possible, to thrust in the ship. 40 And when they had brought up the anchors, they committed themselves to the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoisted the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore. 41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground, and the front stuck tightly and remained unmovable, but the rear of the ship was broken by the violence of the waves. 42 And the soldiers' advice was to kill the prisoners, so that none of them would swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump first into the sea, and get to land, 44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safe to land. ___Acts chapter 28 1 And when they had escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. 2 And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness, for they kindled a fire, and received all of us because of the present rain, and because of the cold. 3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, a snake came out of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice doesn't allow him to live." 5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. 6 But they watched when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly, but after they had watched a long time, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god. 7 In the same quarters were possessions of the main man of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us, and courteously lodged us three days. 8 And the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux, to whom Paul entered in and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him. 9 So when this was done, others also, who had diseases on the island, came, and were healed, 10 Who also honored us with many honors, and when we departed, they supplied us with the things we needed. 11 And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, that had wintered in the island, whose sign was Castor and Pollux. 12 And landing at Syracuse, we stayed there three days. 13 And from there we circled around, and came to Rhegium, and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli, 14 Where we found brothers, and were desired to stay with them seven days, and so we went toward Rome. 15 And from there, when the brothers heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum, and The Three Taverns, whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage. 16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was allowed to live by himself with a soldier that kept him. 17 And after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together, and when they had come together, he said to them, "Men and brothers, though I have committed nothing against the people or customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18 Who, when they had questioned me, would have let me go, because there was no reason to execute me. 19 But when the Jews spoke against it, I felt I should appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything to accuse my nation of. 20 For this reason, therefore, I've called for you, to see you, and to speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I'm bound with this chain." 21 And they said to him, "We neither received letters out of Judea concerning you, nor did any of the brothers that came show or say anything bad about you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what you think, for concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against." 23 And when they had appointed him a day, many came to him into his lodging, to whom he explained and testified about the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning until evening. 24 And some believed the things that were spoken, and some didn't believe. 25 And when they didn't agree among themselves, they departed, after Paul had spoken one word, "The Holy Ghost spoke well by Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, 26 Saying, Go to this people, and say, hearing you'll hear, and not understand, and seeing you'll see, and not perceive, 27 For the heart of this people has grown large, and their ears are dull of hearing, and they've closed their eyes, so they won't see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and have me heal them. 28 Be it known therefore to you, that the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and that they will hear it." 29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. 30 And Paul lived two whole years in his own rented house, and received all that came in to him, 31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things that concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. ___Romans chapter 1 1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God, 2 (That he had promised before by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was made of the descendants of David according to the flesh, 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the rising from the dead, 5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name, 6 Among whom, you are also the called by Jesus Christ, 7 To all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints, grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without stopping, I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10 Making request, if somehow now, after a long time, I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come to you. 11 For I long to see you, so that I can give you some spiritual gift, so that you'll be established, 12 That is, that I'll be comforted together with you by the mutual faith of both you and me. 13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that I often intended to come to you, (but was hindered until now,) so that I would have some fruit among you also, just as among other Gentiles. 14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians, both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation to everyone that believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile. 17 For in it, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." 18 For the anger of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness, 19 Because that which can be known about God is made clear in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 Because, when they knew God, they didn't glorify him as God, nor were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed animals, and creeping things. 24 So God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves, 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to filthy affections, for even their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature, 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust toward each other, men with men doing that which is wrong, and receiving in themselves the repayment for their error that was appropriate. 28 And since they didn't want to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a rejected mind, to do the things that are not convenient, 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, disagreeable, unmerciful, 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that those who commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in those who do them. ___Romans chapter 2 1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are that judges, for when you judge someone else, you condemn yourself, for you who judges, do the same things. 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who commit such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, that judges those who do such things, and who does the same, that you'll escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of his goodness and patience and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But after your hardness and unrepenting heart, store up for yourself anger for the day of anger and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 Who'll repay every man according to his deeds, 7 To those who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life, 8 But to those who are rebellious, and don't obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and anger, 9 Tribulation and pain, on every soul of man that does evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile. 10 But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that does well, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile, 11 For there is no favoritism with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also be destroyed without law, and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law, 13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 14 For when the Gentiles, who don't have the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 Who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also testifying, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing each other,) 16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. 17 See, you are called a Jew, and rest in the law, and make your boast of God, 18 And know his will, and approve the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law, 19 And are confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light of those who are in darkness, 20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babies, who has the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. 21 You therefore who teaches someone else, don't you teach yourself? You that preaches a man shouldn't steal, do you steal? 22 You that says a man shouldn't commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You that hates idols, do you commit idolatry? 23 You that makes your boast of the law, through breaking the law, do you dishonor God? 24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. 25 For circumcision truly profits, if you keep the law, but if you're a breaker of the law, your circumcision is turned into uncircumcision. 26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keeps the righteousness of the law, won't his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 And won't uncircumcision which is natural, if it fulfills the law, judge you, who by the letter and circumcision breaks the law? 28 For he is not a Jew that is one outwardly, nor is that circumcision that is outward in the flesh, 29 But he is a Jew, that is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God. ___Romans chapter 3 1 What advantage then does the Jew have? Or what profit is there of circumcision? 2 Much every way, mainly, because to them were committed the oracles of God. 3 For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God useless? 4 God forbid, yes, let God be true, but every man a liar, as it is written, "So that you'll be justified in your sayings, and will overcome when you are judged." 5 But if our unrighteousness recommends the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who takes vengeance? (I speak as a man.) 6 God forbid, for then how could God judge the world? 7 For if the truth of God is more abundant through my lie for his glory, why then am I also judged as a sinner? 8 And not rather, (as we are slanderously reported about, and as some affirm that we say,) "Let us do evil, so that good will come?" Whose damnation is just. 9 What then? Are we better than they are? No, in no way, for we have before proven both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin, 10 As it is written, "There is none righteous, no, not one. 11 There is no one that understands, there is no one that seeks for God. 12 They've all gone out of the way, they have together become unprofitable, there's none that does good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they've used deceit. The poison of snakes is under their lips, 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood. 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways, 17 And they haven't known the way of peace. 18 There's no fear of God before their eyes." 19 Now we know that whatever things the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so every mouth will be stopped, and all the world will become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh shall be justified in his sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now, the righteousness of God without the law is made clear, being witnessed by the law and the prophets, 22 Even the righteousness of God that is by faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all of those who believe, for there is no difference, 23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redeeming that is in Christ Jesus, 25 Whom God has made to be a ransom through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the forgiving of sins in the past, through the patience of God, 26 To declare, I say, at this time, his righteousness, so he would be just, and the justifier of those who believe in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 29 Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, 30 Seeing it is one God, who'll justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 31 Do we then cancel the law through faith? God forbid, yes, we establish the law. ___Romans chapter 4 1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he has something to glory about, but not before God. 3 For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness." 4 Now to him that works, the reward is not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that doesn't work, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Just as David also describes the blessedness of the man, to whom God assigns righteousness without works, 7 Saying, "Blessed are those whose sins are forgiven and covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not attribute sin." 9 So does this blessedness come on the circumcision only, or on the uncircumcision also? For we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How was it then reckoned? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith that he had while still uncircumcised, so that he'd be the father of all those who believe, though they're not circumcised, so that they would be counted as righteous also, 12 And the father of circumcision to those who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham, that he had while still uncircumcised. 13 For the promise that he'd be the heir of the world was not to Abraham, or to his descendants through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of no effect, 15 Because the law brings anger, for where no law is, there is no violating of the law. 16 Therefore it is of faith, so that it would be by grace, so that the promise would be sure to all the descendants, not to those only who are of the law, but to those also who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, "I've made you a father of many nations,") before him whom he believed, who is God, who makes the dead alive, and calls the things that are not as though they were. 18 Who against hope believed in hope, so that he would become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, "So shall your descendants be." 19 And being not weak in faith, he didn't consider his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, nor yet the deadness of Sara's womb. 20 He didn't stagger at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God. 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was counted as righteousness for him. 23 Now it was not written for his sake only, that it was counted that way for him, 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be counted, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. ___Romans chapter 5 1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also, knowing that tribulation brings patience, 4 And patience, experience, and experience, hope, 5 And hope doesn't make ashamed, because the love of God has been shined into our hearts by the Holy Ghost who has been given to us. 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man would someone die, yet possibly for a good man some might even dare to die. 8 But God commends his love toward us in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from God's anger through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the reconciliation. 12 So, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death came on all men, since all have sinned, 13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not charged against someone when there is no law. 14 But death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned like Adam's sin, who is the likeness of him that was going to come. 15 But not like the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one, many are dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, has become abundant to many. 16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift, for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences to justification. 17 For if by one man's offence, death ruled by one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one, judgment came on all men to condemnation, so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came on all men to justification of life. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one, many shall be made righteous. 20 Also the law entered, so that the offence would become abundant. But where sin was abundant, grace was much more abundant, 21 So that as sin has reigned resulting in death, so grace would reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. ___Romans chapter 6 1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, so that grace will be abundant? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer in it? 3 Don't you know, that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death, so that like Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his rising from the dead, 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, so that the body of sin would be destroyed, so that from now on we wouldn't serve sin. 7 For he that is dead has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we are dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him, 9 Knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, won't die anymore. Death has no more authority over him. 10 For in that he died, he died to sin once, but in that he lives, he lives to God. 11 Likewise, consider yourselves also to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Therefore, don't let sin rule in your mortal body. Don't obey its lusts. 13 And don't yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but yield yourselves to God, like those who are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you're not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then, shall we sin, because we're not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Don't you know, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey, whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that you were the servants of sin, but you've obeyed from the heart the form of doctrine that was delivered to you. 18 Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness. 19 I speak after the manner of men, because of the weakness of your flesh, for as you've yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to sin resulting in sin, even so now yield your members as servants to righteousness resulting in holiness. 20 For when you were the servants of sin, you were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things that you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now, being made free from sin, and having become servants to God, you have your fruit to holiness, with the end of everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. ___Romans chapter 7 1 Don't you know, brothers, (for I speak to those who know the law,) that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? 2 For the woman who has a husband, is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives, but if the husband is dead, she is loosed by the law from her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband is living, she gets married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress, but if her husband is dead, she is free from that law, so that she's not an adulteress, though she's married to another man. 4 So, my brothers, you also have become dead to the law by the body of Christ, so that you'd be married to someone else: to him who has been raised from the dead, so that we would produce fruit for God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, that were by the law, operated in our members to produce fruit that results in death. 6 But now, we are delivered from the law, so that being dead in what had been holding us, we would serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. 7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. No, I would not have known sin, except by the law, for I would not have known lust, unless the law had said, "You shall not covet." 8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, caused in me all kinds of wrong desires. For without the law sin was dead. 9 For I was alive without the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10 And the commandment, that was ordained to life, I found to be to death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. 12 So the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13 So then, was that which is good made death to me? God forbid. But sin, so that it would appear to be sin, working death in me by that which is good, so that sin by the commandment would become very sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I do, I don't want to do, for what I want to do, I don't do, but what I hate is what I do. 16 If then I do what I don't want to do, I consent to the law that it is good. 17 Now then, it is no more I who does it, but sin that lives in me. 18 For I know that no good thing lives in me (that is, in my flesh), for I want to do what's right, but I don't find how to perform what is good. 19 For the good that I want to do, I don't do, but the evil that I don't want to do, I do. 20 Now if I do what I don't want to do, it is no more I who does it, but sin that lives in me. 21 I find then a law, that when I want to do good, evil is present with me. 22 For my inward man delights in the law of God, 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin that's in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind, I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh, the law of sin. ___Romans chapter 8 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law couldn't do, because it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh, 4 So that the righteousness of the law would be fulfilled in us, who don't walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For those who are after the flesh think about the things of the flesh, but those who are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is an enemy of God, for it's not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then those who in the flesh can't please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. Now if any man doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, he is not one of his. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead lives in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also make your mortal bodies alive by his Spirit that lives in you. 12 Therefore brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if you live after the flesh, you'll die, but if, through the Spirit, you kill the deeds of the body, you'll live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For you haven't received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you've received the Spirit of adoption, by which we cry, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit itself testifies with our spirit, that we are the children of God, 17 And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, if we suffer with him, we'll also be glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time aren't worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who has subjected us in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, that is, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope, for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for what we don't see, then we wait for it with patience. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don't know what we should pray for as we ought to, but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings that can't be uttered in articulate speech. 27 And he that searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he foreknew, he also predestinated to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 Also, whom he predestinated, those he also called, and whom he called, those he also justified, and whom he justified, those he also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He that didn't spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall accuse God's elect of anything? It is God that justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yes rather, that has risen again, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, "For your sake we are killed all day long, we are viewed as sheep for butchering." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor princedoms, nor powers, nor things present, nor things in the future, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ___Romans chapter 9 1 I say the truth in Christ, I'm not lying, my conscience also testifying about me in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I were accursed from Christ for my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh, 4 Who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises, 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, blessed by God forever. Amen. 6 Not as though the word of God has been unproductive. For they are not all Israel, who are of Israel, 7 Nor, because they are the descendants of Abraham, are they all children, but, "In Isaac shall your seed be called." 8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as the descendants. 9 For this is the word of promise, "At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son." 10 And not only this, but when Rebecca had also conceived by one, by our father Isaac, 11 (For the children being not yet born, nor having done any good or evil, so that the purpose of God according to election would stand, not of works, but of him that does the calling,) 12 It was said to her, "The elder shall serve the younger." 13 As it is written, "Jacob I've loved, but Esau I've hated." 14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." 16 So then it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that shows mercy. 17 For the scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this same purpose I've raised you up, so that I could show my power in you, and so that my name would be declared throughout all the earth." 18 Therefore he has mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardens. 19 You will then say to me, "Why does he yet find fault? For who has resisted his will?" 20 No but, O man, who are you that replies against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, "Why have you made me this way?" 21 Doesn't the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one pot to honor, and another to dishonor? 22 What if God, willing to show his anger, and to make his power known, endured with much patience the containers of anger intended for destruction, 23 And that he would make known the riches of his glory on the containers of mercy, which he had before prepared for glory, 24 Even us, whom he has called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 25 As he says also in Hosea, "I will call them my people who were not my people, and her beloved that was not beloved. 26 And it shall be, that in the place where it was said to them, You are not my people, they shall there be called the children of the living God." 27 Isaiah also shouts concerning Israel, "Though the number of the children of Israel is as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved, 28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness, because the Lord will make a short work on the earth." 29 And as Isaiah said before, "Unless the Lord of Sabbath had left us a seed, we would have been like Sodom, and have been made like Gomorrah." 30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who didn't follow after righteousness, have attained righteousness, the righteousness which is of faith. 31 But Israel, that followed after the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they didn't seek it by faith, but by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone, 33 As it is written, "See, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offence, and whoever believes on him won't be ashamed." ___Romans chapter 10 1 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is for them to be saved. 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going around trying to establish their own righteousness, haven't submitted themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes. 5 For Moses describes the righteousness that's of the law, that the man that does those things shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness that is of faith talks like this, "Don't say in your heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above,) 7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)" 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, even in your mouth, and in your heart, that is, the word of faith, that we preach, 9 That if you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth, and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you're saved. 10 For with the heart man believes for righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made for salvation." 11 For the scripture says, "Whoever believes on him shall not be ashamed." 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call on him. 13 For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they haven't believed? And how shall they believe in him about whom they haven't heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, unless they're sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad news of good things!" 16 But they haven't all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I say, haven't they heard? Yes truly, their sound went into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world. 19 But I say, didn't Israel know? First Moses says, "I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you." 20 But Isaiah is very bold and says, "I was found by those who didn't seek me. I was revealed to those who didn't ask about me." 21 But to Israel he says, "All day long I have stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contradicting people." ___Romans chapter 11 1 I say then, has God thrown away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the descendants of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not thrown away his people that he foreknew. Don't you know what the scripture says about Elijah, how he prays to God against Israel, saying, 3 "Lord, they've killed your prophets, and torn down your altars, and I'm left alone, and they're trying to kill me." 4 But what does God answer him? "I've reserved to myself seven thousand men who haven't bowed the knee to the image of Baal." 5 Even so then, at this present time also, there is a remainder of them according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works, otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it is of works, then is it no more grace, otherwise work is no more work. 7 What then? Israel hasn't obtained what he's looking for, but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded, 8 (As it is written, "God has given them the spirit of sleep, eyes that won't see, and ears that won't hear,") until this day. 9 And David says, "Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a repayment to them. 10 Let their eyes be darkened so they won't see, and bow down their backs always." 11 I say then, have they stumbled so that they'd fall? God forbid, but rather through their fall, salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy. 12 Now if the fall of them is the riches of the world, and their being made smaller is the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fullness? 13 For I speak to you Gentiles, since I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify my office, 14 If by any means I can provoke those who are my flesh to be like me, and might save some of them. 15 For if the throwing away of them is the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? 16 For if the first fruit is holy, the lump is also holy, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches are broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 18 Don't boast against the branches. But if you boast, you don't carry the root, but the root carries you. 19 You will say then, "The branches were broken off, so that I would be grafted in." 20 Well, because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Don't be high minded, but fear, 21 For if God didn't spare the natural branches, be careful so that he doesn't break you off. 22 Therefore observe the goodness and severity of God, on those who fell, severity, but toward you goodness, if you continue in his goodness, otherwise you also shall be cut off. 23 And they also, if they don't remain in unbelief, shall be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree that is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more shall these, who are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? 25 For I don't want you, brothers, to be ignorant of this mystery, so that you're not wise in your own conceit, that partial blindness has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so, all Israel shall be saved, as it is written, "The Deliverer shall come out of Zion, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob, 27 For this is my covenant with them, when I shall take away their sins." 28 Concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. 29 For God doesn't change his mind about his gifts and callings. 30 For as you, in times past, have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief, 31 Even so, these have also now not believed, so that through your mercy they also can obtain mercy. 32 For God has concluded them all in unbelief, so that he could have mercy on all. 33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? 35 Or who has first given to Him, and it shall be repaid back to him? 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. ___Romans chapter 12 1 Therefore, I ask you please, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you'll prove what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members don't have the same office, 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and everyone members of each other. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that has been given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith, 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering, or he that teaches, on teaching, 8 Or he that exhorts, on exhortation, he that gives, let him do it with simplicity, he that rules, with diligence, he that shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be unpretended. Hate that which is evil. Stick to that which is good. 10 Have kind affection toward each other with brotherly love, in honor preferring each other, 11 Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, 12 Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer, 13 Distributing to the needs of saints, given to hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you, bless, and don't curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and cry with those who cry. 16 Be of the same mind toward each other. Don't mind high things, but spend some time with common people. Don't be wise in your own conceit. 17 Don't repay evil for evil to anyone. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, don't avenge yourselves, but rather give place to anger, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." 20 Therefore if your enemy is hungry, feed him, if he's thirsty, give him drink, for in so doing you'll heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Don't be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. ___Romans chapter 13 1 Let every soul be subject to the higher powers. For there is no power but of God, the powers that exist are ordained by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the power, resists the ordinances of God, and those who resist shall receive damnation for themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Do you want to be free from fearing the government? Do that which is good, and you'll have praise from them, 4 For he is the minister of God to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid, for he doesn't carry the sword for nothing, for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute anger on those who do evil. 5 So you must be subject, not only for anger, but also for conscience sake. 6 So, for this reason pay taxes also, for they are God's ministers, always at work on this very thing. 7 Therefore give to everyone what is due, taxes to whom taxes are due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. 8 Don't owe anyone anything except to love each other, for he that loves someone else has fulfilled the law. 9 For this, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not tell lies, You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, it is briefly included in this saying, specifically, "You shall love you neighbor like yourself." 10 Love does no harm to its neighbor, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we became believers. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand, let us therefore throw off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness, not in sex sins and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and don't make provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. ___Romans chapter 14 1 Receive him that is weak in the faith, but not for doubtful arguments. 2 For one person believes he can eat all things, another, who is weak, eats vegetables. 3 Let him that eats, not despise him that doesn't eat, and let him who doesn't eat, not judge him that eats, for God has received him. 4 Who are you that judges another man's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Yes, he shall be held upright, for God is able to make him stand. 5 One man esteems one day above another, another esteems every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 6 He that regards the day, regards it to the Lord, and he that doesn't regard the day, to the Lord he doesn't regard it. He that eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks, and he that doesn't eat, to the Lord he doesn't eat, and gives God thanks. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no man dies to himself. 8 For whether we live, we live to the Lord, and whether we die, we die to the Lord, whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. 9 For this purpose Christ died, and rose, and revived, so that he would be Lord both of the dead and living. 10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you speak ill of your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." 12 So then everyone of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore, let us not judge each other anymore, but judge this rather, that no man puts a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. 14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself, but to him that thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 But if your brother is grieved with your food, you're not walking in love. Don't destroy him with your food, for whom Christ died. 16 So, don't let your good be spoken evil about, 17 For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18 For he that in these things serves Christ is acceptable to God, and approved by men. 19 Let us therefore pursue the things that make for peace, and things with which we edify each other. 20 Don't destroy the work of God for food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for that man who eats with offence. 21 It is good to neither eat flesh, nor drink wine, nor anything by which your brother stumbles, or is offended, or is made weak. 22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he that doesn't condemn himself in the thing that he allows. 23 And he that doubts is damned if he eats, because he doesn't eat in faith, for whatever is not of faith is sin. ___Romans chapter 15 1 We then that are strong, ought to carry the weaknesses of those who are weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each one of us please his neighbor for his good for building up. 3 For even Christ didn't please himself, but, as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me." 4 For whatever things were written before, were written for our learning, so that through patience and comfort of the scriptures we would have hope. 5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded toward each other according to Christ Jesus, 6 So that with one mind and one mouth you'll glorify God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 So, receive each other, like Christ also received us to the glory of God. 8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, 9 And so that the Gentiles would glorify God for his mercy, as it is written, "For this reason I will confess to you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name." 10 And again he says, "Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people." 11 And again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and applaud him, all you people." 12 And again, Isaiah says, "There shall be a descendant of Jesse, and he that shall rise to rule over the Gentiles, the Gentiles will trust in him." 13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you'll have abundance of hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. 14 And I myself am also persuaded about you, my brothers, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to correct each other. 15 However brothers, I have written the more boldly to you in a way, as reminding you, because of the grace that is given to me by God, 16 So that I would be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, so that the offering up of the Gentiles would be acceptable, being made holy by the Holy Ghost. 17 Therefore, I have something about which I can glory through Jesus Christ in the things that pertain to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of any of the things that Christ has not done by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, 19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem, and around to Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 Yes, I have strived to preach the gospel, where Christ wasn't named, so that I wouldn't build on another man's foundation, 21 But as it is written, "To whom he was not spoken about, they shall see, and those who haven't heard shall understand." 22 For which reason also I've been much hindered from coming to you. 23 But now, having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, 24 Whenever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you, for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way there by you, if first I'm somewhat filled by your company. 25 But now, I go to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 26 For it has pleased those of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints who are at Jerusalem. 27 It has pleased them truly, and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in natural things. 28 Therefore when I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain. 29 And I am sure that when I come to you, I'll come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. 30 Now I ask you please, brothers, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, 31 So that I'll have deliverance from those who don't believe in Judea, and so my service that I have for Jerusalem will be accepted by the saints, 32 So that I'll come to you with joy by the will of God, and will be refreshed with you. 33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. ___Romans chapter 16 1 I recommend to you Phebe, our sister, who is a servant of the church that is at Cenchrea, 2 So, receive her in the Lord, as saints should do, and assist her in whatever business she needs from you, for she has strengthened many, including me. 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus, 4 Who have laid down their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Also, greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the first fruits of Achaia to Christ. 6 Greet Mary, who did a lot of work for us. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who were also in Christ before me. 8 Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. 10 Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of Aristobulus' household. 11 Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. 12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored a lot in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brothers who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Greet each other with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you. 17 Now I ask you please, brothers, identify those who cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine that you've learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such don't serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own bellies, and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience has come before all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf, but I want you to be wise about that which is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. 21 Timothy my fellow worker, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, greet you. 22 I, Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord. 23 Gaius, my host, and of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, an officer of the city greets you, and Quartus, a brother. 24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. 25 Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is revealed, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith, 27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen. ___1 Corinthians chapter 1 1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 To the church of God that is at Corinth, to those who are made holy in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours, 3 Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God that is given to you by Jesus Christ, 5 So that in everything you are enriched by him, in all speaking, and in all knowledge, 6 Just as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 So that you come behind in no gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 Who'll also confirm you to the end, so that you'll be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called to the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 10 Now I ask you please, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For I've been told about you, my brothers, by those who are of the house of Chloe, that there are arguments among you. 12 Now this I say that each of you says, "I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ." 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, except Crispus and Gaius, 15 So no one would say I had baptized in my own name. 16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas, besides, I don't know whether I baptized anyone else. 17 For Christ didn't send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, so that the cross of Christ wouldn't made of no effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who'll be destroyed, but to us who are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." 20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hasn't God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom didn't know God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Gentiles seek for wisdom, 23 But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Gentiles foolishness, 24 But to those who are called, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For you see your calling, brothers, how that not many wise men according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called, 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confuse the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confuse the things that are mighty, 28 And inferior things of the world, and things that are despised, has God chosen, yes, and things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 So that no flesh would glory in his presence. 30 But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who by God is made to us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption, 31 So that, as it is written, "He that boasts, let him boast in the Lord." ___1 Corinthians chapter 2 1 And I, brothers, when I came to you, didn't come with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined that I wouldn't know anything among you, except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and with a lot of trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 So that your faith wouldn't stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 6 But we speak wisdom among those who are perfect, yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, who come to nothing, 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, that God ordained before the world to our glory, 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew, for had they known it, they wouldn't have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, "Eye hasn't seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things that God has prepared for those who love him." 10 But God has revealed them to us by his Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man, except the spirit of man that is in him? Even so, no man knows the things of God, except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit that is of God, so that we'd know the things that are freely given to us by God. 13 Which things we also speak, not in the words that man's wisdom teaches, but that the Holy Ghost teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man doesn't receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, nor can he know them, because they are spiritually understood. 15 But he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged by no man. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, so that he can teach him? But we have the mind of Christ. ___1 Corinthians chapter 3 1 And I, brothers, couldn't speak to you as to the spiritual, but as to the carnal, like Christian babies. 2 I have fed you with milk, not with meat, for until now you weren't able to cope with it, and you're still not able. 3 For you're still carnal, for while there is envying among you, and strife, and divisions, aren't you carnal, and walk like men? 4 For while someone says, "I am of Paul, and another, I am of Apollos," aren't you carnal? 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom you believed, as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that plants anything, nor he that waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he that plants and he that waters are one, and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are laborers together with God, you are God's product, you are what God has built. 10 According to the grace of God that's been given to me, as a wise master builder, I've laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let every man be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no man can lay any other foundation than what has been laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man builds on this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, 13 Every man's work shall be revealed, for the day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test every man's work to see what kind it is. 14 If any man's work remains that he has built on it, he'll receive a reward. 15 If any man's work is burned up, he'll suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, if he passes the fire test. 16 Don't you know that you're the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 17 If any man defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. 18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, so that he'll be wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He takes the wise in their own craftiness." 20 And again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain." 21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours, 22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things in the future, all are yours, 23 And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's. ___1 Corinthians chapter 4 1 People should view us as ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Also, it is required in stewards, that a man be found to be honest. 3 But with me it is a very small thing for me to be judged by you, or of man's judgment, yes, I don't judge my own self. 4 For I know nothing by myself, yet I'm not justified by this, but he that judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will reveal the thoughts of the hearts, and then every man will have praise from God. 6 And these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes, so you'd learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, so that none of you would be puffed up for one, against another. 7 For who makes you to differ from someone else? And what do you have that wasn't given to you? Now if it was given to you, why do you boast, as if you hadn't received it? 8 Now you are full, now you are rich, you have ruled like kings without us, and I do want God to make you rule, so that we can also rule with you. 9 For I think that God has set us the apostles last, as if appointed for death, for we are made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ, we are weak, but you are strong, you are honorable, but we are despised. 11 Even until this present hour we hunger, and are thirsty, and are naked, and get punched, and have no certain place to live, 12 And labor, working with our own hands, being made fun of, we bless, being persecuted, we endure it, 13 Being defamed, we present our case, we are made like the filth of the world, and are the off-scouring of all things until this day. 14 I don't write these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 15 For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you don't have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I have fathered you through the gospel. 16 So I ask you please, be followers of me. 17 For this reason I've sent you Timothy, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who'll remind you of my ways that are in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. 18 Now some are puffed up, as though I won't come to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, Lord willing, and will know, not the speech of those who are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 21 Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness? ___1 Corinthians chapter 5 1 It is reported commonly that there is sexual sin among you, and such sexual sin as is not even talked about among the Gentiles, that someone would have his father's wife. 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, so that he that has done this deed would be taken away from among you. 3 For I truly, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that has done this, 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver that person to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that the spirit will be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, so that you'll be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For Christ our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed for us, 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of hatred and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 9 I wrote to you in a letter not to keep company with people who commit sexual sins, 10 Yet not entirely with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortionists, or with idolaters, for then you'd have to go out of the world. 11 But now I've written to you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother is a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortionist, with him don't eat. 12 For what business do I have to judge those who are outside? Don't you judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. ___1 Corinthians chapter 6 1 Does any of you dare, having a matter against someone else, to go to law before the unjust, and not before the Christians? 2 Don't you know that the Christians shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Don't you know that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life? 4 So if you have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set those to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 5 I speak to your shame. Is it so that there is not a wise man among you? No, not one who's able to judge between his brothers? 6 But brother goes to court with brother, and before the unbelievers. 7 Now therefore there is totally a fault among you, because you go to court with each other. Why don't you rather take wrong? Why don't you rather allow yourselves to be cheated? 8 No, you do wrong, and cheat your brothers. 9 Don't you know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Don't be deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortionists, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you, but you are washed, but you are made holy, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 12 All things are lawful to me, but not all things are helpful, all things are lawful for me, but I won't be brought under the power of any. 13 Foods for the belly, and the belly for foods, but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual sin, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God has raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. 15 Don't you know that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of a prostitute? God forbid. 16 What? Don't you know that he that is joined to a prostitute is one body? For he says, "Two shall be one flesh." 17 But he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit. 18 Run away from sexual sins. Every other sin that a man does is outside the body, but he that commits fornication sins against his own body. 19 What? Don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost that is in you, that you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you've been bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. ___1 Corinthians chapter 7 1 Now concerning the things that you wrote me about, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 However, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband show the wife due kindness, and likewise also the wife to the husband. 4 The wife doesn't have power of her own body, but the husband, and likewise the husband doesn't have power of his own body, but the wife. 5 Don't deprive each other unless it's with consent for a time, so you can give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and come together again, so that Satan doesn't tempt you because of your not having normal sexual relations. 6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment. 7 For I'd prefer that all men were like me. But every man has his proper gift from God, one of this kind, and another of that kind. 8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they live like I do. 9 But if they can't contain, let them marry, for it's better to marry than to burn. 10 And to the married, I command, yet not I, but the Lord, let the wife not depart from her husband, 11 But if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or be reunited with her husband, and let the husband not divorce his wife. 12 But to the rest I speak, not the Lord, if any brother has a wife that doesn't believe, and she is pleased to live with him, let him not divorce her. 13 And the woman who has a husband that doesn't believe, and if he's pleased to live with her, let her not leave him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband, otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they're holy. 15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace. 16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you'll get your husband saved? Or how do you know, O man, whether you'll get your wife saved? 17 But as God has distributed to every man, as the Lord has called everyone, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all churches. 18 Is any man called being circumcised? Let him not desire to be uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? Let him not become circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. 20 Let every man remain in the same calling in which he was called. 21 Have you been called being a servant? Don't worry about it, but if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman, likewise also he that is called being free, is Christ's servant. 23 You are bought with a price, don't be the servants of men. 24 Brothers, let every man live with God in the calling that God has called him to. 25 Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, yet I give my judgment, as someone that has obtained mercy from the Lord, to be faithful. 26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say that it's good for a man to be like he is. 27 Are you married to a wife? Don't seek to be unmarried. Are you unmarried? Don't seek a wife. 28 But if you marry, you haven't sinned, and if a virgin marries, she hasn't sinned. But such shall have trouble in the flesh, but I spare you. 29 But this I say brothers, the time is short, it remains that those who have wives are as though they didn't, 30 And those who that cry, as though they didn't, and those who rejoice, as though they didn't rejoice, and those who buy, as though they didn't possess, 31 And those who use this world, as not abusing it, for the fashion of this world passes away. 32 But I'd like you to be without carefulness. He that is unmarried cares for the things that belong to the Lord, how he can please the Lord, 33 But he that is married cares for the things that are of the world, how he can please his wife. 34 There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, so she will be holy both in body and in spirit, but she that is married cares for the things of the world, how she can please her husband. 35 And this I speak for your own profit, not to throw a snare on you, but for that which is proper, and so that you'll serve the Lord without distraction. 36 But if any man thinks that he's behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she's passing the flower of her age, and there's a need, let him do what he wants to and marry her, it's not sin. 37 But he that stands steady in his heart, having no need, but has power over his own will, and has so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well. 38 So then he that gives her in marriage does well, but he that doesn't give her in marriage does better. 39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband lives, but if her husband is dead, she is at liberty to be married to the man of her choice, if he's a Christian. 40 But she is happier if she stays single, after my judgment, and I think also that I have the Spirit of God. ___1 Corinthians chapter 8 1 Now concerning things offered to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 And if any man thinks he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if any man loves God, he is known by Him. 4 Therefore, concerning the eating of the things that are offered in sacrifice to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 5 For though there are what are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there are many gods, and many lords,) 6 But to us there is only one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we in him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 7 But not every man knows that, for some with conscience of the idol until this hour eat it as a thing offered to an idol, and their conscience being weak is dirtied. 8 But food doesn't recommend us to God, for neither if we eat are we better, nor if we don't eat, are we worse. 9 But be careful so that this liberty of yours doesn't somehow become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if any man sees you, who has knowledge, sit to eat in the idol's temple, won't the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat the things that are offered to idols, 11 And through your knowledge shall the weak brother be destroyed, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you sin so against the brothers, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 So, if meat causes my brother to be offended, I won't eat flesh while the world stands, so that I don't cause my brother to be offended. ___1 Corinthians chapter 9 1 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Haven't I seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Aren't you my work in the Lord? 2 If I'm not an apostle to others, yet surely I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3 My answer to those who question me is this, 4 Don't we have the right to eat and to drink? 5 Don't we have the right to be accompanied by a sister, a wife, like other apostles, and like the brothers of the Lord, and Peter? 6 Or I only and Barnabas, don't we have the right not to perform manual labor? 7 Who fights a battle any time at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and doesn't eat of its fruit? Or who feeds a flock, and doesn't drink of the milk of the flock? 8 Do I say these things as a man? Or doesn't the law say the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treads out the corn." Is God taking care of oxen? 10 Or does he say it entirely for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this was written, so that he that plows would plow in hope, and so he that threshes in hope would be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have planted spiritual things with you, is it such a big deal if we reap your carnal things? 12 If others are partakers of this power over you, shouldn't we be rather? But we have not used this power, but endure all things, so we won't hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Don't you know that those who minister with holy things live of the things of the temple? And that those who wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14 Even so, the Lord has ordained that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. 15 But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things, that it should be so done to me, for it would be better for me to die, than that any man should cause my glorying to count for nothing. 16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of, for necessity is laid on me, yes, woe to me if I don't preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward, but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed to me. 18 What is my reward then? Truly, that when I preach the gospel, I can make the gospel of Christ without expense, so that I don't abuse my power in the gospel. 19 For though I am free from all men, yet I've made myself servant to all, so that I'll win more of them. 20 And to the Jews I became like a Jew, so that I would gain the Jews, to those who are under the law, as under the law, so that I would gain those who are under the law, 21 To those who are without law, as without law, (not being without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) so that I would gain those who are without law. 22 To the weak I became as weak, so that I would gain the weak. I am made all things to all men, so that I would by all means save some. 23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, so that I will be partaker of it with you. 24 Don't you know that those who run in a race, they all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you'll obtain. 25 And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore run in such a way, not uncertainly, I don't fight like someone beating the air, 27 But I keep my body under, and bring it into subjection, so that after I've preached to others I won't somehow be a throw away. ___1 Corinthians chapter 10 1 Also brothers, I don't want you to be ignorant, that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 And were all baptized to Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 And all ate the same spiritual food, 4 And all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with many of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things were our examples, so that we wouldn't lust for evil things like they also lusted. 7 And don't be idolaters, as were some of them, as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." 8 And let us not commit fornication, as some of them committed, and died in one day, twenty three thousand of them. 9 Nor let us tempt Christ, like some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents. 10 And don't murmur, like some of them also murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them for examples, and they've been written for our instruction, on whom the end of the world has come. 12 So let him that thinks he stands be careful that he doesn't fall. 13 No temptation has come to you, but such as is normal with mankind, but God is faithful, who won't allow you to be tempted beyond your ability, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, so you'll be able to cope with it. 14 So, my dearly beloved, run away from idolatry. 15 I speak like to wise men, you judge what I say. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we, being many, are one bread and one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread. 18 Look at Israel after the flesh, aren't those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 19 What do I say then? That the idol is anything, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything? 20 But I say that the things that the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God, and I don't want you to have fellowship with demons. 21 You can't drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons, you can't be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of demons. 22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he is? 23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful, all things are lawful for me, but not all things build up. 24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth. 25 Whatever is sold in the marketplace eat, asking no question for conscience sake, 26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness of it. 27 If any of those who don't believe invite you to a dinner, and you decide to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience sake. 28 But if any man says to you, "This is offered in sacrifice to idols," don't eat for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake, for the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness of it. 29 Conscience, I say, not your own, but the other person's conscience, for why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience? 30 For if by grace I'm a partaker, why am I evil spoken about for that for which I give thanks? 31 Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Offend no one, neither the Jews, nor the Gentiles, nor the church of God, 33 Just as I please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, so they'll be saved. ___1 Corinthians chapter 11 1 Be followers of me, just as I also am of Christ. 2 Now I praise you, brothers, that you remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. 5 But every woman that prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is the same as if her head were shaved. 6 For if the woman is not covered, let her also be shaved, but if it is a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. 7 For a man indeed ought not cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of the man. 8 For the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man. 9 Nor was the man created for the woman, but the woman for the man. 10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. 11 But neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman, but all things are of God. 13 Judge in yourselves, does it look right for a woman pray to God uncovered? 14 Doesn't even nature itself teach you that, if a man has long hair, it is a shame to him? 15 But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her, for her hair has been given to her for a covering. 16 But if any man seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor the churches of God. 17 Now in this that I declare to you, I don't praise you, that you come together not for the better, but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when you come together in the church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and I partly believe it. 19 For there must also be false teachings among you, so that those who are approved will be revealed among you. 20 When you come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. 21 For in eating, everyone takes in front of someone else his own supper, and someone is hungry, and another is drunk. 22 What? Don't you have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God, and shame those who are poor? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I don't praise you. 23 For I have received from the Lord that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread, 24 And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "Take, eat, this is my body, that is broken for you, this do in remembrance of me." 25 Similarly also he took the cup, when he had eaten, saying, "This cup is the new testament in my blood, do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you show the Lord's death until he comes. 27 So whoever eats this bread, and drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many have died. 31 For if we judge ourselves, we won't be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are spanked by the Lord, so that we won't be condemned with the world. 33 So my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. 34 And if any man is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you don't come together to condemnation. And I will set the rest in order when I come. ___1 Corinthians chapter 12 1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I don't want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these idols that can't speak, like you were taught. 3 So I explain to you that no man speaking by the Spirit of God is calling Jesus accursed, and no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, except by the Holy Ghost. 4 Now there are differences of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are differences of operations, but it is the same God that works all in all. 7 But the operation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit with it. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit, 9 To another faith by the same Spirit, to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit, 10 To another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another perceiving of spirits, to another various kinds of languages, to another the interpretation of languages, 11 But all of these work the one and the same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he chooses. 12 For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we are Jews or Gentiles, whether we are bondmen or free, and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, "Because I'm not the hand, I'm not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, "Because I'm not the eye, I'm not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set each one of the members in the body, as it has pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now they are many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye can't say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 No, much more, those members of the body that seem to be more feeble, are necessary, 23 And those members of the body that we think to be less honorable, to these we give more abundant honor, and our unattractive parts have more abundant attractiveness. 24 For our attractive parts have no need, but God has tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to the part that lacked, 25 So that there would be no division in the body, but so that the members would have the same care for each other. 26 And whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it, or one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that doers of miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, various different languages. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But desire earnestly the best gifts, and yet I show you a more excellent way. ___1 Corinthians chapter 13 1 Though I speak with the languages of men and of angels, and don't have love, I've become like sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge, and though I have all faith so that I can remove mountains, and don't have love, I am nothing. 3 And though I give all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and don't have love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love endures long, and is kind, love doesn't envy, love doesn't boast, is not puffed up, 5 Doesn't behave the wrong way, isn't selfish, isn't easily provoked, thinks no evil, 6 Doesn't rejoice in sin, but rejoices in the truth, 7 Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails, but whether there are prophecies, they'll fail, whether there are tongues, they'll stop, whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part shall be done away with. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I understood like a child, I thought like a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a dark window, but then face to face, now I know in part, but then I'll know just like I'm also known. 13 And now live faith, hope, and love, these three, but the greatest of these is love. ___1 Corinthians chapter 14 1 Follow after love, and desire spiritual gifts, but prefer to prophesy. 2 For he that speaks in an unknown language doesn't speak to men, but to God, for no man understands him, but in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he that prophesies speaks to men for building up, and exhortation, and comfort. 4 He that speaks in an unknown tongue builds up himself, but he that prophesies builds up the church. 5 I want you all to speak with unknown tongues, but prefer that you prophesy, for greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so the church will be built up. 6 Now brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? 7 And even objects without life that make sounds, whether pipe or harp, unless they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? 8 For if the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle? 9 So likewise you, unless you speak by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? For you'll speak into the air. 10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without meaning. 11 Therefore if I don't know the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaks a barbarian, and he that speaks shall be a barbarian to me. 12 Even so you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church. 13 So let him that speaks in an unknown tongue pray that he'll interpret. 14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also, I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 16 Otherwise, when you bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupies the room of the unlearned say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he doesn't understand what you're saying? 17 For you truly give thanks well, but the other is not built up. 18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all, 19 Yet in the church I'd rather speak five words with my understanding, so that by my voice I can teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. 20 Brothers, don't be children in understanding, but in hatred be children, but in understanding be men. 21 In the law it is written, "With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to these people, and yet for all that they won't hear me," says the Lord. 22 So tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to those who don't believe, but prophesying doesn't serve the unbelievers, but those who believe. 23 If therefore the whole church has come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and those who are unlearned come in, or unbelievers, won't they say that you're crazy? 24 But if all prophesy, and someone comes in who doesn't believe, or someone unlearned, he is convinced by all, he is judged by all. 25 And thus, the secrets of his heart are revealed, and so, falling down on his face he'll worship God, and report that God is truly in you. 26 How is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a doctrine, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let everything be done for building up. 27 If any man speaks in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that in due course, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church, and let him speak to himself, and to God. 29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the others judge. 30 If anything is revealed to someone else sitting near, let the first be quiet. 31 For all of you may prophesy one by one, so that all will learn, and all will be comforted. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 34 Let your women keep silence in the churches, for it is not permitted to them to speak, but they are commanded to be under obedience, as the law also says. 35 And if they want to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home, for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 36 What? Did the word of God originate with you? Or were you the only ones to receive it? 37 If any man thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant. 39 So brothers, desire to prophesy, and don't forbid to speak with tongues. 40 Let everything be done decently and in order. ___1 Corinthians chapter 15 1 Also brothers, I declare to you the gospel that I preached to you, that you've also received, and in which you stand, 2 By which also you're saved, if you keep in mind what I preached to you, unless you've believed for nothing. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures, 5 And that he was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve, 6 After that, he was seen by more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have died. 7 After that, he was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen by me also, as if by someone born at the wrong time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, and don't deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and his grace that was bestowed on me was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11 Therefore whether it was I or them, so we preach, and so you believed. 12 Now if Christ is preached that he rose from the dead, why are some among you saying that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there's no resurrection of the dead, then Christ hasn't risen, 14 And if Christ hasn't risen, then our preaching is for nothing, and your faith is also for nothing. 15 Yes, and we are found to be lying about God, because we've testified that God raised up Christ, whom he didn't raise, if the dead don't rise. 16 For if the dead don't rise, then Christ hasn't been raised. 17 And if Christ hasn't been raised, your faith is for nothing, you're still in your sins. 18 Then those also who've died in Christ have been destroyed. 19 If we have hope in Christ only in this life, then we are the most miserable of all men. 20 But now Christ has risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who've died. 21 For since death came by man, by man also came the raising of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ, all shall be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order, Christ the first fruits, afterward those who are Christ's when he comes. 24 Then comes the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God the Father, when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must rule, until he has put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he has put all things under his feet. But when he says all things are put under him, it is clear that He’s an exception who is putting all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued to him, then the Son himself shall also be subject to Him that put all things under him, so that God will be all in all. 29 Otherwise what shall they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead don't rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead? 30 And why do we stand in danger every hour? 31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If after the manner of men I've fought with animals at Ephesus, what good is it for me, if the dead don't rise? Let us eat and drink, since we'll die tomorrow. 33 Don't be deceived, evil communications corrupt good manners. 34 Awake to righteousness, and don't sin, for some don't have the knowledge of God, I say this to your shame. 35 But someone will say, "How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?" 36 You fool, that which you plant doesn't come alive, unless it dies. 37 And that which you plant, you don't plant the body that shall be, but carry grain, it might be of wheat, or of some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as it has pleased him, and to every seed its own body. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there's one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. 40 There are also heavenly bodies, and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars, for one star is different from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is planted in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is planted in dishonor, it is raised in glory, it is planted in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is planted a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, "The first man, Adam, was made a living soul," the last Adam was made a living spirit. 46 But what is spiritual was not first, but what is natural, and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy. The second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are those also that are earthy, and as is the heavenly, such are those also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have carried the image of the earthy, we shall also carry the image of the heavenly. 50 Now this I say brothers, that flesh and blood can't inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 See, I show you a mystery. We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet, for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, the saying that is written shall happen, "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory? 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steady, be unmovable, always doing well in the work of the Lord, since you know that your labor is not for nothing in the Lord. ___1 Corinthians chapter 16 1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I’ve told the churches of Galatia, you do the same. 2 On the first day of the week let everyone set aside, as God has prospered him, so there are no gatherings when I come. 3 And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters, I will send those to bring your liberality to Jerusalem. 4 And if it's appropriate that I go also, they'll go with me. 5 Now I will come to you, when I go through Macedonia, for I'm going through Macedonia. 6 And maybe I'll stay and spend the winter with you, so you'll bring me on my journey wherever I go. 7 For I won't see you now on the way, but I trust to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits. 8 But I'll wait at Ephesus until Pentecost. 9 For a large and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. 10 Now if Timothy comes, make sure he's with you without fear, for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do. 11 Therefore, let no man despise him, but conduct him out in peace, so that he'll come to me, for I look for him with the brothers. 12 Concerning our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come to you with the brothers, but his will was not at all to come at this time, but he'll come when he has a convenient time. 13 Stay awake, stand fast in the faith, finish like men, be strong. 14 Let everything be done with love. 15 I ask you please, brothers, (you know the house of Stephanas that it is the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) 16 To submit yourselves to such, and to everyone that helps with us, and labors. 17 I am glad about the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, for what was lacking from you they've supplied. 18 For they've refreshed my spirit and yours, therefore acknowledge those who are such. 19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. 20 All the brothers greet you. Greet each other with a holy kiss. 21 The greeting of me, Paul, by my own hand. 22 If any man doesn't love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema. Maranatha. 23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 24 My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen. ___2 Corinthians chapter 1 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints that are in all Achaia, 2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, 4 Who comforts us in all our tribulation, so that we'll be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, by the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ are abundant in us, so our consolation is also abundant by Christ. 6 And whether we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective in the enduring of the same sufferings that we also suffer, or whether we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope of you is steady, knowing, that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so you'll also be of the benefits. 8 For we don't want you to be ignorant, brothers, of our trouble that came to us in Asia, such that we were pressed beyond limit, above strength, such that we despaired even of life. 9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, so we wouldn't trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, 10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver, in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us, 11 You also helping together by prayer for us, so that for the gift given to us by the means of many people, thanks will be given by many on our behalf. 12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we've had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly toward you. 13 For we write no other things to you, than what you read or acknowledge, and I trust you shall acknowledge even until the end, 14 As also you've acknowledged us partly, that we are your rejoicing, just as you also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus. 15 And in this confidence, I was thinking I'd come to you before, so you'd have a second benefit, 16 And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia to you, and to be brought on my way toward Judea by you. 17 When I therefore was thinking like that, did I kid around? Or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, so that with me there would be yes, yes, and no, no? 18 But as God is true, our word toward you was not yes and no. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we preached to you, that is, by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yes and no, but in him was yes. 20 For all the promises of God in him are yes, and in him Amen, to the glory of God by us. 21 Now he that establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God, 22 Who has also sealed us, and given the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts. 23 Also, I call God to let the record show on my soul, that to spare you I didn't come yet to Corinth. 24 Not because we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy, for by faith you stand. ___2 Corinthians chapter 2 1 But I determined this with myself, that I wouldn't come again to you in heaviness. 2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that makes me glad? The one that I make sorry. 3 And I wrote this same to you, so that when I come, I won't have sorrow regarding those about whom I ought to rejoice, having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but so that you would know the love that I have more abundantly for you. 5 But if any has caused grief, he has not grieved me, except a little, so that I will not overburden you all. 6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, that was inflicted by many. 7 So that, on the contrary, you should rather forgive him, and comfort him, so he won't be swallowed up by too much sorrow. 8 So I ask you please to confirm your love toward him. 9 Because for this purpose also I wrote, that I would know the proof of you, whether you are obedient in all things. 10 To whom you forgive anything, I forgive also, for if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes I forgave it in the person of Christ, 11 So that Satan won't get an advantage over us, for we are not ignorant of his devices. 12 Also, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, 13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I didn't find Titus my brother, but leaving them, I went from there into Macedonia. 14 Now thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes clear the fragrance of his knowledge by us everywhere. 15 For we are to God a sweet fragrance of Christ, in those who are saved, and in those who are destroyed. 16 To one we are the odor of death to death, and to the other the fragrance of life to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not like many, who corrupt the word of God, but we are sincere, and of God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. ___2 Corinthians chapter 3 1 Do we begin again to recommend ourselves? Or like some others, do we need letters of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? 2 You are our letter written in our hearts, known and read by all men, 3 Since you are clearly declared to be the letter of Christ ministered by us, not written with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not in tablets of stone, but in fleshy tablets of the heart. 4 And we have such trust through Christ toward God, 5 Not that we are sufficient by ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 Who also has made us able ministers of the new testament, not of the letter, but of the spirit, for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life. 7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraved in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadily look at the face of Moses for the glory of his face, which glory was to be done away with, 8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be more glorious? 9 For if the ministration of condemnation is glory, much more does the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if that which was done away with was glorious, much more that which remains is glorious. 12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech, 13 And not like Moses, who put a veil over his face, so that the children of Israel couldn't steadily look to the end of that which is abolished. 14 But their minds were blinded, for until this day the same veil remains untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament, which veil is done away with in Christ. 15 But even until this day, when Moses is read, the veil is on their hearts. 16 But when they turn to the Lord, the veil will be taken away. 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face seeing the glory of the Lord like in a mirror, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, by the Spirit of the Lord. ___2 Corinthians chapter 4 1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we don't faint, 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by making the truth clear, recommending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 But if our gospel is hidden, it is hidden to those who are lost, 4 In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of those who don't believe, so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, won't shine for them. 5 For we don't preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen containers, so that the excellency of the power will be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed, we are perplexed, but not in despair, 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken, thrown down, but not destroyed, 10 Always carrying around in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, so that the life also of Jesus will be made clear in our body. 11 For we that live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life also of Jesus would be made clear in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death works in us, but life in you. 13 We, having the same spirit of faith, as it is written, "I believed, and therefore I have spoken," we also believe, and therefore speak, 14 Knowing that he that raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise us up also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, so that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many increase to the glory of God. 16 That's why we don't faint, but though our outward man dies, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 While we don't look at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen, for the things that are seen are temporary, but the things that aren't seen are eternal. ___2 Corinthians chapter 5 1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were to be destroyed, we have a building of God, a house made without hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our house that is from heaven, 3 So that being clothed we won't be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle groan, being burdened, not that we want to be unclothed, but clothed, so that mortality will be swallowed up by life. 5 Now he that has made us for that purpose is God, who also has given us the down payment of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord, 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight.) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 So we labor, so that whether present or absent, we'll be accepted by him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that everyone will receive for the things done in his body, according to what he has done, whether it is good or bad. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made clear to God, and I trust are also made clear to your consciences. 12 For we don't recommend ourselves again to you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, so that you'll have something to answer those who glory in appearance, and not in heart. 13 For whether we are beside ourselves, it is to God, or whether we are sober, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ restrains us, because we judge this way, that if someone died for all, then all were dead. 15 And that he died for all, so that those who live should not anymore live to themselves, but to him who died for them, and rose again. 16 So from now on, we don't know any man according to the flesh, yes, though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet from now on we don't know him anymore according to the flesh. 17 Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature, old things have passed away, see, all things have become new. 18 And all things are of God, who has reunited us with himself by Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reuniting, 19 So we know that God was in Christ, reuniting the world to himself, not counting their sins against them, and has given to us the word of reuniting. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God is asking you by us, we ask you instead of Christ, be reunited to God. 21 For he has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, so we would be made the righteousness of God in him. ___2 Corinthians chapter 6 1 We then, as workers together with him, ask you also not to receive the grace of God to no benefit. 2 (For he says, "I've heard you in an acceptable time, and in the day of salvation I've strengthened you, see, now is the accepted time, see, now is the day of salvation.") 3 Giving no offence in anything, so the ministry won't be blamed, 4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 In strokes of the whip, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in staying awake, in fastings, 6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unpretended, 7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 By honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report, as deceivers, and yet true, 9 As unknown, and yet well known, as dying, and see, we live, as punished, and not killed, 10 As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing, as poor, yet making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 11 O you Corinthians, our mouth is open to you, our heart is enlarged. 12 You're not restricted in us, but you're restricted in your own inward affections. 13 Now for a repayment in the same, (I speak as to my children,) be also enlarged. 14 Don't be unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship does righteousness have with unrighteousness? And what communion does light have with darkness? 15 And what agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what part does the believer have with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, as God has said, "I will live in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." 17 "So, come out from among them, and be separate," says the Lord, "and don't touch the unclean thing, and I'll receive you, 18 And will be a Father to you, and you'll be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." ___2 Corinthians chapter 7 1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Receive us. We've wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man. 3 I don't say this to condemn you, for I've said before, that you are in our hearts to die and live with you. 4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying about you. I'm filled with comfort, I'm very joyful in all our tribulation. 5 For, when we had come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side, outside were fightings, inside were fears. 6 But God, who comforts those who are thrown down, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 And not by his coming only, but by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me, so that I rejoiced the more. 8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent, for I perceive that the same letter has made you sorry, though just for a short while. 9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you sorrowed to repentance, for you were made sorry in a godly way, so you wouldn't be damaged by us in any way. 10 For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation that is not to be repented of, but the sorrow of the world works death. 11 For look at this same thing, that you sorrowed in a godly way. What carefulness it worked in you, yes, what clearing of yourselves, yes, what indignation, yes, what fear, yes, what strong desire, yes, what zeal, yes, what revenge! In all things you've approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 12 So, though I wrote to you, I didn't do it because of him that had done wrong, nor because of the one who was wronged, but so that our care for you in the sight of God would be clear to you. 13 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort, yes, and very much more, we rejoiced for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by all of you. 14 For if I've boasted anything to him about you, I am not ashamed, but as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, that I made before Titus, is found to be true. 15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, while he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him. 16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things. ___2 Corinthians chapter 8 1 Also brothers, we want you to know about the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, 2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty became the riches of their liberality. 3 For I testify to their power, yes, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves, 4 Asking us sincerely that we would receive the gift, and take on us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God. 6 So much that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. 7 Therefore, as you have abundance in everything, in faith, and speaking, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, make sure that you're abundant in this grace also. 8 I don't speak by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that through his poverty, you would be rich. 10 And in this I give my advice, for this is best for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. 11 Now therefore perform the doing of it, so that as there was a willingness, so there'll be a performance also out of what you have. 12 For if there's first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what a man has, and not according to what he doesn't have. 13 For I don't mean that other men should have it easy, while you're burdened, 14 But by equality, so that now your abundance will supply their needs, so that their abundance also will supply your needs, so there will be equality, 15 As it is written, "He that had gathered much had no surplus, and he that had gathered little had no lack." 16 But thanks be to God, who put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. 17 For indeed, he accepted the exhortation, but being more forward, by his own choice he went to you. 18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches, 19 And not that only, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind, 20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance that is administered by us, 21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have often proven diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, on the great confidence which I have in you. 23 Whether anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow helper concerning you, or if our brothers are inquired about, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. 24 So show them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting about you. ___2 Corinthians chapter 9 1 For concerning the ministering to the saints, it is unnecessary for me to write to you, 2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast about you to those of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago, and your zeal has provoked very many. 3 Yet I've sent the brothers, so that our boasting about you won't be in vain in this behalf, so that, as I said, you'll be ready, 4 So that perhaps, if those of Macedonia come with me, if they find you unprepared, we (so that we don't say you) won't be ashamed in this same confident boasting. 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brothers, that they would go before to you, and make up, ahead of time, your abundance, about which you had notice before, so that the same would be ready, as a matter of abundance, and not as of covetousness. 6 But this I say, he that plants sparingly shall also reap sparingly, and he that plants abundantly shall also reap abundantly. 7 Let every man give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly, nor because he must, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace to be abundant for you, so that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, will be abundant in every good work, 9 (As it is written, "He has dispersed abroad, he has given to the poor, his righteousness remains forever." 10 Now he that ministers seed to the planter both minister bread for your food, and multiply your planted seed, and increase the fruits of your righteousness,) 11 Being enriched in everything to all abundance, which causes thanksgiving to God through us. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings to God, 13 While, by the putting into practice of this ministration, they glorify God for your professed subjection to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution to them, and to all men, 14 And by their prayer for you, who long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift. ___2 Corinthians chapter 10 1 Now I Paul myself ask you please, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent, am bold toward you, 2 But I ask you please, so I won't be bold when I am present with that confidence with which I think to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds, 5 Throwing down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, 6 And having a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.) 7 Do you look at things after the outward appearance? If any man trusts to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that as he is Christ's, even so we are Christ's. 8 For though I would boast somewhat more of our authority, that the Lord has given us for building up, and not for your destruction, I wouldn't be ashamed, 9 So I won't seem as if I would terrify you by letters. 10 "For his letters," they say, "are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible." 11 Let such a person think this, that such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, we will be such also in performance when we are present. 12 For we don't dare make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves, but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule that God has distributed to us, a measure to reach even to you. 14 For we don't stretch ourselves beyond our measure, as though we didn't reach to you, for we have come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ, 15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labors, but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we'll be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, 16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand. 17 But he that glories, let him glory in the Lord. 18 For not he that commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends. ___2 Corinthians chapter 11 1 I wish to God that you could bear with me a little in my foolishness, and indeed, bear with me. 2 For I'm jealous over you with godly jealousy, for I have married you to one husband, so that I can present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, so that by no means, like the serpent seduced Eve through his subtlety, would your minds be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, that you haven't received, or another gospel, that you haven't accepted, you might well bear with him. 5 For I suppose I was not a bit behind the very top apostles. 6 But though I'm rude in speech, yet not in knowledge, but we have been thoroughly made clear to you in all things. 7 Have I committed an offence in bringing myself low, so you would be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? 8 I robbed other churches, taking wages from them, to do work for you. 9 And when I was present with you, and lacked, I was chargeable to no man, for what was lacking to me the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied, and in all things I've kept myself from being burdensome to you, and I'll keep doing that. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia. 11 Why? Because I don't love you? God knows. 12 But what I do, I'll do, so that I can cut off occasion from those who desire occasion, so that in what they glory about, they'll be found like us. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And that's no surprise, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no big deal if his ministers also are transformed as the ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works. 16 I say again, let no man think me a fool, if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, so I can boast myself a little. 17 That which I speak, I don't speak after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. 18 Seeing that many glory according to the flesh, I will glory also. 19 For you endure fools gladly, seeing you yourselves are wise. 20 For you suffer, if a man brings you into bondage, if a man devours you, if a man takes from you, if a man exalts himself, if a man strikes you on the face. 21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. But in whatever way anyone is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more, in labors more abundant, in strokes of the whip beyond measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews I received thirty nine stripes, five different times. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I've been in the sea, 26 In journeys often, in dangers of waters, in dangers of robbers, in dangers by my own countrymen, in dangers by the heathen, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers in the sea, in dangers among false brothers, 27 In weariness and pain, in staying awake often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside the things that are outside, that which comes on me daily, the care of all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I don't burn? 30 If I must glory, I will glory about the things that concern my infirmities. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows I'm not lying. 32 In Damascus, the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a band of soldiers, wanting to arrest me, 33 And in a basket through a window I was let down by the wall, and escaped his hands. ___2 Corinthians chapter 12 1 Without a doubt, it is not expedient for me to glory. I will talk about visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I knew a man in Christ more than fourteen years ago, (whether in the body I can't tell, or whether out of the body I can't tell, God knows,) who was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body I can't tell, God knows,) 4 How he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it's not lawful for a man to speak. 5 I will glory of such a person, yet of myself I won't glory, but in my frailties. 6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool, for I will say the truth, but now I refrain, so that no man will esteem me to be more than what he sees me to be, or that he hears about me. 7 And so that I wouldn't be exalted beyond measure through the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, the messenger of Satan to punch me, so I wouldn't be exalted beyond measure. 8 I asked the Lord three times to make this thing go away from me. 9 And he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore, I'll rather glory in my frailties, so that the power of Christ will rest on me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake, for when I am weak, then I'm strong. 11 I've become a fool in glorying. You've compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for I am behind the very top apostles in nothing, though I am nothing. 12 Truly the signs of an apostle were performed among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. 13 For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong. 14 See, the third time I am ready to come to you, and I won't be burdensome to you, for I seek not what is yours, but you, for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you, though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. 16 But if it's so, I didn't burden you, anyway, being crafty, I caught you with guile. 17 Did I make a gain of you by any of those whom I sent to you? 18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? Didn't we walk in the same spirit? Didn't we walk in the same steps? 19 Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ, but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your building up. 20 For I'm afraid that when I come, I won't find you such as I would prefer, and so that you don't find me as you would like, and that there might be debates, envying, wraths, strife, backbiting, whisperings, swellings, tumults, 21 And so that when I come again, my God won't humble me among you, and so I won't lament many who've sinned already, and haven't repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lust that they've committed. ___2 Corinthians chapter 13 1 This is the third time I am coming to you. Every word shall be established in the mouth of two or three witnesses. 2 I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present the second time, and being absent now, I write to those who've previously sinned, and to all others, that if I come again, I won't spare. 3 Since you seek proof of Christ speaking in me, which toward you is not weak, but is mighty in you. 4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we'll live with him by the power of God toward you. 5 Examine yourselves, whether you're in the faith, test your own selves. Don't you know, your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you're reprobates? 6 But I trust that you know that we aren't reprobates. 7 Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not so we would appear approved, but so that you will do that which is honest, though we are as reprobates. 8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and you are strong, and this also we wish, your perfection. 10 Therefore I write these things being absent, so that being present, I won't use sharpness, according to the power that the Lord has given me for building up, and not for destruction. 11 Finally brothers, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you. 12 Greet each other with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints greet you. 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. ___Galatians chapter 1 1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, nor by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead,) 2 And all the brothers who are with me, to the churches of Galatia, 3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 Who gave himself for our sins, so that he would give us deliverance from this present evil world, according to the will of God our Father, 5 To whom be glory forever and always. Amen. 6 I'm surprised that you're so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ to another gospel, 7 Which is not another, but there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preaches any other gospel to you than that which we've preached to you, let him be under a curse. 9 As we said before, so I say again now, if any man preaches any other gospel to you than what you've received, let him be under a curse. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I wouldn't be the servant of Christ. 11 But I certify to you brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I didn't received it from man, nor was I taught it by man, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you've heard of my lifestyle in the past in the Jews' religion, how I greatly persecuted the church of God, and wasted it, 14 And profited in the Jews' religion more than many of my equals in my own nation, being much more zealous of the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, so that I would preach him among the heathen, I didn't confer with flesh and blood, 17 Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I immediately went into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But I didn't see any other apostles, except James the Lord's brother. 20 Now the things that I write to you, see, before God, I'm not lying. 21 Afterward I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, 22 And was unknown by face to the churches of Judea that were in Christ, 23 But they had only heard that he that persecuted us in the past now preaches the faith that he once destroyed. 24 And they glorified God in me. ___Galatians chapter 2 1 Then fourteen years afterward, I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. 2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, so that I wouldn't somehow run, or wouldn't have run for nothing. 3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised, 4 And that because of false brothers unknowingly brought in, who came in secretly to spy out our liberty that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they could bring us into bondage, 5 To whom we didn't give place by subjection even for an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would continue with you. 6 But of those who seemed to be somewhat, (whatever they were, it doesn't matter to me, God doesn't accept any man's person,) for those who seemed to be somewhat added nothing to me in conference, 7 But to the contrary, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed to me, like the gospel of the Jews was to Peter, 8 (For he that worked effectively in Peter to the apostleship of the Jews, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles,) 9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, so that we should go to the heathen, and they to the Jews. 10 Only they wanted us to remember the poor, which I also wanted to do. 11 But when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed. 12 For before certain people came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles, but after they arrived, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing the Jews. 13 And the other Jews pretended with him also, so much that Barnabas was also carried away with their pretending. 14 But when I saw that they didn't walk uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live the lifestyle of the Gentiles, and not like the Jews, why do you make the Gentiles live like the Jews?" 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not Gentile sinners, 16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, we have believed in Jesus Christ, so that we would be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law, for by the works of the law, no flesh shall be justified. 17 But if while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves are also found to be sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 18 For if I build again the things that I destroyed, I make myself a sinner. 19 For I through the law am dead to the law, so that I would live to God. 20 I am crucified with Christ, however I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me, and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God, for if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ died for nothing. ___Galatians chapter 3 1 O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, so that you won't obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth crucified among you? 2 Just tell me this, did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things in to no benefit? If it is now to no benefit? 5 He therefore that ministers to you the Spirit, and works miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 6 Just like Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness. 7 Know therefore that those who are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached the gospel before to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all nations be blessed." 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse, for it is written, "Cursed is every one that doesn't continue in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them." 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident, for, "The just shall live by faith." 12 And the law is not of faith, but, "The man that does them shall live in them." 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us, for it is written, "Cursed is everyone that hangs on a tree," 14 So that the blessing of Abraham would come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15 Brothers, I speak in the style of men, though it is but a man's covenant, yet if it's confirmed, no man cancels it, or adds to it. 16 Now to Abraham and his descendants were the promises made. He doesn't say, "And to seeds," as about many, but as of one, "And to your seed," who is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before by God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred thirty years later, can't cancel, so that the promise would be of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise, but God gave it to Abraham by promise. 19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, until the descendants would come to whom the promise was made, and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 21 So then, is the law against the promises of God? God forbid, for if there had been a law given that could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the scripture has concluded all under sin, so that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ would be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up to the faith that would afterward be revealed. 24 So the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, so that we'd be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we're no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For you're all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you're Abraham's descendants, and heirs according to the promise. ___Galatians chapter 4 1 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a servant, though he is lord of all, 2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed by the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world, 4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem those who were under the law, so that we'd receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because you're sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, shouting, "Abba, Father." 7 So you are no longer a servant, but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 8 But then, when you didn't know God, you did service to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now, after you've known God, or rather are known by God, how can you return to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10 You observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11 I am afraid concerning you that I may have labored to no benefit. 12 Brothers, I beg you, be like I am, for I'm like you are, you haven't injured me at all. 13 You know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel to you at the beginning. 14 And my temptation that was in my flesh you didn't despise, nor reject, but received me like an angel of God, even like Christ Jesus. 15 Where is then the blessedness you spoke about? For I testify that, if it had been possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. 16 Have I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? 17 They zealously affect you, but not well, yes, they would exclude you, so that you would affect them. 18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My little children, for whom I travail in birth again until Christ is formed in you, 20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice, for I stand in doubt of you. 21 Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don't you hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh, but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an example, for these are the two covenants, the one from Mount Sinai produces bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which is now, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, "Rejoice, you barren that doesn't bear, break forth and shout, you who doesn't travail, for the desolate has many more children than she that has a husband." 28 Now we, brothers, like Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But like then, he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Anyway what does the scripture say? "Throw out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman." 31 So then, brothers, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free woman. ___Galatians chapter 5 1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made us free, and don't be entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 See, I Paul say to you that if you're circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ has become of no effect to you, whoever of you are justified by the law, you've fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith which works by love. 7 You ran well, who hindered you so that you wouldn't obey the truth? 8 This persuasion doesn't come from him that called you. 9 A little yeast leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that you won't be otherwise minded, but he that troubles you shall have his punishment, whoever he is. 11 And I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offence of the cross has stopped. 12 I would prefer they were completely stopped who trouble you. 13 For brothers, you've been called to liberty, only don't use liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve each other. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 15 But if you bite and devour each other, be careful that you're not consumed by each other. 16 This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you won't fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary to each other, so that you can't do the things that you want to do. 18 But if you're led by the Spirit, you're not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are clear, which are these, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lustful behavior, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, quarrels, jealousy, wrath, strife, divisions, false doctrine, 21 Envying, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and like that, of which I tell you before, as I've also told you in the past, that those who do such things won't inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance, against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking each other, envying each other. ___Galatians chapter 6 1 Brothers, if a man is overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual restore him in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself, so that you won't also be tempted. 2 Carry each other's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then he'll have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in someone else. 5 For every man shall carry his own burden. 6 Let him that is taught in the word give to him that teaches in all good things. 7 Don't be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man plants, that's what he'll harvest. 8 For he that plants for his flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but he that plants to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we'll reap, if we don't faint. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good to all men, especially to those who are of the household of faith. 11 You see how long a letter I've written to you with my own hand. 12 As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they try to get you circumcised, only so they won't suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law, but desire to have you circumcised, so they can glory in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should glory, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and on the Israel of God. 17 From now on, let no man trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. 18 Brothers, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. ___Ephesians chapter 1 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints that are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus, 2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, 4 Since he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy and without blame before him in love, 5 Having chosen us beforehand to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, in which he has made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace, 8 In which he has given us an abundance of all wisdom and prudence, 9 Having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he has purposed in himself, 10 So that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he would gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him, 11 In whom we have also obtained an inheritance, being chosen beforehand, according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will, 12 So that we would be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also after you believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the down payment of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of his glory. 15 So I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love to all the saints, 16 Don't stop giving thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, 17 So that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, will give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 The eyes of your understanding being illuminated, so that you'll know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he accomplished in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all princedoms, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in the world to come, 22 And has put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fullness of him that fills all in all. ___Ephesians chapter 2 1 And he has made you alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 That you walked in, in the past, according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience, 3 Among whom also we all had our lifestyles in the past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children of anger, like others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, has made us alive together with Christ, (by grace you are saved,) 6 And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 So that in the ages to come he would show the great riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you're saved through faith, and not faith of yourselves, it is the gift of God, 9 Not of works, so that no man will boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has appointed beforehand for us to walk in them. 11 So, remember that you, being in the past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by that which is called the circumcision in the flesh made by hands, 12 That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world, 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us, 15 Having abolished in his flesh the hostility, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances, to make in himself from two, one new man, so making peace, 16 And so that he would reconcile both to God in one body by the cross, having killed the hostility by that means, 17 And came and preached peace to you who were far off, and to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. 19 Now therefore you're no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, 20 And have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the main cornerstone, 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together grows up to a holy temple in the Lord, 22 In whom you also are built together for a house of God through the Spirit. ___Ephesians chapter 3 1 For this cause I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2 If you've heard of the dispensation of the grace of God that has been given to me for you, 3 How by revelation he made known to me the mystery, (as I wrote before in few words, 4 So that when you read, you'll understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, 6 So that the Gentiles would be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel, 7 Of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of his power. 8 To me, who am less than the least of all saints, has this grace been given, so that I would preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hidden in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ, 10 So that now to the princedoms and powers in heavenly places would be known by the church the multifaceted wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose that he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. 13 So I desire that you don't faint at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. 14 For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 So that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man, 17 So that Christ will live in your hearts by faith, so that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 Will be able to understand with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, 19 And to know the love of Christ, that passes knowledge, so that you'll be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him that is able to do far above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 To him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. ___Ephesians chapter 4 1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, ask you please to walk worthy of the vocation with which you're called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, patient with each other in love, 3 Trying to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, just as you are called in one hope of your calling, 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But grace has been given to every one of us, according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 So he says, "When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men." 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, so that he would fill all things.) 11 And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ, 13 Until we all come to be united in the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to human perfection, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 So that from now on, we won't anymore be children, tossed back and forth, and carried around by every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, by which they wait in ambush to deceive, 15 But speaking the truth in love, will grow up into him in all things, who is the head, who is Christ, 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effective working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body to the building up of itself in love. 17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that from now on, don't walk like other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their hearts, 19 Who being past feeling, have given themselves over to lust, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But that's not the Christ you've learned, 21 If you've heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 That you put off concerning the former lifestyle the old man, that is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25 So, putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor, for we are members of each other. 26 Don't be angry, and don't sin, don't let the sun go down on your anger, 27 And don't give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more, but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, so that he'll have something to give to the needy. 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of building up, so that it will minister grace to the hearers. 30 And don't grieve the holy Spirit of God, by which you're sealed until the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all hatred, 32 And be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, like God for Christ's sake has forgiven you. ___Ephesians chapter 5 1 Therefore be followers of God, like dear children, 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling odor. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as is right for saints, 4 Nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor kidding around, which are not convenient, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no customer of prostitutes, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words, for because of these things the anger of God comes on the children of disobedience. 7 Therefore, don't be partakers with them. 8 For you were sometimes darkness, but now you're light in the Lord, walk like children of light, 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth,) 10 Proving what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather correct them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak about the things that are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made clear by the light, for whatever makes clear is light. 14 So he says, "Awake you who sleeps, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light." 15 Make sure then that you conduct yourselves looking in all directions, not like fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 So don't be unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And don't be drunk with wine, in which is excess, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 Submitting yourselves to each other in the fear of God. 22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the church, and he is the savior of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, like Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it, 26 So that he would sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 So that he would present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 Men ought to love their wives like their own bodies. He that loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, like the Lord does with the church, 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this reason shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and the two of them shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Anyway, let every one of you in particular love his wife like himself, and the wife see that she respects her husband. ___Ephesians chapter 6 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother, (which is the first commandment with promise,) 3 So that it will be well with you, and so you'll live long on the earth. 4 And you fathers, don't provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 5 Servants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as to Christ, 6 Not with eye service, as men pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8 Knowing that whatever good thing any man does, he'll receive the same from the Lord, whether he's a bondman or free. 9 And you masters, do the same things to them, without threatening, knowing that your Master also is in heaven, nor is there respect of persons with him. 10 Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, so you'll be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we don't wrestle against flesh and blood, but against princedoms, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against wicked spirits in high places. 13 So, take to yourselves the whole armor of God, so that you'll be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your midsections clothed with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 And for shoes, the preparation of the gospel of peace, 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you'll be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and staying awake regarding that, with all perseverance and supplication for all saints, 19 And for me, that a way to speak will be given to me, so that I can open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds, so that in it I can speak boldly, as I ought to speak. 21 But so that you'll also know my affairs, and how I'm doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things, 22 Whom I have sent to you for the same purpose, so that you'll know our affairs, and so that he'll comfort your hearts. 23 Peace be to the bothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all of those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. ___Philippians chapter 1 1 Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons, 2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God at every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he that has begun a good work in you will perform it, until the day of Jesus Christ, 7 Since it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partakers of my grace. 8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long after you all in the inward affections of Jesus Christ. 9 And this I pray, that your love will become abundant yet more and more, in knowledge and in all judgment, 10 So that you'll approve things that are excellent, so that you'll be sincere and without offence until the day of Christ, 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. 12 But I want you to understand, brothers, that the things that happened to me have happened rather for the furtherance of the gospel, 13 So that my shackles in Christ are clear in all the palace, and in all other places, 14 And many of the brothers in the Lord, becoming confident by my shackles, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife, and some also of good will, 16 The one preach Christ argumentatively, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds, 17 But the others of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel. 18 What then? Anyway, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached, and I rejoice about that, yes, and will rejoice. 19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, so that I won't be ashamed in anything, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it is by life, or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor, yet what I shall choose I don't know. 23 For I face a difficult decision, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better, 24 But, to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. 25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith, 26 So that your rejoicing will be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again. 27 Only let your lifestyle be as is right for the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I'll hear of your affairs, so that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, 28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries, which is to them an evident token of destruction, but to you of salvation, salvation from God. 29 For to you it is given on behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake, 30 Having the same conflict that you saw in me, and now hear to be in me. ___Philippians chapter 2 1 If there is therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any inward affections and mercies, 2 Fulfill my joy, so that you're like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem the other better than themselves. 4 Don't look every man at his own things, but every man also at the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, that was also in Christ Jesus, 6 Who, being in the form of God, didn't see it as robbery to be equal with God, 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took on himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men, 8 And being found to apparently be a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient until death, even the death of the cross. 9 So God also has highly exalted him, and given him a name that is above every name, 10 So that at the name of Jesus every knee would bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, 11 And so that every tongue would confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 So, my beloved, as you've always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputes, 15 So that you'll be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without fault, among a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine like lights in the world, 16 Holding out the word of life, so that I'll rejoice in the day of Christ, so that I haven't run for nothing, nor labored in vain. 17 Yes, and if I'm offered on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same cause also do you joy, and rejoice with me. 19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly to you, so that I will also be of good comfort, when I know your condition. 20 For I have no man like-minded, who will naturally care for your condition. 21 For all seek their own, not the things that are Jesus Christ's. 22 But you know the proof of him, that like a son with the father, he has served with me in the gospel. 23 Therefore I hope to send him soon, after I see how it will go with me. 24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly. 25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labor, and fellow soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my needs. 26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because you had heard that he had been sick. 27 For indeed he was sick and near death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me also, so I wouldn't have sorrow added to sorrow. 28 I sent him therefore the more carefully, so that, when you see him again, you'll rejoice, and so that I'll be less sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such in reputation, 30 Because for the work of Christ he was near death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me. ___Philippians chapter 3 1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, doesn't cause any grief to me, but for you it is safe. 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has something about which he can trust in the flesh, I have more, 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, concerning the law, a Pharisee, 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church, concerning the righteousness that is in the law, blameless. 7 But the things that were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yes doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I've suffered the loss of all things, and do count them simply as manure, so I can win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith, 10 So that I'll know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death, 11 If by any means I can obtain the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I've already obtained, or were already perfect, but I pursue, if I can take hold of that for which also I'm taken hold of, by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers, I don't count myself to have taken hold, but this one thing I do, forgetting the things that are in the past, and reaching out to the things that are ahead, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded, and if in anything you are otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this to you. 16 Anyway, to what we've already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 17 Brothers, be followers together of me, and identify those who walk, compared with our example. 18 (For many walk, about whom I've told you often, and now tell you with tears, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20 For our lifestyle is in heaven, from where we also look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 Who shall change our dirty body, so it will be fashioned like his glorious body, according to the working by which he is able to subdue all things to himself. ___Philippians chapter 4 1 Therefore, my brothers, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. 2 I ask Euodias please, and ask Syntyche please, to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 And I ask you also, true partners, help those women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with my other fellow laborers, whose names are in the book of life. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, that passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there's any virtue, and if there's any praise, think about these things. 9 Do the things that you've learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, and the God of peace shall be with you. 10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last, your care of me has flourished again, in which you were also careful, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in respect of want, for I've learned, in whatever condition I'm in, to be content with it. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to enjoy plenty. Everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to have plenty and to be in need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 14 Anyway, you've done well that you gave for my affliction. 15 Now you Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church gave to me except you. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again for my needs. 17 Not because I desire a gift, but I desire that there be abundant fruit in your account. 18 But I have all, and have plenty, I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things that you sent, a sweet smelling odor, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God. 19 But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to God our Father be glory forever and always. Amen. 21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, mainly those who are of Caesar's household. 23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. ___Colossians chapter 1 1 Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ who are at Colosse, Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love that you have to all the saints, 5 For the hope that is laid up for you in heaven, about which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 Which has come to you, as it has in all the world, and produces fruit, as it does also in you, since the day you heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth, 7 As you also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ, 8 Who also declared to us your love in the Spirit. 9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, don't stop praying for you, and to desire that you'll be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, 10 So that you'll walk worthy of the Lord to all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God, 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, to all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness, 12 Giving thanks to the Father, who has made us qualified to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, 13 Who has given us deliverance from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son, 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, which is forgiveness of sins, 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature, 16 For by him all things were created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they are thrones, or dominions, or princedoms, or powers, all things were created by him, and for him, 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things stick together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that in all things he would have the priority. 19 For it pleased the Father that all fullness would live in him, 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things to himself, by him, I say, whether they are things in earth, or things in heaven. 21 And you, that were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now he has reconciled, 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his sight, 23 If you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and aren't moved away from the hope of the gospel that you've heard, and that has been preached to every creature under heaven, about which I, Paul, have been made a minister, 24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church, 25 Of which I've been made a minister, according to the dispensation of God that's been given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 The mystery that's been hidden from ages and from generations, but now is made clear to his saints, 27 To whom God would make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory, 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, so we can present every man perfect in Christ Jesus, 29 For which I also labor, striving according to his working, who works in me mightily. ___Colossians chapter 2 1 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as haven't seen my face in the flesh, 2 So that their hearts would be comforted, being knit together in love, and to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God the Father, and of Christ, 3 In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 And this I say, so that no one will seduce you with enticing words. 5 For though I'm absent in the flesh, yet I'm with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadiness of your faith in Christ. 6 As you've therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as you've been taught, becoming abundant in it with thanksgiving. 8 Beware so that no man spoils you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And you are complete in him, who is the head of all princedoms and power, 11 In whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, 12 Buried with him in baptism, in which you’ve also risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has made alive together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, that was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross, 15 And having spoiled princedoms and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days, 17 Which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ. 18 Let no man cheat you out of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into the things that he hasn't seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increases with the increase of God. 20 So, if you're dead with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances, 21 (Don't touch, don't taste, don't handle, 22 Which all are to be destroyed with the using,) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which things indeed have the appearance of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body, not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh. ___Colossians chapter 3 1 So if you've risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then you'll also appear with him in glory. 5 Therefore kill your members that are on the earth, fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, lust, and covetousness, which is idolatry, 6 For which things' sake the anger of God comes on the children of disobedience, 7 In which you also once walked, when you lived in them. 8 But now, put off also all of these: anger, hatred, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Don't lie to each other, seeing that you've put off the old man with his deeds, 10 And have put on the new man, who is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him, 11 Where there's neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free, but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, 13 Being patient with each other, and forgiving each other, if any man has a quarrel against any, as Christ forgave you, you forgive too. 14 And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you're called in one body, and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ live in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by him. 18 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as is right in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and don't be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, don't provoke your children to anger, so they won't be discouraged. 22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God, 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men, 24 Knowing that from the Lord you'll receive the reward of the inheritance, for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he that does wrong shall receive for the wrong that he's done, and there is no respect of persons. ___Colossians chapter 4 1 Masters, give to your servants what is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. 2 Continue in prayer, and stay awake in prayer with thanksgiving, 3 Praying also for us, so God would open to us a way to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds, 4 So that I will make it clear, as I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, so you'll know how you ought to answer every man. 7 All my condition shall Tychicus tell you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord, 8 Whom I have sent to you for the same purpose, so he'll know your situation, and comfort your hearts, 9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They'll make known to you everything that's happening here. 10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner greets you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (concerning whom you received commandments, if he comes to you, receive him,) 11 And Jesus, who is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. Only these are my fellow workers in the kingdom of God, who have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, so that you'll stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13 For I testify about him, that he has a great zeal for you, and for those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the beloved doctor, and Demas, greet you. 15 Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church that is in his house. 16 And when this letter is read among you, cause it to be read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the letter from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry that you've received in the Lord, that you fulfill it." 18 The greeting by the hand of me, Paul. Remember my shackles. Grace be with you. Amen. ___1 Thessalonians chapter 1 1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians that is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ, Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 Remembering without stopping your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God our Father, 4 Knowing, beloved brothers, your election from God. 5 For our gospel didn't come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. 6 And you became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost, 7 So that you were examples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 For the word of the Lord sounded out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God is spread around, so that we don't need to say anything. 9 For they themselves show about us what kind of arrival we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, who is Jesus, who gave us deliverance from the anger that's coming. ___1 Thessalonians chapter 2 1 For yourselves, brothers, know our entrance in to you, that it was not in vain, 2 But even after we had suffered before, and were shamefully treated, as you know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God with a lot of opposition. 3 For our preaching was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile, 4 But as we were allowed by God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts. 5 For we didn't at any time use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness, God is witness, 6 Nor from men did we seek glory, neither from you, nor yet from others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nurse cherishes her children, 8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have given to you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because you were dear to us. 9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and travail, for laboring night and day, because we didn't want to be indebted to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe, 11 As you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged each one of you, like a father does his children, 12 So that you'd walk worthy of God, who has called you to his kingdom and glory. 13 For this reason also, we thank God without stopping, because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you received it, not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, that effectively works also in you that believe. 14 For you, brothers, became followers of the churches of God that in Judea are in Christ Jesus, for you also have suffered similar things from your own countrymen, just as they have from the Jews, 15 Who killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us, and they don't please God, and are contrary to all men, 16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles so that they'd be saved, to fill up their sins always, for the anger has come on them to the maximum. 17 But we, brothers, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, tried the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. 18 So we would have come to you, even I, Paul, once and again, but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Aren't even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy. ___1 Thessalonians chapter 3 1 So when we couldn't wait any longer, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone, 2 And sent Timothy our brother, and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith, 3 So that no man would be moved by these afflictions, for you know that we are appointed to them. 4 For truly, when we were with you, we told you before that we would suffer tribulation, just as it has happened, and you know. 5 For this reason, when I could no longer wait, I sent to know your faith, to make sure the tempter didn't successfully tempt you, and that our labor hasn't been for nothing. 6 But now when Timothy came from you to us, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you have good memories about us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you, 7 Therefore brothers, we were comforted about you in all our affliction and distress by your faith, 8 For now we live, if you stand strong in the Lord. 9 For what thanks can we give back to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God, 10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we would see your face, and would perfect what is lacking in your faith? 11 Now God himself, our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. 12 And the Lord make you increase and flourish in love toward each other, and toward all men, just as we do toward you, 13 To the end that he will establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. ___1 Thessalonians chapter 4 1 Furthermore then, we ask you please, brothers, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as you've received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, so you would flourish more and more. 2 For you know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your being made holy, so that you'll abstain from fornication, 4 So that each one of you knows how to possess his body in holiness and honor, 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, like the Gentiles who don't know God, 6 So that no man goes beyond and defrauds his brother in any matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we have also warned you and testified. 7 For God hasn't called us to uncleanness, but to holiness. 8 He therefore that despises, doesn't despise man but God, who has also given us his Holy Spirit. 9 But concerning brotherly love, you don't need me to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love each other. 10 And indeed you do it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia, but we ask you please, brothers, to increase more and more, 11 And to study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 So that you'll walk honestly toward those who are outside, and so that you'll have lack of nothing. 13 But I don't want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who've died, so you don't sorrow, like others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those also who've died in Jesus, God will bring with him. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain at the coming of the Lord won't go ahead of those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first, 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we always be with the Lord. 18 So, comfort each other with these words. ___1 Thessalonians chapter 5 1 But of the times and the seasons, brothers, you don't need me to write to you. 2 For you know perfectly that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, "Peace and safety," then sudden destruction comes on them, like birth pangs on a woman with child, and they won't escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so that that day would overtake you like a thief. 5 You are all the children of light, and the children of the day, we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let's not sleep, like others, but let's stay awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep in the night, and those who are drunk are drunk in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not appointed us to anger, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, so that, whether we're awake or asleep, we'll live together with him. 11 So, comfort yourselves together, and build up each other, as you've been doing. 12 And we ask you please brothers, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you, 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you brothers, warn those who are unruly, comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15 Make sure that no one returns evil for evil to any man, but always follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 16 Rejoice more all the time. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Don't quench the Spirit. 20 Don't despise prophesying. 21 Prove all things, hold tightly what is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. 23 And the very God of peace make you completely holy, and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body will be preserved blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is he that calls you, who also will do it. 25 Brothers, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the holy brothers. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. ___2 Thessalonians chapter 1 1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith grows very much, and the love of each of you all toward each other is plenteous, 4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 5 Which is a clear token of the righteous judgment of God, so that you'll be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer, 6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to repay troubles to those who trouble you, 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who don't know God, and that don't obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power, 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all those who believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. 11 So, we also pray always for you, so that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power, 12 So that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ will be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. ___2 Thessalonians chapter 2 1 Now we ask you please, brothers, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together to him, 2 Don't be soon shaken in mind, nor be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter like from us, as that the day of Christ has arrived. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means, for that day won't come, unless there's a falling away first, and that man of sin is revealed, the son of hell, 4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he as God sits in the temple of God, representing himself to be God. 5 Don't you remember that when I was still with you, I told you these things? 6 And now, you know what's holding back, so that he'll be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of sin is already at work, only he who now restrains will restrain, until he's taken out of the way. 8 And then that wicked one shall be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming, 9 Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceiving of unrighteousness in those who get destroyed, because they didn't receive the love of the truth, so that they'd be saved. 11 And for this reason God shall send them strong delusion, so that they'll believe a lie, 12 So they'll all be damned who didn't believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 13 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brothers, beloved by the Lord, because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through the making holy by the Spirit, and belief of the truth, 14 To which he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore brothers, stand strong, and hold the traditions that you've been taught, whether by word, or our letter. 16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who has loved us, and has given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17 Comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work. ___2 Thessalonians chapter 3 1 Finally brothers, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord will have free course, and be glorified, just as it is with you, 2 And that we'll have deliverance from unreasonable and wicked men, for not all men have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, who'll establish you, and keep you from evil. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you're doing and will do the things we command you. 5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. 6 Now we command you brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly, and not after the tradition that he received from us. 7 For yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we didn't behave ourselves disorderly among you, 8 Nor did we eat any man's bread for nothing, but worked with labor and travail night and day, so we wouldn't be indebted to any of you, 9 Not because we don't have authority, but to make ourselves an example to you to follow us. 10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if anyone wouldn't work, he shouldn't eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you disorderly, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 13 But you brothers, don't be weary in well doing. 14 And if any man doesn't obey our word by this letter, note that man, and have no fellowship with him, so he'll be ashamed. 15 Yet don't count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 16 Now the Lord of peace, himself, give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. 17 The greeting of Paul with my own hand, which is the token in every letter, so I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. ___1 Timothy chapter 1 1 Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior, and Lord Jesus Christ, who is our hope, 2 To Timothy, my own son in the faith, Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. 3 As I asked you to stay at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, so that you would instruct some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 And not pay attention to fables and endless genealogies that raise questions rather than godly edifying which is in faith, do that. 5 Now the end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unpretended, 6 From which some having swerved, have turned aside to vain babbling, 7 Desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say, nor about what they affirm. 8 But we know that the law is good, if a man uses it lawfully, 9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 For customers of prostitutes, for those who defile themselves with mankind, for kidnappers, for liars, for false witnesses, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, that was committed to my trust. 12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has enabled me, because he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 Who was previously a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious, but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was quite abundant with faith and love that is in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 But for this reason I obtained mercy, so that in me first, Jesus Christ would demonstrate all patience, for a pattern to those who would afterward believe on him for life everlasting. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory, forever and always. Amen. 18 I commit this charge to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies that went before on you, so that by them you'll fight a good warfare, 19 Holding faith, and a good conscience, which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck, 20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan, so they'll learn not to blaspheme. ___1 Timothy chapter 2 1 I exhort therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men, 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority, so that we can lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 Who wants all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified about in due time. 7 To whom I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and don't lie,) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 8 Therefore, I want men to pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without anger and doubting. 9 Likewise also, that women adorn themselves in modest clothes, with modesty and staying sober, not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array, 10 But (which is right for women professing godliness) with good works. 11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I don't allow a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15 But anyway, she shall be saved when she bears children, if they continue in faith and love and holiness with soberness. ___1 Timothy chapter 3 1 This is a true saying, If a man desires the office of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach, 3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy bribes, but patient, not a brawler, not covetous, 4 Someone who rules his own house well, having his children in subjection with all honesty, 5 (For if a man doesn't know how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6 Not a novice, so he won't be lifted up with pride and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Also, he must have a good report from those who are outside, so he won't fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 8 Likewise, the deacons must be grave, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy bribes, 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also be proven first, then let them use the office of a deacon, if they're found blameless. 11 Even so, their wives must be honest, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For those who've used the office of a deacon well, purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. 14 These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly, 15 But if I don't come soon, so that you'll know how you ought to behave yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness, God was presented in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached to the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. ___1 Timothy chapter 4 1 Now the Spirit speaks specifically that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils, 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to not eat meats, which God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it's received with thanksgiving, 5 For it's made holy by the word of God and prayer. 6 If you remind the brothers of these things, you'll be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, to which you've attained. 7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself rather to godliness. 8 For bodily exercise is of little profit, but godliness is profitable to all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For therefore we labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 11 Command these things and teach them. 12 Let no man despise your youth, but be an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, pay attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Don't neglect the gift that is in you, that was given to you by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the elders. 15 Meditate on these things, give yourself completely to them, so that your profiting will appear to all. 16 Take heed to yourself, and to the doctrine, continue in it, for in doing this you'll save yourself and those who hear you. ___1 Timothy chapter 5 1 Don't scold an elder, but reason with him like a father, and the younger men like brothers, 2 The elder women like mothers, the younger like sisters, with all purity. 3 Honor widows that are widows indeed. 4 But if any widow has children or nephews, let them learn first to show godliness at home, and to help their parents, for that is good and acceptable before God. 5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusts in God, and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. 6 But she that lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. 7 And these things give in charge, so that they'll be blameless. 8 But if any man doesn't provide for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever. 9 Don't let a widow be added to the membership list who's less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, 10 Well reported about for good works, if she has raised children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work. 11 But the younger widows refuse, for when they've begun to grow wanton against Christ, they'll marry, 12 Having damnation, because they have thrown off their first faith. 13 And with that, they learn to be idle, wandering around from house to house, and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things that they ought not. 14 Therefore, I want the younger women to marry, have children, guide the house, give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15 For some have already turned aside to follow Satan. 16 If any man or woman that believes has widows, let them relieve them, so the church won't have to do it, so that it can relieve those who are widows indeed. 17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 18 For the scripture says, "You shall not muzzle the ox that treads out the corn." And, "The laborer is worthy of his reward." 19 Don't receive an accusation against an elder except before two or three witnesses. 20 Scold before all those who sin, so that others will also fear. 21 I charge you before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that you observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by favoritism. 22 Don't lay hands suddenly on any man, nor be partaker of other men's sins, keep yourself pure. 23 Drink no longer just water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities. 24 Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment, and some men they follow afterward. 25 Likewise also the good works of some are clear beforehand, and those who are otherwise can't be hidden. ___1 Timothy chapter 6 1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and his doctrine isn't blasphemed. 2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brothers, but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. 3 If any man teaches otherwise, and doesn't agree with wholesome words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine that is according to godliness, 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strife of words, from which come envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 Perverse disputes by men of corrupt minds, who don't have the truth, supposing that gain is godliness, from such withdraw yourself. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing let's be content with that. 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and a trap, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and hell. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted for, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But you, O man of God, flee those things, and follow righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, take hold on eternal life, to which you're also called, and have professed a good profession before many witnesses. 13 I give you commandment in the sight of God, who makes all things alive, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession, 14 That you keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Who in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, 16 Who only has immortality, living in the light that no man can approach, whom no man has seen, nor can see, to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen. 17 Charge those who are rich in this world not to be high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy, 18 So that they do good, so that they are rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate, 19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they'll take hold on eternal life. 20 O Timothy, keep that which has been committed to your trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science, falsely so called, 21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen. ___2 Timothy chapter 1 1 Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son, grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with a pure conscience, that without stopping, I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 Greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, so that I'll be filled with joy, 5 When I remember the unpretended faith that is in you, that lived first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that in you also. 6 So I remind you to stir up the gift of God that is in you by the putting on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8 Therefore, don't be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but be partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God, 9 Who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, that was given to us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made clear by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has destroyed death, and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 To which I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For which reason I also suffer these things, but anyway, I'm not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I’ve committed to him against that day. 13 Hold tightly the form of sound words that you've heard from me, in faith and love that is in Christ Jesus. 14 The good thing that was committed to you, keep by the Holy Ghost that lives in us. 15 This you know, that all of those who are in Asia have turned away from me, of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. 16 The Lord give mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chains, 17 But when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. 18 The Lord grant to him that he'll find mercy from the Lord in that day, and in how many things he ministered to me at Ephesus, you know very well. ___2 Timothy chapter 2 1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you've heard from me among many witnesses, commit to faithful men, who'll be able to teach others also. 3 Therefore endure hardship, like a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No soldier entangles himself with the affairs of this life, so that he'll please him who has chosen him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strives for masteries, yet he's not crowned, unless he strives legally. 6 The farmer that labors must be first partaker of the fruits. 7 Consider what I say, and the Lord give you understanding in all things. 8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the descendants of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, 9 In which I suffer trouble, like a criminal, even as far as shackles, but the word of God is not shackled. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, so that they'll also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 It is a faithful saying, for if we're dead with him, we'll also live with him, 12 If we suffer, we'll also reign with him, if we deny him, he will also deny us, 13 If we don't believe, yet he remains faithful, he can't deny himself. 14 Remind them about these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 15 Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that doesn't need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their word will eat like a canker, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection has already happened, and overthrow the faith of some. 19 Anyway, the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are his." And, let everyone that names the name of Christ depart from sin. 20 But in a great house there are not only containers of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of clay, and some to honor, and some to dishonor. 21 If a man therefore purges himself from these, he'll be a container to honor, made holy, and ready for the master's use, and prepared for every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts, but follow righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they cause strife. 24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle to all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those who oppose themselves, if God will perhaps give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth, 26 And so they'll recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him whenever he wants. ___2 Timothy chapter 3 1 Know this also, that in the last days dangerous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of themselves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, without self-control, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power of it, from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are those who sneak into houses, and lead captive silly women loaded with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 Always learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now like Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth, men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further, for their foolishness shall be made clear to all men, as theirs also was. 10 But you have fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, that came to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra, what persecutions I endured, but the Lord gave me deliverance out of them all. 12 Yes, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall grow worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue in the things that you've learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you've learned them, 15 And that from a child you've known the holy scriptures, that are able to make you wise for salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 So that the man of God will be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works. ___2 Timothy chapter 4 1 I charge you therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the alive and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom, 2 Preach the word, be instant in season, out of season, reprove, scold, exhort with all patience and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they won't endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts, they'll heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, 4 And they'll turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn to fairy tales. 5 But stay awake in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry. 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, 8 From now on, a crown of righteousness has been laid up for me, that the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but to all of those also who love his appearing. 9 Make a good effort to come shortly to me, 10 For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with you, for he is profitable to me for the ministry. 12 And I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring with you the cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, but especially the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil, the Lord repay him according to his works, 15 Of whom you beware also, for he has greatly withstood our words. 16 At my first answer, no man stood with me, but all men forsook me, I pray God that it won't be held against them. 17 Anyway, the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me, so that by me, the preaching would be fully known, and so all the Gentiles would hear, and I was given deliverance out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord shall give me deliverance from every evil work, and will preserve me until his heavenly kingdom, to whom be glory forever and always. Amen. 19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed at Corinth, but I've left Trophimus sick at Miletum. 21 Make a good effort to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brothers. 22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. ___Titus chapter 1 1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth that is according to godliness, 2 In hope of eternal life, that God, who can't lie, promised before the world began, 3 But has in due times made clear his word through preaching, that has been committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior, 4 To Titus, my own son after the common faith, Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. 5 For this reason, I left you in Crete, so that you'd set in order the things that are lacking, and ordain elders in every city, like I appointed you, 6 If someone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God, not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy bribes, 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate, 9 Holding tightly the faithful word as he has been taught, so that he'll be able by sound doctrine to exhort and to convince those who contradict. 10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things that they ought not for the sake of filthy bribes. 12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, "The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies." 13 This witness is true. So, scold them sharply, so that they'll be sound in the faith, 14 Not paying attention to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. 15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure, but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and to every good work reprobate. ___Titus chapter 2 1 But speak the things that are part of sound doctrine, 2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience. 3 The aged women likewise, so that they are in behavior in agreement with holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things, 4 So that they teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, pure, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, so that the word of God isn't blasphemed. 6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. 7 In all things showing yourself a pattern of good works, in doctrine showing incorruptness, honesty, sincerity, 8 Sound speech, that can't be condemned, so that he that is of the contrary part will be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about you. 9 Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters, and to please them well in all things, not answering back, 10 Not stealing, but showing all good fidelity, so they'll adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world, 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ, 14 Who gave himself for us, to redeem us from all sin, and purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise you. ___Titus chapter 3 1 Remind them to be subject to princedoms and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready for every good work, 2 To speak evil about no man, to not be brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness to all men. 3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in hatred and envy, hateful, and hating each other. 4 But after the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness that we've done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, 6 That he gave to us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 So that being justified by his grace, we'd be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, so that those who've believed in God would be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. 9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings regarding the law, for they are unprofitable and vain. 10 Reject a man that embraces bad teachings after the first and second scoldings, 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sins, being condemned from himself. 12 When I shall send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I've decided to spend the winter there. 13 Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, so that nothing is lacking to them. 14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, so that they aren't unfruitful. 15 All that are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen. ___Philemon 1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow laborer, 2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house, 3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5 Hearing of your love and faith, that you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints, 6 So that the communication of your faith will become effective by the acknowledging of every good thing that is in you in Christ Jesus. 7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the inward affections of the saints are refreshed by you, brother. 8 So, though I might be quite bold in Christ to command you that which is convenient, 9 Yet for love's sake I rather ask you please, being Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. 10 I ask you please for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my shackles, 11 Who in the past was unprofitable to you, but now profitable to you and to me, 12 Whom I have sent back to you, therefore receive him, that is, my own inward affections, 13 Whom I would have retained with me, so that instead of you he could have ministered to me in the bonds of the gospel, 14 But without your mind I wouldn't do anything, so that your benefit wouldn't be because you had to, but willingly. 15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, so that you'd receive him forever, 16 Not now as a servant, but more than a servant, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh, and in the Lord? 17 If you count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. 18 If he has wronged you, or owes you anything, put that on my account, 19 I Paul have written it with my own hand, I will repay it, although I don't say to you how you owe me even your own self besides. 20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord, refresh my inward affections in the Lord. 21 Having confidence in your obedience I wrote to you, knowing that you'll also do more than I say. 22 But also, prepare me also a lodging, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given to you. 23 Epaphras greets you, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, 24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow laborers. 25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. ___Hebrews chapter 1 1 God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in the past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 Has in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds, 3 Who, being the brightness of his glory, and the specific image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For to which of the angels did he ever say, "You're my Son, this day I've begotten you?" And again, "I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?" 6 And again, when he brings in the first person that was fathered into the world, he says, "And let all the angels of God worship him." 7 And about the angels he says, "Who makes his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire." 8 But to the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and always, a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You've loved righteousness, and hated sin, therefore God, even your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your fellows." 10 And, "You, Lord, in the beginning, have laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands, 11 They shall be destroyed, but you remain, and they'll all grow old like a piece of clothing does, 12 And like a vesture you'll fold them up, and they'll be changed, but you're the same, and your years won't fail." 13 But to which of the angels did he ever say, "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool?" 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation? ___Hebrews chapter 2 1 Therefore we ought to pay more earnest attention to the things that we've heard, so we won't ever let them slip. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was solid, and every transgression and disobedience received a proper punishment, 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect such great salvation, which at first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard him, 4 God also bearing them witness, with signs and wonders, and with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? 5 For he hasn't put the world to come in subjection to the angels, about which we speak. 6 But someone in a certain place testified, "What is man, that you are mindful of him? Or the son of man, that you visit him? 7 You made him a little lower than the angels, you crowned him with glory and honor, and did set him over the works of your hands, 8 You've put all things in subjection under his feet." For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that hasn't been put under him. But now, we don't yet see all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, so that he by the grace of God would taste death for every man. 10 For it was fitting for him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For he that sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all of one, which is why he's not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 Saying, "I will declare your name to my brothers, I'll sing praise to you in the church." 13 And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again, "See, I and the children that God has given me." 14 So, since the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same, so that through death he would destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 And give deliverance to those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For truly he didn't take on himself the nature of angels, but he took on himself the descendancy from Abraham. 17 So in all things it was necessary for him to be made like his brothers, so that he would be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to strengthen those who are tempted. ___Hebrews chapter 3 1 So, holy brothers, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus, 2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, like Moses was also faithful in all his house. 3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, since he who built the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house has been built by some man, but the builder of all things is God. 5 And Moses truly was faithful in all his house, like a servant, for a testimony of the things that were to be spoken afterward, 6 But Christ as a son over his own house, whose house are we, if we hold tightly the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. 7 So (as the Holy Ghost says, "Today if you'll hear his voice, 8 Don't harden your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness, 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 10 So I was grieved with that generation, and said, They always err in their heart, and they haven't known my ways. 11 So I swore in my anger, They won't enter into my rest.)" 12 Pay attention, brothers, so there won't be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort each other daily, while it is called today, so that none of you will be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steady until the end, 15 While it is said, "Today if you'll hear his voice, don't harden your hearts, as in the provocation." 16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke, but not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? Was it not with those who had sinned, whose dead bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he promise that they would not enter into his rest, but to those who didn't believe? 19 So we see that they couldn't enter in because of unbelief. ___Hebrews chapter 4 1 Let us therefore fear, so that a promise being left us of entering into his rest, none of you will seem to come short of it. 2 For the gospel was preached to us, as well as to them, but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we that have believed enter into rest, as he said, "As I have sworn in my anger, if they shall enter into my rest," although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he spoke in a certain place about the seventh day like this, "And God rested the seventh day from all his works." 5 And in this place again, "If they shall enter into my rest." 6 Therefore seeing it remains that some must enter into it, and those to whom it was first preached didn't enter in because of unbelief, 7 Again, he limits a certain day, saying in David, today, after such a long a time, as it is said, "Today if you'll hear his voice, don't harden your hearts." 8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then he wouldn't afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remains therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that has entered into his rest, has also stopped from his own works, like God did from his. 11 Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, so that no man will fall after the same example of unbelief. 12 For the word of God is alive, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the separating of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Nor is there any creature that is not clearly visible in his sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold tightly our profession. 15 For we don't have a high priest who can't be touched by the feeling of our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, so we can obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. ___Hebrews chapter 5 1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, so that he can offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins, 2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on those who are on the wrong road, because he himself also is surrounded by weakness. 3 And because of that, he ought, like for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. 4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he that has been called by God, as was Aaron. 5 So also, Christ didn't glorify himself to be made a high priest, but he that said to him, "You're my Son, today I've begotten you." 6 As he says also in another place, "You're a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." 7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears to him that was able to save him from death, and was heard because he feared, 8 Though he was a Son, yet he learned obedience by the things he suffered, 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation to all those who obey him, 10 Called by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. 11 About whom we have many things to say, and hard to be said, seeing you are dull of hearing. 12 For when for the time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again what are the first principles of the oracles of God, and have become those who need milk, not strong meat. 13 For everyone that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby. 14 But strong meat belongs to those who are of full age, those who, because of use, have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. ___Hebrews chapter 6 1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of rising from the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And we'll do this, if God permits. 4 For it is impossible for those who were once illuminated, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify to themselves the Son of God again, and put him to an open shame. 7 For the earth that drinks in the rain that often comes on it, and produces vegetables appropriate for the farmers, receives blessing from God, 8 But that which produces thorns and briers is rejected, and is near cursing, whose end is to be burned. 9 But beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we talk like this. 10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love that you've shown toward his name, in that you've ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you shows the same diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end, 12 So that you're not slothful, but followers of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he swore by himself, 14 "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you." 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16 For men truly swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. 17 In which God, willing more abundantly to show to the heirs of promise the indestructability of his advice, confirmed it by an oath, 18 So that by two unchangeable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we would have a strong consolation, who've fled for refuge to take hold on the hope set before us, 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters into that inside the veil, 20 Where the one running ahead has entered for us, Jesus, made a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. ___Hebrews chapter 7 1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him, 2 To whom also Abraham gave one tenth of all, first being by interpretation "King of righteousness," and after that also "King of Salem," which is, "King of peace," 3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, lives a priest continually. 4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. 5 And truly those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take ten percent from the people according to the law, that is, of their brothers, though they come out of the loins of Abraham, 6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received ten percent from Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. 7 And without all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 And here men that die receive ten percent, but there he receives it, about whom it is witnessed that he lives. 9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receives tenths, paid tenths in Abraham. 10 For he was still in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him. 11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there for another priest to rise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, there is necessarily a change made also of the law. 13 For he about whom these things are spoken pertains to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord came out of Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident, that after the likeness of Melchizedek another priest arises, 16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. 17 For he testifies, "You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." 18 For there is truly a cancellation of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitability of it. 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did, by which we draw near to God. 20 And since with an oath he was made priest, 21 (For those priests were made without an oath, but this with an oath by him that said to him, "The Lord swore and won't go back on it, You're a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek,") 22 By so much was Jesus made a surety bond of a better testament. 23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not allowed to continue because of death, 24 But this man, because he continues always, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 So he is able also to save to the maximim those who come to God by him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For such a high priest was appropriate for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens, 27 Who doesn't need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's, for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 28 For the law makes men high priests who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which was more recent than the law, makes the Son, who is dedicated forever. ___Hebrews chapter 8 1 Now here is the summation of the things that we have spoken. We have such a high priest, who sits at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, that the Lord pitched, and not man. 3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices, so it is necessary that this man have somewhat also to offer. 4 For if he were on earth, he wouldn't be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law, 5 Who serve in the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished by God when he was about to make the tabernacle, for "See," he said, "that you make all things according to the pattern shown to you on the mountain." 6 But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for the second. 8 For finding fault with them, he said, "See, the days come, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they didn't continue in my covenant, and I didn't pay attention to them, says the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord, I'll put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts, and I'll be to them a God, and they'll be to me a people, 11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and I will no more remember their sins and their iniquities." 13 In that he says, "A new covenant," he has made the first old. Now that which decays and grows old is ready to vanish away. ___Hebrews chapter 9 1 Then truly, the first covenant also had ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. 2 For there was a tabernacle made, the first, in which was the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary. 3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle that is called the Holiest of all, 4 Which had the golden censer, and the gold-plated ark of the covenant, in which was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant, 5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat, about which we can't now speak particularly. 6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. 7 But into the second, the high priest went by himself once every year, not without blood, that he offered for himself and for the errors of the people, 8 The Holy Ghost thus signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made clear, while the first tabernacle was yet standing, 9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertains to the conscience, 10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and various washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. 11 But Christ having become a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building, 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean make them holy, purifying the flesh, 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this purpose, he is the mediator of the new testament, so that by means of death, for the redemption of the sins that were under the first testament, those who are called would receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 16 For where a testament is, there must necessarily also be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead, otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator lives. 18 And so, the first testament wasn't dedicated without blood, either. 19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and red wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, 20 Saying, "This is the blood of the testament that God has commanded to you." 21 Also he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the containers of the ministry. 22 And by the law, almost all things are purged with blood, and without shedding of blood is no forgiveness of sin. 23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ hasn't entered into the holy places made by hands, which are the likenesses of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us, 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place every year with blood of others, 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world, but now once in the end of the world he has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment, 28 So Christ was once offered to carry the sins of many, and to those who look for him he'll appear the second time without sin for salvation. ___Hebrews chapter 10 1 For the law, having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices that they offered year by year, continually, make the comers to it perfect. 2 For then would they not have stopped being offered? Because the worshippers once purged would have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats can take away sins. 5 So when he comes into the world, he says, "Sacrifice and offering you didn't want, but you've prepared a body for me, 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you've had no pleasure. 7 Then I said, See, I come (in the volume of the book it is written about me,) to do your will, Oh God." 8 Above when he said, "Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin you didn't want, nor had pleasure in that, which are offered by the law," 9 Then he said, "See, I come to do your will, O God." He takes away the first, so he can establish the second. 10 By which will we are made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all. 11 And every priest stands daily ministering and offering often the same sacrifices, that can never take away sins, 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 From then on expecting, until his enemies would be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified. 15 About which the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us, for after he had said before, 16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and I'll write them in their minds, 17 And their sins and iniquities I won't remember anymore." 18 Now where forgiveness of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 19 Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, that he has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, 21 And having a high priest over the house of God, 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold tightly the profession of our faith without wavering, (for he is faithful that promised,) 24 And let us consider each other to provoke to love and to good works, 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting each other, and so much the more as you see the day approaching. 26 For if we sin willfully after we've received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses, 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, shall he be thought worthy, who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant, with which he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that has said, "Vengeance belongs to me, I will repay, says the Lord." And again, "The Lord shall judge his people." 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great fight of afflictions, 33 Partly, while you were made a gazing stock both by reproaches and afflictions, and partly, while you became companions of those who were treated that way. 34 For you had compassion on me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that you have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 35 Therefore, don't throw away your confidence, which has great payment of reward. 36 For you need patience, so that after you've done the will of God, you'll receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not wait. 38 Now "The just shall live by faith," but if any man draws back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of those who draw back to hell, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. ___Hebrews chapter 11 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things that are seen were not made from things that appear. 4 By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts, and by it he, being dead, spoke anyway. 5 By faith Enoch was translated so that he didn't see death, and was not found, because God had translated him, for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he's a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned by God of things not seen as yet, moved by fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his family, by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness that is by faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place that he would afterward receive for an inheritance, obeyed, and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he was a visitor in the land of promise, like in a strange country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise, 10 For he looked for a city that has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 Through faith also, Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and received deliverance from a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore there sprang from one, and him as good as dead, as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and like the sand that is by the sea shore uncountable. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country that they had come out of, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly, so then God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 About whom it had been said, "In Isaac shall your descendants be called," 19 Counting that God was able to raise him up even from the dead, from where he'd also received him, sort-of. 20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph, and worshipped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22 By faith, Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel, and gave commandment concerning his bones. 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a proper child, and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. 24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he had respect to the payment of the reward. 27 By faith, he forsook Egypt, not fearing the anger of the king, for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28 Through faith, he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of blood, so that he that destroyed the firstborn wouldn't touch them. 29 By faith, they passed through the Red sea on dry land, which the Egyptians trying to do were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were circled seven days. 31 By faith, the prostitute Rahab didn't die with those who didn't believe, when she had received the spies with peace. 32 And what shall I say more? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah, of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets, 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again, and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, so that they'd obtain a better resurrection, 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yes, also of bonds and imprisonment, 37 They were stoned, they were sawed in pieces, were tempted, were killed by the sword, they wandered around in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented, 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy,) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, didn't receive the promise, 40 God having provided some better thing for us, so that they without us wouldn't be made perfect. ___Hebrews chapter 12 1 So, seeing we are also surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, so you won't be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 You haven't yet resisted as far as bleeding, striving against sin. 5 And you've forgotten the exhortation that speaks to you as to children, "My son, don't despise the spanking of the Lord, and don't faint when you're scolded by him, 6 For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and spanks every son whom he receives." 7 If you endure spanking, God deals with you as with sons, for what son is he whom the father doesn't spank? 8 But if you're without spanking, of which all are partakers, then you're bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh who corrected us, and we gave them respect. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they, truly for a few days, spanked us as they saw fit, but he for our profit, so we'd be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no spanking for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous, but afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who are exercised by it. 12 So lift up the hands that hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 And make straight paths for your feet, so that which is lame isn't turned out of the way, but let it rather be healed. 14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord, 15 Looking diligently so that no man loses any of the grace of God, so that no root of bitterness springing up troubles you, and many are defiled by that, 16 So that there's no fornicator, or profane person, like Esau, who for one bit of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. 18 For you haven't come to the mountain that can be touched, and that burned with fire, nor to blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words, which voice those who heard asked that the word wouldn't be spoken to them anymore, 20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, "And if so much as an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart," 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, "I very much fear and shake.") 22 But you've come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an uncountable multitude of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, that are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel. 25 See that you don't refuse him that speaks. For if they didn't escape who refused him that spoke on earth, much more, we won't escape, if we turn away from him that speaks from heaven, 26 Whose voice then shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven." 27 And this word, "Yet once more," signifies the removing of the things that are shaken, as about things that are made, so that the things that can't be shaken will remain. 28 So, we receiving a kingdom that can't be moved, let us have grace, by which we can serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear, 29 For our God is a consuming fire. ___Hebrews chapter 13 1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Don't be forgetful to entertain strangers, for by doing that, some have unknowingly entertained angels. 3 Remember those who are in shackles, as bound with them, and those who suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. 4 Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled, but God will judge customers of prostitutes, and adulterers. 5 Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as you have, for he has said, "I'll never leave you, nor forsake you." 6 So that we can boldly say, "The Lord is my helper, and I won't fear what man can do to me." 7 Remember those who have the rule over you, who have spoken to you the word of God, whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. 8 Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever. 9 Don't be carried around by various and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace. Not with foods, that haven't profited those who've been occupied with that. 10 We have an altar, of which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also, so that he'd make the people holy with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 Therefore let's go out to him outside the camp, carrying his reproach. 14 For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come. 15 By him therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 16 But don't forget to do good and to give, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 17 Obey those who have the rule over you, and submit yourselves, for they watch for your souls, like those who must give account, so that they can do it with joy, and not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you. 18 Pray for us, for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honestly. 19 But I ask you please rather to do this, so I'll be returned to you sooner. 20 Now the God of peace, that brought back our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and always. Amen. 22 And I ask you please, brothers, allow the word of exhortation, for I have written a letter to you in few words. 23 Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom, if he comes shortly, I'll see you. 24 Greet all those who have the rule over you, and all the saints. Those of Italy greet you. 25 Grace be with you all. Amen. ___James chapter 1 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are dispersed around, greetings. 2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations, 3 Knowing this, that the testing of your faith works patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, so you'll be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God for it, who gives to all men liberally, and won't find fault, and it shall be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. 7 For let that man not think that he'll receive anything from the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted, 10 But the rich, in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he'll pass away. 11 For the sun has no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower of it falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes, so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for after he's been tested, he'll receive the crown of life, that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man, 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it produces sin, and sin when it's finished, produces death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning. 18 He chose to father us with the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 19 So, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, 20 For the anger of man doesn't accomplish the righteousness of God. 21 So, lay apart all filthiness and the unnecessary naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man seeing his natural face in a mirror, 24 For he sees himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seems to be religious, and doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is for nothing. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. ___James chapter 2 1 My brothers, don't have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if a man with a gold ring comes to your assembly in fancy clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes comes in also, 3 And you have respect to him that wears the fancy clothes, and say to him, "Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there, or sit here under my footstool," 4 Aren't you then partial in yourselves, and have become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn't God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have despised the poor. Don't rich men oppress you, and bring you before the judgment seats? 7 Don't they blaspheme that worthy name by which you're called? 8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor like yourself," you do well, 9 But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as sinners. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill." Now if you don't commit adultery, yet if you kill, you've become a breaker of the law. 12 Speak in such a way, and do, as those who'll be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy that has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment. 14 What does it profit, my brothers, though a man says he has faith, and doesn't have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister needs clothes, and lacks daily food, 16 And one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you don't give them the things that are needed for the body, what good is that? 17 Even so faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yes, a man could say, "You have faith, and I have works, show me your faith without your works, and I'll show you my faith by my works." 19 You believe that there is one God, you do well, the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But don't you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see how faith worked with his deeds, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God." 24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also wasn't Rahab the prostitute justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For like the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. ___James chapter 3 1 My brothers, don't be many masters, knowing that we'll receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man doesn't offend in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 See, we put bits in the horses' mouths, so they'll obey us, and we turn around their whole bodies. 4 Look also at the ships, which though they're so large, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they're turned around by a very small helm, wherever the captain wants. 5 Even so, the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how great a matter a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of sin, so is the tongue among our members that it makes dirty the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of animals, and of birds, and of snakes, and of things in the sea, gets tamed, and has been tamed by mankind, 8 But no man can tame the tongue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless God, the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be. 11 Does a fountain send out at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brothers, produce olive berries? Or a vine, figs? So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh. 13 Who is a wise man, possessing knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good lifestyle his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, don't glory, and don't lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom doesn't descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be reasoned with, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those who make peace. ___James chapter 4 1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your lusts that war in your members? 2 You lust, and don't have, you kill, and desire to have, and can't obtain, you fight and war, yet you don't have, because you don't ask. 3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask wrongly, so you can consume it on your lusts. 4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God. 5 Do you think that the scripture says for nothing, "The spirit that lives in us lusts to envy?" 6 But he gives more grace. So he says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he'll run away from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and cry, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he'll lift you up. 11 Don't speak evil about each other, brothers. He that speaks evil about his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil about the law, and judges the law, but if you judge the law, you're not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy, who are you that judges someone else? 13 Go on now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we'll go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit," 14 Actually, you don't know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is a puff of steam, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. 15 For you ought to say, "Lord willing, we'll live, and do this, or that." 16 But now you rejoice in your boastings, all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin. ___James chapter 5 1 Go on now, you rich men, cry and howl for your miseries that shall come on you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your clothes are moth eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are rusted, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You've heaped treasure together for the last days. 4 See, the wages of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which you've kept back by fraud, shouts, and the shouts of those who've reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath. 5 You've lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton, you've nourished your hearts, like in a day of slaughter. 6 You've condemned and killed the just, and he doesn't resist you. 7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is getting near. 9 Don't grudge against each other, brothers, so you won't be condemned, see, the judge stands at the door. 10 Take, my brothers, the prophets, who've spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 See, we count them happy that endure. You've heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. 12 But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, not by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath, but let your yes be yes, and your no, no, so that you don't fall into condemnation. 13 Is anyone among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is anyone merry? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he'll be forgiven. 16 Confess your faults to each other, and pray for each other so you'll be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes a lot. 17 Elijah was a man subject to the same kind of passions that we are, and he prayed earnestly that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. 19 Brothers, if any of you strays from the truth, and someone converts him, 20 Let him know, that he that converts the sinner from the error of his ways shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. ___1 Peter chapter 1 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 Elect according to the knowing ahead-of-time by God the Father, through making holy by the Spirit, to obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, grace to you, and peace, be multiplied. 3 Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy has fathered us again to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that doesn't fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith to salvation ready to be revealed in the end times. 6 In which you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if necessary, you're in heaviness through many temptations, 7 So that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it's tested by fire, will be found to praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ, 8 Whom having not seen, you love, in whom, though now you don't see him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, 9 Receiving the result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 10 About which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied about the grace that would come to you, 11 Searching what, or what kind of time the Spirit of Christ that was in them meant, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that would follow. 12 To whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to us they ministered the things that are now reported to you by those who've preached the gospel to you, with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, which things the angels desire to look into. 13 So, strengthen your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 14 Like obedient children, not building yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance, 15 But like he that has called you is holy, so you be holy in every aspect of living, 16 Because it is written, "You be holy, for I am holy." 17 And if you call on the Father, who without respect of persons, judges according to every man's work, pass the time of your temporary residence here in fear, 18 Since you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold, from your wrong lifestyle, received by tradition from your fathers, 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, 20 Who truly was preordained before the foundation of the world, but was made clearly visible in these last times for you, 21 Who by him, believe in God, who raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope would be in God. 22 Since you've purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit to unpretended love of the brothers, make sure you love each other with a pure heart fervently, 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, that lives and remains forever. 24 For all flesh is like grass, and all the glory of man like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower of it falls away, 25 But the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word that by the gospel is preached to you. ___1 Peter chapter 2 1 So, laying aside all hatred, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envying, and all evil speaking, 2 Like newborn babies, desire the sincere milk of the word, so you'll grow by it, 3 If you've tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 To whom coming, like to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, and precious, 5 You also, like living stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Also it is contained in the scripture, "See, I lay in Zion a main cornerstone, elect, precious, and he that believes on him won't be put to shame." 7 To you therefore who believe, he is precious, but to those who are disobedient, the stone that the builders rejected, has become the cornerstone, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to those who stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed. 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, so that you will show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light, 10 Who previously were not a people, but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11 Dearly beloved, I ask you please, as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul, 12 Having your lifestyle honest among the Gentiles, so that, while they speak against you as evildoers, they will, by your good works that they'll see, glorify God on the day of visitation. 13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether it's to the king, as supreme, 14 Or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of those who do well. 15 For this is the will of God, that with well-doing you'll put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of hatred, but as the servants of God. 17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the difficult. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it if when you're chided for your faults, you take it patiently? But if when you do well, and suffer for it, you take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps, 22 Who did no sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth, 23 Who, when he was scoffed at, didn't scoff back, when he suffered, he didn't threaten, but committed himself to him that judges righteously, 24 Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, so that we, being dead to sins, would live to righteousness, by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. ___1 Peter chapter 3 1 Likewise you wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, so that, if any doesn't obey the word, they also without the word will be won by the lifestyle of the wives, 2 While they see your pure living coupled with fear. 3 Let your adorning not be the outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of wearing fancy clothes, 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is of great price in the sight of God. 5 For that's how the holy women did also in old times, who trusted in God, adorning themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands, 6 Like Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are, as long as you do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. 7 Likewise you husbands, live with them according to knowledge, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker container, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, so that your prayers won't be hindered. 8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion on each other, love like brothers, be pitiful, be courteous, 9 Not returning evil for evil, or railing for railing, but to the contrary, blessing, knowing that you are called to that, so that you'll inherit a blessing. 10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips so they speak no deceit, 11 Let him hate evil, and do good, let him seek peace, and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. 13 And who is he that will harm you, if you're followers of what is good? 14 But if you suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are you, and don't be afraid of their terror, nor be troubled, 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give an answer to every man that asks you for a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear, 16 Having a good conscience, so that, although they speak evil about you, like about evildoers, they will be ashamed that falsely accuse your good lifestyle in Christ. 17 For it is better, if it's the will of God, that you suffer for well-doing, than for evil doing. 18 For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, so that he would bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit, 19 By which also he went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 Who once were disobedient, when previously the patience of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21 The similar figure to which baptism also now saves us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 Who has gone into heaven, and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him. ___1 Peter chapter 4 1 Since Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind, for he that has suffered in the flesh has stopped sinning, 2 So that he no longer would live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3 For what's in the past of our lives should be enough in doing the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, riotous living, excessive eating, and filthy idolatries, 4 In which they think it strange that you don't run with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil about you, 5 Who'll give account to him that is ready to judge the alive and the dead. 6 That's why the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, so that they'd be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 7 But the end of all things is near, therefore be sober, and stay awake for prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent love among yourselves, for love shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality toward each other without grudging. 10 As every man has received the gift, minister the same to each other, as good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God. 11 If any man speaks, let him speak like the oracles of God, if any man ministers, let him do it as of the ability that God gives, so that God, in all things, will be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and always. Amen. 12 Beloved, don't think it strange concerning the fiery trial that is to test you, as though some strange thing happened to you, 13 But rejoice, since you are partakers of Christ's sufferings, so that, when his glory shall be revealed, you'll be glad also with great joy. 14 If you're reproached for the name of Christ, happy are you, for the spirit of glory and of God rests on you. On their part he is spoken evil about, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 16 Yet if any man suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God because of this. 17 For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God, and if it first begins at us, what shall be the end of those who don't obey the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous just barely get saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 So let those who suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as to a faithful Creator. ___1 Peter chapter 5 1 I exhort the elders who are among you. I'm also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed, 2 Feed the flock of God that is among you, taking the oversight of it, not because you must, but willingly, not for filthy bribes, but with a ready mind, 3 Nor as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, you'll receive a crown of glory that doesn't fade away. 5 Likewise you younger, submit yourselves to the elder. Yes, all of you be subject to each other, and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so he'll lift you up in due time, 7 Casting all your care on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, like a roaring lion, walks around, seeking whom he can devour, 9 Whom resist, steady in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brothers that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who has called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you've suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion forever and always. Amen. 12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother to you, as I suppose, I've written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand. 13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, greets you, and so does Marcus, my son. 14 Greet each other with a kiss of love. Peace be with you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen. ___2 Peter chapter 1 1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ, 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue, 4 By which are given to us very great and precious promises, so that by these you'll be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, 6 And to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are in you, and are plentiful, they'll keep you from being barren or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacks these things is blind, and can't see far off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 So rather, brothers, give diligence to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things, you'll never fall, 11 That's how an entrance shall be ministered to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 12 So, I won't be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know them, and are established in the present truth. 13 Yes, I think it's appropriate, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by reminding you, 14 Knowing that soon, I must put off this body that I have, as our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me. 15 Also I will try to arrange that you'll be able to have these things always in remembrance, after my death. 16 For we haven't followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when such a voice came to him from the excellent glory and said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 18 And we heard this voice that came from heaven, when we were with him in the holy mountain. 19 We also have a more sure word of prophecy, to which you do well to pay attention to, like to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the day star arises in your hearts, 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy didn't come in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. ___2 Peter chapter 2 1 But there were false prophets also among the people, just as there'll be false teachers among you, who secretly shall bring in damnable false teachings, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their wicked ways, because of whom the way of truth shall be spoken evil about. 3 And through covetousness, they'll make merchandise of you with pretended words, whose judgment now after a long time doesn't wait, and their damnation doesn't sleep. 4 For if God didn't spare the angels that sinned, but threw them down to hell, and delivered them to chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment, 5 And didn't spare the old world, but saved Noah, the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly, 6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example to those who afterward would live in ungodly ways, 7 And gave deliverance to just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked, 8 (For that righteous man living among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds,) 9 The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust until the day of judgment to be punished, 10 But mainly those who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. They're presumptuous, self-willed, they aren't afraid to speak evil of dignities. 11 But angels, who are greater in power and might, don't bring railing accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, like natural brute animals, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil about the things that they don't understand, and shall completely perish in their own corruption, 13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, like those who that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. They are spots and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you, 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that can't stop sinning, corrupting unstable souls, they have exercised their hearts with covetous practices, cursed children, 15 Who've forsaken the right way, and have gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, 16 But was scolded for his sin, the dumb donkey speaking with man's voice spoke against the insanity of the prophet. 17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest, to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they seduce through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those who were completely escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption, for by whom a man is overcome, that’s how he is brought into bondage. 20 For if after they’ve escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandments delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb, "The dog has turned to his own vomit again, and the pig that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." ___2 Peter chapter 3 1 This second letter, beloved, I now write to you, in both of which I stir up your pure minds by reminding you, 2 So that you'll be thinking about the words that were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 Knowing this first, that in the last days, scoffers shall come, walking according to their own lusts, 4 And saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue like they were from the beginning of the creation." 5 For this they are willingly ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water, 6 By which, the world that was then, being submerged in water, was destroyed, 7 But the heavens and the earth that are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved for fire until the day of judgment and hell for ungodly men. 8 But beloved, don't be ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is patient toward us, not willing for anyone to perish, but that all would come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are in it shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what kind of people ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hurrying toward the coming of the day of God, in which the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 However we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness lives. 14 So beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent so you'll be found by him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And consider that the patience of our Lord is salvation, like our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given to him has written to you, 16 As also in all his letters, speaking in them about these things, in which are some things difficult to understand, which those who are unlearned and unstable tear, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things before, beware so you won't also be led away with the error of the wicked, and fall from your own steadiness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory now and forever. Amen. ___1 John chapter 1 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life, 2 (For the life was made clear, and we've seen it, and testify, and show you that eternal life, that was with the Father, and was made clear to us.) 3 That which we've seen and heard we tell you, so that you also will have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you, so that your joy will be full. 5 This then is the message that we've heard from him, and tell you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we're lying, and not doing the truth, 7 But if we walk in the light, like he is in the light, we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we haven't sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. ___1 John chapter 2 1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you won't sin. And if any man sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And he is the payment for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that says, "I know him," and doesn't keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in him. 6 He that says he lives in him ought to walk like He walked. 7 Brothers, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment that you've had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you've heard from the beginning. 8 Again, I write a new commandment to you, which thing is true in him and in you, because the darkness has past, and the true light now shines. 9 He that says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loves his brother lives in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and doesn't know where he's going, because that darkness has blinded him. 12 I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake. 13 I write to you, fathers, because you've known him that is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you've overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you've known the Father. 14 I've written to you, fathers, because you've known him that is from the beginning. I've written to you, young men, because you're strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you've overcome the wicked one. 15 Don't love the world, nor the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passes away and its lust, but he that does the will of God lives forever. 18 Little children, it is the last time, and as you've heard that antichrist shall come, even now there are many antichrists, by which we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us, but they went out, so that they'd be made clear that they were not all of us. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 21 I haven't written to you because you don't know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist that denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son doesn't have the Father, but he that acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 24 Let that therefore live in you that you've heard from the beginning. If that which you've heard from the beginning remains in you, you'll also continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he has promised us, eternal life. 26 I've written these things to you concerning those who try to seduce you. 27 But the anointing that you've received from him lives in you, and you don't need any man to teach you, but as the same anointing teaches you about all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and just as it has taught you, you'll live in him. 28 And now, little children, live in him, so that, when he appears, we'll have confidence, and not be ashamed in his presence when he comes. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone that does righteousness is born of him. ___1 John chapter 3 1 Observe what kind of love the Father has loved us with, that we should be called the sons of God, therefore the world doesn't know us, because it didn't know him. 2 Beloved, we are now the sons of God, and it doesn't yet appear what we'll be, but we know that when he appears, we'll be like him, for we'll see him as he is. 3 And every man that has this hope in himself purifies himself, just as he is pure. 4 Whoever commits sin also violates the law, for sin is the violation of the law. 5 And you know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and in him there's no sin. 6 Whoever lives in him doesn't sin, whoever sins hasn't seen him, nor known him. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you, he that does righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 He that commits sin is of the devil, for the devil sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was revealed, so that he'd destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever is born of God doesn't commit sin, for his seed remains in him, and he can't sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this, the children of God are made clear, and the children of the devil, whoever doesn't do righteousness is not of God, nor he that doesn't love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love each other. 12 Not like Cain, who was of that wicked one, and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. 13 Don't be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we've passed from death to life, because we love the brothers. He that doesn't love his brother remains in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life living in him. 16 By this we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and won't show compassion on him, how does the love of God live in him? 18 My little children, let's not love in word, nor in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart doesn't condemn us, then we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments, and do the things that are pleasing in his sight. 23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love each other, like he commanded us to do. 24 And he that keeps his commandments lives in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that he lives in us, by the Spirit that he has given us. ___1 John chapter 4 1 Beloved, don't believe every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God, every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 And every spirit that doesn't confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God, and this is that spirit of antichrist, about which you've heard that it would come, and even now already it's in the world. 4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5 They are of the world, therefore they speak about the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are of God. He that knows God listens to us, he that is not of God doesn't listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 7 Beloved, let us love each other, for love is of God, and everyone that loves is born of God, and knows God. 8 He that doesn't love, doesn't know God, for God is love. 9 In this, the love of God was made clear toward us, because God sent his only begotten Son into the world, so that we would live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the payment for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love each other. 12 No man has seen God at any time. If we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we live in him, and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he that lives in love, lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this, our love is made perfect, so that we'll have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love throws out fear, because fear has torment. He that's in fear hasn't been made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar, for he that doesn't love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he hasn't seen? 21 And we have this commandment from him, that he that loves God should love his brother also. ___1 John chapter 5 1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone that loves him that fathered loves him also who was fathered by him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments don't cause grief. 4 For whoever is born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that overcomes the world: our faith. 5 Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 He's the one that came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that testifies, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that testify in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. 8 And there are three that testify on earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood, and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater, for this is the witness of God that he has testified about his Son. 10 He that believes on the Son of God has the witness in himself, he that doesn't believe God has made him a liar, because he doesn't believe the record that God gave about his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that has the Son has life, and he that doesn't have the Son of God doesn't have life. 13 I've written these things to you who believe on the name of the Son of God so that you'll know that you have eternal life, and so that you'll believe on the name of the Son of God. 14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us, 15 And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have what we requested from him. 16 If any man sees his brother sin a sin that's not to death, he shall ask, and he'll give him life for those who don't sin to death. There is a sin to death, I don't say that he should pray for it. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not to death. 18 We know that whoever is born of God doesn't sin, but he that's begotten by God keeps himself, and that wicked one doesn't touch him. 19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in wickedness. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding, so that we'll know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. ___2 John 1 The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth, and not I only, but also all of those who've known the truth. 2 For the truth's sake, that lives in us, and shall be with us forever. 3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 4 I rejoiced greatly that I found some of your children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 5 And now I ask you please, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love each other. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, that, as you've heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. 7 For many deceivers have entered into the world, who don't confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, so that we don't lose the things that we have earned, but so that we receive a full reward. 9 Whoever transgresses, and doesn't remain in the doctrine of Christ, doesn't have God. He that lives in the doctrine of Christ, he has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you, and doesn't bring this doctrine, don't receive him into your house, nor wish him God speed, 11 For he that wishes him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 12 Having many things to write to you, I don't want to write with paper and ink, but I trust to come to you, and speak face to face, so that our joy will be full. 13 The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen. ___3 John 1 The elder to the well beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that you prosper and be in health, like your soul prospers. 3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brothers came and testified about the truth that is in you, as you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 5 Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do to the brothers, and to strangers, 6 Who have testified about your love before the church, whom if you help along on their journey in a godly way, you'll do well, 7 Because for his name's sake, they went out, taking nothing from the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to receive such, so that we would be fellow helpers to the truth. 9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the top position among them, wouldn't receive us. 10 So if I come, I'll remember his deeds that he does, slandering us with malicious words, and not content with that, he also doesn't receive the brothers, and forbids those who would, and throws them out of the church. 11 Beloved, don't follow that which is evil, but that which is good. He that does good is of God, but he that does evil hasn't seen God. 12 Demetrius has a good report from all men, and of the truth itself, yes, and we also testify, and you know that our record is true. 13 I had many things to write, but I don't want to write to you with ink and pen, 14 But I trust I shall shortly see you, and we'll speak face to face. Peace be to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name. ___Jude 1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called, 2 Mercy to you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write to you about the common salvation, it was necessary for me to write to you, and exhort you to earnestly argue for the faith that was once delivered to the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in secretly, who of old were ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lust, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 5 I will therefore remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who didn't believe. 6 And the angels who didn't keep their first condition, but left their own dwelling place, he has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness until the judgment of the great day. 7 Like Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them similarly, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set out as an example, suffering the payback of eternal fire. 8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil, he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you." 10 But these speak evil about the things that they don't know, but what they know naturally, as brute animals, in those things they corrupt themselves. 11 Woe to them! For they've gone the way of Cain, and have run greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. 12 These are spots in your feasts of love, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear, they are clouds without water, carried around by winds, trees whose fruit withers, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up roots and all, 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame, wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. 14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these, "See, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his saints, 15 To execute judgment on all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds that they've sinfully committed, and of all their hard speeches that ungodly sinners have spoken against him." 16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts, and their mouth speaks great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage. 17 But beloved, remember the words that were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, 18 How they told you there would be mockers in the last time, who'd walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These are those who separate themselves, sensual, not having the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ until eternal life. 22 And on some have compassion, making a difference, 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 24 Now to him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and always. Amen. ___Revelation chapter 1 1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, that God gave him, to show to his servants things that must soon occur, and he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John, 2 Who testified of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he that reads, and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it, for the time is near. 4 John, to the seven churches that are in Asia, Grace be to you, and peace, from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits that are in front of his throne, 5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten from the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. To him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And has made us kings and priests to God his Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and always. Amen. 7 See, he comes with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and those also who pierced him, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. 8 "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end," says the Lord, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." 9 I John, who am also your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the island that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a loud voice, like a trumpet, 11 Saying, "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last," and, "What you see, write in a book, and send it to the seven churches that are in Asia, to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamos, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea." 12 And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks. 13 And among the seven candlesticks someone like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and clothed around the chest with a golden vest. 14 His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 And his feet like fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace, and his voice like the sound of many waters. 16 And he had seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword went out of his mouth, and his face was like the sun shines in its strength. 17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. And he laid his right hand on me, saying to me, "Don't be afraid, I'm the first and the last, 18 I am he that lives, and was dead, and see, I'm alive forever, amen, and have the keys of hell and of death. 19 Write the things that you've seen, and the things that are, and the things that shall come later, 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven candlesticks that you saw are the seven churches." ___Revelation chapter 2 1 "To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, These things says he that holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden candlesticks, 2 I know your works, and your labor, and your patience, and how you can't stand those who are evil, and you've tested those who say they are apostles, and are not, and have found them to be liars, 3 And have carried, and have had patience, and for my name's sake have labored, and haven't fainted. 4 However, I have somewhat against you, because you've left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you've fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of its place, unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches, to him that overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life, that is in the middle of the paradise of God. 8 And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, These things says the first and the last, who was dead, and is alive, 9 I know your works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but you are rich) and I know the blasphemy of those who say they're Jews, and aren't, but are the synagogue of Satan. 10 Don't fear any of the things that you'll suffer, see, the devil shall throw some of you into prison, so that you'll be tested, and you'll have tribulation ten days, be faithful until death, and I'll give you a crown of life. 11 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He that overcomes won't be hurt by the second death. 12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, these things says he that has the sharp sword with two edges, 13 I know your works, and where you live, where Satan's seat is, and you hold tightly my name, and haven't denied my faith, even in the days in which Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan lives. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication. 15 So do you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, a thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I'll come to you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches, to him that overcomes I'll give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written that no man knows except he that receives it. 18 And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, These things says the Son of God, who has his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass, 19 I know your works, and love, and service, and faith, and your patience, and your works, the last more than the first. 20 But I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her fornication, and she didn't repent. 22 See, I will throw her into a bed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am he who searches the reins and hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 But to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as don't have this doctrine, and who haven't known what they call the depths of Satan, I will put on you no other burden. 25 But what you have already, hold tightly until I come. 26 And he that overcomes, and keeps my works to the end, to him I'll give power over the nations, 27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron, they'll be broken to pieces like a potter's pottery, like I received from my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." ___Revelation chapter 3 1 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, These things says he that has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars, I know your works, that you have a name that you live, and are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you've received and heard, and hold tightly, and repent. If therefore you won't watch, I'll come to you like a thief, and you won't know what hour I'll come to you. 4 You have a few names even in Sardis that haven't defiled their garments, and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He that overcomes, shall be clothed in white clothing, and I won't erase his name from the book of life, but I'll confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, These things says he that is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David, he that opens, and no man shuts, and shuts, and no man opens, 8 I know your works, see, I've set before you an open door, and no man can shut it, for you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and haven't denied my name. 9 See, I'll make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they're Jews, and are not, but they're lying, see, I'll make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I've loved you. 10 Because you've kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation that shall come on all the world, to test those who live on the earth. 11 See, I come quickly, hold tightly what you have, so that no man takes your crown. 12 Him that overcomes, I'll make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he'll go no more out, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, that comes down out of heaven from my God, and I'll write on him my new name. 13 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 14 And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God, 15 I know your works, that you're neither cold nor hot, I'd rather you were cold or hot. 16 So then because you're lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth. 17 Because you say, I'm rich, and increased with goods, and don't need anything, and don't know that you're wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from me gold tested in the fire, so you'll be rich, and white clothing, so you'll be clothed, and so that the shame of your nakedness won't be seen, and anoint your eyes with eye salve, so you'll see. 19 As many as I love, I scold and spank, be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 See, I stand at the door, and knock, if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I'll come in to him, and will eat with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcomes I'll grant to sit with me in my throne, just as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." ___Revelation chapter 4 1 After this I looked, and see, a door was opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard was like a trumpet talking with me, which said, "Come up here, and I will show you things that must come later." 2 And immediately I was in the spirit, and see, a throne was set in heaven, and someone sat on the throne. 3 And he that sat was to look at like a jasper and a sardine stone, and there was a rainbow around the throne, in sight like an emerald. 4 And around the throne were twenty four seats, and on the seats I saw twenty four elders sitting, clothed in white clothes, and they had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices, and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like crystal, and in the middle of the throne, and around the throne, were four beasts full of eyes in front and in back. 7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face like a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four beasts each had six wings around him, and they were full of eyes inside, and they don't rest day and night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." 9 And when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who lives forever and always, 10 The twenty four elders fell down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that lives forever and always, and threw their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for you've created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created." ___Revelation chapter 5 1 And I saw, in the right hand of him that sat on the throne, a book written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel say with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book, and to undo the seals of it?" 3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, nor under the earth, was able to open the book, nor to look at it. 4 And I cried a lot, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, nor to look at it. 5 And one of the elders said to me, "Don't cry, see, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the book, and to undo the seven seals of it." 6 And I saw, and see, in the middle of the throne and of the four beasts, and among the elders, a Lamb stood that had been killed, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and twenty four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sang a new song, "You are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals of it, for you were killed, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every kindred, and language, and people, and nation, 10 And have made us to our God kings and priests, and we'll reign on the earth." 11 And I saw, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the beasts and the elders, and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 Saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was killed to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing." 13 And every creature that is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying, "Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be to him that sits on the throne, and to the Lamb forever and always. 14 And the four beasts said, "Amen." And the twenty four elders fell down and worshipped him that lives forever and always. ___Revelation chapter 6 1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard like the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, "Come and see." 2 And I saw a white horse, and he that sat on him had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering, and to conquer. 3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, "Come and see." 4 And another horse that was red went out, and power was given to him that sat on it to take peace away from the earth, and that they should kill each other, and a large sword was given to him. 5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, "Come and see." And I saw, and see, a black horse, and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice among the four beasts say, "A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny, and make sure you don't hurt the oil and the wine." 7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, "Come and see." 8 And I looked, and there was a pale horse, and the name of him that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given to them over one fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, and by hunger, and by death, and by the animals of the earth. 9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the word of God, and for the testimony that they held, 10 And they shouted with a loud voice, "For how long, O Lord, holy and true, won't you judge and avenge our blood against those who live on the earth?" 11 And white robes were given to each of them, and they were told that they should rest for a little while yet, until their fellow servants also, and their brothers, that would be killed like they were, would be fulfilled. 12 And I saw when he had opened the sixth seal, and see, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black like sackcloth made of hair, and the moon became like blood, 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, like a fig tree throws its untimely figs, when it's shaken by a strong wind. 14 And the heaven departed like a scroll when it's rolled together, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the top captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sits on the throne, and from the anger of the Lamb, 17 For the great day of his anger has come, and who shall be able to stand?" ___Revelation chapter 7 1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, so that the wind wouldn't blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel rising from the east, having the seal of the living God, and he shouted with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Saying, "Don't hurt the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, until we've sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." 4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, and one hundred forty four thousand were sealed of all the tribes of the children of Israel. 5 Twelve thousand of the tribe of Judah were sealed. Twelve thousand of the tribe of Reuben were sealed. Twelve thousand of the tribe of Gad were sealed. 6 Twelve thousand of the tribe of Asher were sealed. Twelve thousand of the tribe of Naphtali were sealed. Twelve thousand of the tribe of Manasseh were sealed. 7 Twelve thousand of the tribe of Simeon were sealed. Twelve thousand of the tribe of Levi were sealed. Twelve thousand of the tribe of Issachar were sealed. 8 Twelve thousand of the tribe of Zebulun were sealed. Twelve thousand of the tribe of Joseph were sealed. Twelve thousand of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed. 9 After this I saw a great multitude, which no man could count, from all nations, and kindreds, and peoples, and languages, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands, 10 And shouted with a loud voice, "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." 11 And all the angels stood around the throne, and around the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, "Amen, Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be to our God forever and always. Amen." 13 And one of the elders answered, saying to me, "What are these who are arrayed in white robes? And where did they come from?" 14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are those who came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple, and he that sits on the throne shall live among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, nor thirst anymore, nor shall the sun shine on them, nor any heat. 17 For the Lamb who is in the middle of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them to living fountains of waters, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." ___Revelation chapter 8 1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stood before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer, and a lot of incense was given to him, so that he would offer it with the prayers of all saints on the golden altar that was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, that came with the prayers of the saints, rose up before God out of the angel's hand. 5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it into the earth, and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. 6 And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. 7 The first angel sounded, and hail and fire mixed with blood followed, and they were thrown on the earth, and one third of the trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. 8 And the second angel sounded, and like a large mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and one third of the sea became blood, 9 And one third of the creatures that were in the sea, and had life died, and one third of the ships was destroyed. 10 And the third angel sounded, and a large star from heaven fell, burning like a lamp, and it fell on one third of the rivers, and on the fountains of waters, 11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood, and one third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter. 12 And the fourth angel sounded, and one third of the sun was struck, and one third of the moon, and one third of the stars, so that one third of them was darkened, and the day didn't shine for one third of it, and the night likewise. 13 And I saw, and heard an angel flying through the middle of heaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabitants of the earth because of the other voices of the trumpets of the three angels that are yet to sound!" ___Revelation chapter 9 1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven to the earth, and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit, like the smoke of a large furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. 3 And out of the smoke, locusts came on the earth, and power was given to them, like the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 And they were commanded not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who don't have the seal of God in their foreheads. 5 And it was given to them not to kill them, but to torment them five months, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion, when it strikes a man. 6 And in those days men shall seek death, and won't find it, and shall desire to die, and death shall run away from them. 7 And the locusts were shaped like horses prepared for battle, and on their heads were like gold crowns, and their faces were like men's faces. 8 And they had hair like women's hair, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions. 9 And they had breastplates, like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. 10 And they had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails, and their power was to hurt men five months. 11 And they had a king over them, who is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew language is Abaddon, but in the Greek language has the name Apollyon. 12 One woe is past, and see, two woes more come afterward. 13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar that is before God, 14 Saying to the sixth angel that had the trumpet, "Loose the four angels that are bound in the great river Euphrates." 15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, to kill one third of men. 16 And the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million, and I heard the number of them. 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and those who sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone, and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. 18 One third of men was killed by these three, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone that flowed out of their mouths. 19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails, for their tails were like snakes, and had heads, and they did hurt with them. 20 And the rest of the men that weren't killed by these plagues still didn't repent of the works of their hands, so that they wouldn't worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood, that can neither see, nor hear, nor walk, 21 Nor did they repent of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. ___Revelation chapter 10 1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud, and a rainbow was on his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet were like pillars of fire, 2 And he had a little book that was open in his hand, and he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the earth, 3 And shouted with a loud voice, like when a lion roars, and when he had shouted, seven thunders spoke their voices. 4 And when the seven thunders had spoken their voices, I was about to write, and I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Seal up the things that the seven thunders spoke, and don't write them." 5 And the angel that I saw stand on the sea and on the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, 6 And swore by him that lives forever and always, who created heaven, and the things that are in it, and the earth, and the things that are in it, and the sea, and the things that are in it, that there would no longer be time. 7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he begins to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, like he has told his servants the prophets. 8 And the voice that I heard from heaven spoke to me again, and said, "Go and take the little book that is open in the hand of the angel that stands on the sea and on the earth." 9 And I went to the angel, and said to him, "Give me the little book." And he said to me, "Take it, and eat it up, and it shall make your belly bitter, but it shall be in your mouth sweet as honey." 10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth, and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. 11 And he said to me, "You must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and languages, and kings." ___Revelation chapter 11 1 And a piece of bamboo like a rod was given to me, and the angel stood and said, "Get up, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and those who worship in it. 2 But the court that is outside the temple leave out, and don't measure it, for it is given to the Gentiles, and they'll tread the holy city under foot, for forty two months. 3 And I'll give power to my two witnesses, and they'll prophesy a thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if any man wants to hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth, and devours their enemies, and if any man wants to hurt them, he must be killed that way. 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that it doesn't rain in the days of their prophecy, and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they want to. 7 And when they've finished their testimony, the beast that rises out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, that spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 And those of the people and kindreds and languages and nations shall see their dead bodies three and a half days, and won't allow their dead bodies to be put in graves. 10 And those who live on the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts to each other, because these two prophets tormented those who lived on the earth. 11 And after three and a half days, the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And the same hour, there was a great earthquake, and one tenth of the city fell, and in the earthquake seven thousand men were killed, and the remainder were afraid, and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe is past, and see, the third woe comes quickly." 15 And the seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and always." 16 And the twenty four elders, who sat before God on their seats, fell on their faces, and worshipped God, 17 Saying, "We give you thanks, O Lord God Almighty, who is, and was, and is to come, because you've taken to yourself your great power, and have reigned. 18 And the nations were angry, and your anger has come, and the time of the dead, for them to be judged, and that you should reward your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and those who fear your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth." 19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of his testament was seen in his temple, and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. ___Revelation chapter 12 1 And a great wonder appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars, 2 And she, being with child, cried, travailing in birth, and was in pain desiring deliverance. 3 And another wonder appeared in heaven, and see, a large red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns on his heads. 4 And his tail drew one third of the stars of heaven, and threw them to the earth, and the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to receive deliverance, to devour her child as soon as it was born. 5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron, and her child was caught up to God, and to his throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, so that they'll feed her there a thousand two hundred sixty days. 7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And didn't prevail, nor was their place found anymore in heaven. 9 And the large dragon was thrown out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, who deceives the whole world, he was thrown out into the earth, and his angels were thrown out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Salvation has now come, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they didn't love their lives until death. 12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you that live in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great anger, because he knows that he only has a short time. 13 And when the dragon saw that he was thrown to the earth, he persecuted the woman who brought forth the man child. 14 And two wings of a large eagle were given to the woman, so that she'd fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 15 And the serpent vomited water out of his mouth, like a flood, after the woman, so that he'd cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed up the flood that the dragon vomited out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was angry with the woman, and went to make war with the remainder of her children, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. ___Revelation chapter 13 1 And I stood on the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads the name of blasphemy. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion, and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads like wounded to death, and his deadly wound was healed, and all the world wondered concerning the beast. 4 And they worshipped the dragon who gave power to the beast, and they worshipped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" 5 And a mouth was given to him speaking great things and blasphemies, and power was given to him to continue forty two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and those who live in heaven. 7 And it was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them, and he was given power over all kindreds, and languages, and nations. 8 And all that live on the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb killed from the foundation of the world. 9 If any man has an ear, let him hear. 10 He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity, he that kills with the sword must be killed by the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. 11 And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and causes the earth and those who live in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 And he does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14 And deceives those who live on the earth by the means of the miracles that he had power to do in the sight of the beast, saying to those who live on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, who had the wound by a sword, and lived. 15 And he had power to give life to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would speak, and would cause that as many as wouldn't worship the image of the beast would be killed. 16 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads, 17 And that no man could buy or sell, except he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that has understanding count the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred sixty six. ___Revelation chapter 14 1 And I looked, and see, a Lamb stood on Mount Zion, and with him one hundred forty four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of a great thunder, and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps, 3 And they sang like a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders, and no man could learn that song but the hundred forty four thousand, who were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are those who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault before the throne of God. 6 And I saw another angel fly in the middle of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and language, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." 8 And another angel followed, saying, "Babylon has fallen, has fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the anger of her fornication." 9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If any man worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 He shall drink of the wine of the anger of God, that is poured out undiluted into the cup of his indignation, and he'll be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb, 11 And the smoke of their torment rises up forever and always, and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name. 12 Here is the patience of the saints, here are those who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on, yes, says the Spirit, so that they can rest from their labors, and their works follow them." 14 And I looked, and see, a white cloud, and on the cloud someone sat like the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, shouting with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, "Thrust in your sickle, and reap, for the time has come for you to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe." 16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. 17 And another angel came out of the temple that is in heaven, also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and shouted with a loud shout to him that had the sharp sickle, "Thrust in your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe." 19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the anger of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even up to the horse bridles, for a distance of a thousand six hundred furlongs. ___Revelation chapter 15 1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues, for the anger of God is filled up in them. 2 And I saw like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who'd gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 3 And they sang the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are your ways, you King of saints. 4 Who shall not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name? For only you are holy, for all nations shall come and worship before you, for your judgments are made clear." 5 And after that I looked, and see, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened, 6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts clothed with golden vests. 7 And one of the four beasts gave to the seven angels seven golden bottles full of the anger of God, who lives forever and always. 8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power, and no man was able to enter into the temple, until the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. ___Revelation chapter 16 1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go your ways, and pour out the bottles of the anger of God on the earth." 2 And the first went, and poured out his bottle on the earth, and a severe, and grief-causing sore fell on the men who had the mark of the beast, and on those who worshipped his image. 3 And the second angel poured out his bottle on the sea, and it became like the blood of a dead man, and every living soul died in the sea. 4 And the third angel poured out his bottle on the rivers and fountains of waters, and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel of the waters say, "You are righteous, O Lord, who is, and was, and shall be, because you've judged this. 6 For they've shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you've given them blood to drink, for they deserve it." 7 And I heard another out of the altar say, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments." 8 And the fourth angel poured out his bottle on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, who has power over these plagues, and they didn't repent to give him glory. 10 And the fifth angel poured out his bottle on the seat of the beast, and his kingdom was full of darkness, and they bit their tongues because of the pain, 11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and didn't repent of their deeds. 12 And the sixth angel poured out his bottle on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings of the east would be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, who go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 15 See, I come like a thief. Blessed is he that stays awake, and keeps his garments, so he doesn't walk naked, and they see his shame. 16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew language Armageddon. 17 And the seventh angel poured out his bottle into the air, and a great voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done." 18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings, and there was a great earthquake, such as has never been since men were on the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. 19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give to her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his anger. 20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And a great hail fell on men out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent, and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, for the plague of it was very severe. ___Revelation chapter 17 1 And one of the seven angels came, who had the seven bottles, and talked with me, saying to me, "Come here, I'll show you the judgment of the great whore that sits on many waters, 2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication." 3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness, and I saw a woman sit on a red beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and red, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication, 5 And on her forehead was a name written, "Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother of Whores and Abominations of the Earth," 6 And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus, and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. 7 And the angel said to me, "Why were you impressed? I'll tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, that has the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into hell, and those who live on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. 9 And here is the mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits. 10 And there are seven kings, five have fallen, and one is, and the other hasn't yet come, and when he comes, he must continue a short time. 11 And the beast that was, and is not, he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into hell. 12 And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings, who've received no kingdom yet, but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. 13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength to the beast. 14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings, and those who are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful." 15 And he said to me, "The waters that you saw, where the whore sits, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and languages. 16 And the ten horns that you saw on the beast, shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. 18 And the woman that you saw is that great city, that rules over the kings of the earth." ___Revelation chapter 18 1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. 2 And he shouted mightily with a strong voice, "Babylon the great has fallen, has fallen, and has become the dwelling place of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich through the abundance of her delicacies." 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, "Come out of her, my people, so that you're not partakers of her sins, and so you're not a victim of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her sins. 6 Reward her as she rewarded you, and double to her double according to her works, in the cup that she has filled, fill to her double. 7 As much as she has glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her, for she says in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and will see no sorrow. 8 Therefore her plagues shall come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine, and she shall be completely burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her. 9 And the kings of the earth, who've committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, 10 Standing far off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come. 11 And the merchants of the earth shall cry and mourn over her, for no man buys their merchandise anymore, 12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and red cloth, and all thyine wood, and all kinds of containers of ivory, and all kinds of containers of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, 13 And cinnamon, and odors, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and animals, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. 14 And the fruits that your soul lusted for have departed from you, and all things that were dainty and good have departed from you, and you'll find them no more at all. 15 The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, shall stand far off for the fear of her torment, crying and wailing, 16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and red cloth, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! 17 For in one hour such great riches has come to nothing. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood far off, 18 And when they saw the smoke of her burning, shouted, What city is like this great city! 19 And they threw dust on their heads, and shouted, crying and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, in which all that had ships in the sea were made rich because of her costliness! For in one hour she's made desolate. 20 Rejoice over her, you heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you against her." 21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and threw it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. 22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of flutists, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in you, and no craftsman, of whatever craft he is, shall be found anymore in you, and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in you, 23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in you, and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in you, for your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorceries all nations were deceived. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were killed on the earth." ___Revelation chapter 19 1 And after these things I heard a great voice of many people in heaven, "Halelujah, Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, to the Lord our God, 2 For true and righteous are his judgments, for he has judged the great whore, who corrupted the earth with her fornication, and has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand." 3 And again they said, "Halelujah." And her smoke rose up forever and always. 4 And the twenty four elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, "Amen, Halelujah." 5 And a voice came out of the throne, "Praise our God, all you his servants, and you that fear him, both small and great." 6 And I heard like the voice of a great multitude, and like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, "Halelujah, for the Lord God all powerful reigns. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him, for the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready." 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white, for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he said to me, "Write, Blessed are those who are called to the wedding supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God." 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, "Make sure you don't do it, I am your fellow servant, and of your brothers that have the testimony of Jesus, worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." 11 And I saw heaven opened, and see, a white horse, and he that sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns, and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a coat dipped in blood, and his name is called "The Word of God." 14 And the armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, so that with it he'll strike the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, and he treads the winepress of the fierceness and anger of Almighty God. 16 And he has a name written on his coat and on his thigh, "King of Kings, and Lord of Lords." 17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he shouted with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the sky, "Come and gather yourselves together to the supper of the great God, 18 So you can eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great." 19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that worked miracles before him, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast, and those who worshipped his image. These were both thrown alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the remainder were killed by the sword of him that sat on the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth, and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. ___Revelation chapter 20 1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a large chain in his hand. 2 And he took hold of the dragon, that old serpent, who is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And threw him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he wouldn't deceive the nations anymore, until the thousand years had ended, and after that he must be loosed a short time. 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them, and I saw the souls of those who were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and who hadn't worshipped the beast, nor his image, nor had received his mark on their foreheads, or in their hands, and they lived and ruled with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead didn't live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection, on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 7 And when the thousand years are over, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, the number of whom is like the sand of the sea. 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and surrounded the camp of the saints, and the beloved city, and fire came down from God out of heaven, and consumed them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and always. 11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged out of the things that were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead that were in them, and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whoever was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. ___Revelation chapter 21 1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there were no more oceans. 2 And I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice out of heaven, "See, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will live with them, and they'll be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor shall there be any more pain, for the former things have passed away." 5 And he that sat on the throne said, "See, I make all things new." And he said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." 6 And he said to me, "It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to him that is thirsty from the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and customers of prostitutes, and sorcerers, and worshipers of idols, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." 9 And one of the seven angels that had the seven bottles full of the seven last plagues came to me, and talked with me, saying, "Come here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife." 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God, and her light was like a stone most precious, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal, 12 And had a great and high wall, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel, 13 On the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he that talked with me had a golden piece of bamboo to measure the city, and the gates of it, and the wall of it. 16 And the city lies foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth, and he measured the city with the bamboo, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 17 And he measured the wall of it, two hundred sixteen feet, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. 18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper, and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all kinds of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper, the second, sapphire, the third, a chalcedony, the fourth, an emerald, 20 The fifth, sardonyx, the sixth, sardius, the seventh, chrysolite, the eighth, beryl, the ninth, a topaz, the tenth, a chrysoprasus, the eleventh, a jacinth, the twelfth, an amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates was of one pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. 22 And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, nor of the moon, to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it, and the Lamb is the light of it. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in the light of it, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day, for there shall be no night there. 26 And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. 27 And there shall in no way enter into it anything that defiles, nor whatever works abomination, or makes a lie, but those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. ___Revelation chapter 22 1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of the street of it, and on either side of the river, there was the tree of life, that produced twelve kinds of fruits, and yielded its fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall serve him, 4 And they shall see his face, and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5 And there shall be no night there, and they need no candle, nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light, and they shall reign forever and always. 6 And he said to me, "These sayings are faithful and true, and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show to his servants the things that must shortly be done. 7 See, I come quickly, blessed is he that keeps the sayings of the prophecy of this book." 8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel that showed me these things. 9 Then he said to me, "Make sure you don't do it, for I am your fellow servant, and of your brothers the prophets, and of those who keep the sayings of this book, worship God." 10 And he said to me, "Don't seal the sayings of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 He that is unjust, let him remain unjust, and he that is filthy, let him remain filthy, and he that is righteous, let him remain righteous, and he that is holy, let him remain holy. 12 And see, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according to his work. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14 Blessed are those who do his commandments, so that they'll have right to the tree of life, and can enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For outside are dogs, and sorcerers, and customers of prostitutes, and murderers, and worshipers of idols, and whoever loves and makes a lie. 16 I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, and the bright and morning star. 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is thirsty come. And whoever desires to, let him take the water of life freely. 18 For I testify to every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add to these things, God shall add to him the plagues that are written in this book, 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things that are written in this book. 20 He that testifies these things says, surely I come quickly. Amen." Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.